Arduino-CLI Tutorial for ESP32-C6

A concise guide on using Arduino-CLI with the ESP32-C6 development board and other ESP32 family microcontrollers.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Prerequisites
• Installation
• Setting Up ESP32-C6 Core
• Creating a New Sketch
• Compiling the Sketch
• Uploading the Sketch
• Troubleshooting
• ESP32 Family Comparison
• Popular ESP32 Projects
• Contributing
• Additional Resources

Introduction

Arduino-CLI is a powerful command-line tool for compiling and uploading Arduino sketches to various microcontrollers. This tutorial focuses on its use with the ESP32 family of boards, with special attention to the newer ESP32-C6. The instructions are applicable to all ESP32 variants supported by Arduino, including:

• ESP32
• ESP32-S2
• ESP32-S3
• ESP32-C3
• ESP32-C6
• ESP32-H2

Whether you're working with the versatile ESP32, the Bluetooth 5 (LE) capable ESP32-C3, or the latest ESP32-C6 with Wi-Fi 6, this guide has you covered.

Prerequisites

• Arduino and CLI basics
• Windows, macOS, or Linux computer
• ESP32-C6 board
• USB cable

Installation

1. Download Arduino-CLI.
2. Add to system PATH.
3. Verify:

   arduino-cli version

Setting Up ESP32-C6 Core

1. Update index:

   arduino-cli core update-index

2. Install ESP32 core:

   arduino-cli core install esp32:esp32

3. Verify:

   arduino-cli core list

Creating a New Sketch

arduino-cli sketch new MyESP32C6Project
cd MyESP32C6Project

Compiling the Sketch

arduino-cli compile --fqbn esp32:esp32:esp32c6 ./

Uploading the Sketch

1. List boards:

   arduino-cli board list

2. Note your board's port (e.g., /dev/ttyACM0 or COMx).
3. Upload:

   arduino-cli upload -p /dev/ttyACM0 --fqbn esp32:esp32:esp32c6 ./

Troubleshooting

• "Board not found": Verify core installation and FQBN.
• Upload issues: Check USB connection and port.

ESP32 Family Comparison

Feature	ESP32	ESP32-S2	ESP32-S3	ESP32-C3	ESP32-C6	ESP32-H2
CPU	Dual-Core	Single-Core	Dual-Core	Single-Core	Single-Core	Single-Core
Wi-Fi	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz	Wi-Fi 6	2.4 GHz
Bluetooth	Classic & BLE	-	BLE 5.0	BLE 5.0	BLE 5.3	BLE 5.0
USB	-	Native	Native	-	Native	-
Zigbee/Thread	-	-	-	-	Yes	Yes

Popular ESP32 Projects

1. Smart Home Automation: Use ESP32's Wi-Fi capabilities for home device control.
2. Wireless Sensor Networks: Create networks for environmental or industrial monitoring.
3. Bluetooth Mesh Networks: Build scalable device networks with ESP32's Bluetooth.
4. IoT Data Loggers: Efficient data collection and transmission with low power modes.
5. Wearable Technology: Develop fitness trackers or smart clothing.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Open an issue or submit a pull request to help improve this guide or share your ESP32 projects.

Additional Resources

• Official ESP32 Documentation
• Arduino-ESP32 GitHub Repository
• Arduino-CLI Documentation

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Keywords: Arduino-CLI, ESP32-C6, ESP32, microcontroller, IoT, embedded systems, command-line interface, Arduino sketches, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth LE, Zigbee, Thread, smart home, wireless sensor networks, wearable technology