diymore 5PCS ESP8266 ESP01 3.3V 5V ESP-01 Serial Adapter Module Board

Here is how to actually make this program a esp8266-01 . The Picts show the orientation ,, and you have to add a push button ,, or short 2 pins at power up . So if you add the switch as shown with unit plugged into USB . Press and hold button while inserting esp8266 into devices. Wait about 2 seconds and release . This makes the esp8266 enter program mode . Here is some instructions from another site to update arduino ide to see the board .

If you were looking for a way to avoid the crazy ESP-01 programming circuits you found online THIS IS NOT IT. I still had to do a bunch of external circuitry in order to use this to program the ESP-01. To be fair, if you're looking for something simply to interface (not program) with the ESP-01, this will do the trick. I was able to run AT commands (firmware came flashed) by sticking one straight in there. But, if you're looking to flash any firmware, you're going to have to rig something up. That being said, I didn't have an FTDI chip anyway, so I would've had to do some external stuff anyway, but I thought I was going to be able to program modules with this and I could not.To program with this thing, use an external power supply and only connect the Rx and Tx from this to the ESP-01s, ground the USB device and use the external power supply for everything else (google for what pins to ground etc and which ones to pull up etc.)

This is great for prototyping libraries for devices that will use the ESP8266 directly (why I purchased this device).There isn't much use outside of that though. You can flash your ESP with this, but you'll need to tie pins yourself to get into programming mode; there's nothing on the dongle to help you out.Amazon won't allow me to post the URL in a review... but for more information on this device you can google "All in one ESP-01 to USB converter" (or see the link in the comments on one of the other reviews). The first result is a page on the esp8266 wiki with great information. They have details on getting into programming mode, and links for the CH340 drivers if you need them. I was able to use this in Serial (OSX) without needing the CH340 drivers; but for almost anything else in Windows or OSX you'll need to install them.And note, the 8266 should overlap, not stick out from, this USB when plugged in. I attached a picture of the proper orientation.

had 6 ESP8266-1. pretty quick, all became various levels of non-responsive. four of the devices had no red led and appeared to be bricked. however, once i received this little gem, added the button as described and shown by other review. at first successfully flashed all six to be blue led flashing serial spewing messes. after a bit more research, it sucessfully recovered all devices.first, downloaded the espressif flash tool (several others didn't quite get me there). the flash tool identified the appropriate flash level (esp-1 -> 4M for me). additionally, another trip up was not using QIO setting on the flasher. probably the most irritating issue, the latest version of firmware does not work with ESP-1. therefore, i had to go the main espressif site for functional previous version firmware. for the ESP-1 noboot version is required. once flashed, i verified with putty (ctrl-m, ctrl-j) with various commands. final step, was to change the baud rate for function with arduino. the command when first purchased was AT+CIOBAUD=9600. however, after flashing that command no longer worked. at that point AT+UART_DEF=9600,8,1,0,0 was required.

This was mostly just what I needed. It works for what it should, but needs some alterations to be used for programming. First thing I did was add female headers to the bottom side of the board on the GND and GPIO0 pins, which allows me to simply connect a jumper between them when I want to program. Next, after I got tired of unplugging and replugging the ESP board to reset it so I could upload new code (uploading resets it and puts it into normal mode), I soldered a button between the GND and GPIO2 pins. With my jumper connected, all it takes is a push of the reset button to put the ESP back into flash mode, once the upload finishes the board is in normal mode until I reset it again, so I can test the code. All in all a nice little device, much simpler than using my arduino uno as a programmer.

It would be an OK usb-to-serial adapter if it wouldn't be made specially for ESP-01. Using this is super inconvenient. A perfect dev module would wire serial DTR signal to GPIO0 and RTS signal to RESET pin. With those modifications the standard esptool.py tool would be able to program it without any manual intervention: no holding buttons, no attaching/reattaching it to USB port.Also, a physical reset button (wired to ESP-01 RESET pin) would be MUCH more convenient.Other reviewers here have suggestion to solder a button to connect GPIO0 to GND: that works, although you will need to pull out and in again for every reset. Erase_flash and flash - two separate operations and you will need to pull out and in again between. Transition to normal mode - also pull out and in (since no reset).And if it is called a "dev board", it would be nice to provide separate pins/female sockets to connect to GPIOs. Without that it's just a flash tool.

I added a tactile button to easily enable flash mode. It's nice on the side like this because that's usually how you hold it when you plug it in anyways. So just hold the button, plug in, let go and it's ready. These images are from the tutorial I used, but I soldered and glued mine exactly the same way and it works perfect.I also modded my ESP-01 modules with the W25Q32FVSIG SPI flash chip to increase the flash storage by 4x (I now have 4MB instead of the standard 1MB)After adding the memory chip, I configured my modules to be over-the-air updatable so I shouldn't need the programming tool unless I screw something up.