=====ESPtool=====
The tool is used to program ESP based chips such as the ESP8266/ESP8285 located in Sonoff units.

===Installing esptool on Ubuntu 18.04/Mint 19===
First install python and pip.
<code bash>
sudo apt install python python-pip python-setuptools python-serial
</code>

Then install wheel package using pip
<code bash>
pip install wheel
</code>

Finally install esptool
<code bash>
pip install esptool
</code>

Add to your path in //.bashrc//
<code bash>export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/.local/bin/"</code>

> **NB!** Make sure you have access to the USB serial port. e.g. make your user a member of dialout group.

===Installing esptool on Windows===
First install python and pip. On windows you need to download the package from http://python.org

When installing choose to add python to the path and select custom installation.

Leave all other options at default except the installation path. Set it to something simple like //C:\python\python37//

After the installation finishes check that python and pip are accessible from a command prompt/Windows powershell.

<code bash>
PS C:\> python --version
Python 3.7.3

PS C:\> pip --version
pip 19.0.3 from c:\python\python37\lib\site-packages\pip (python 3.7)
</code>

Then install esptool using pip
<code bash>
pip install esptool
</code>

===example usage===
==Read flash==
<code python>esptool.py -p <port> read_flash 0 0x100000 <output_file></code>

==Write flash==
<code python>esptool.py -p <port> write_flash 0 <input_file></code>

==Erase flash==
<code python>esptool.py -p <port> erase_flash</code>