Smart home automation brings convenience and innovation to everyday living, and now you can create your own smart system from scratch. By using ESP32 microcontrollers, LEDs, servo motors, and either a Raspberry Pi or your laptop, you’ll gain the skills to build a complete home automation system with this project-based course. This course emphasizes industry-standard tools and best practices, making it an excellent resource for beginners and experienced developers alike.

We just published a Home Automation with ESP32 course on the freeCodeCamp.org YouTube channel, created by Ebenezer Asabre. This course walks you through every step of building a smart system, from setting up the hardware to developing a web-based control interface. By the end of the course, you’ll have a fully functional system that you can customize and expand further.

What You’ll Learn

  • Hardware Setup: You’ll start by setting up the ESP32 microcontroller, LEDs, and servo motors, establishing a solid hardware foundation for your smart system.

  • System Architecture: Understand how different components—hardware, software, and communication protocols—work together to create a seamless system. You’ll also learn to design a software flowchart to guide your project development.

  • MQTT Protocol: Learn how to configure the ESP32 as an MQTT client to send and receive messages. The MQTT protocol is a key technology for Internet of Things (IoT) projects, enabling efficient communication.

  • Database Management: Use PostgreSQL to manage your system’s data and integrate it with a Node.js server. You’ll set up models for storing and handling automation system information.

  • Server Design: Master the modular structure of a Node.js server with service, controller, and route modules, making your application maintainable and scalable.

  • Real-Time Communication: Implement an MQTT broker and real-time communication using Socket.io to establish reliable connections between your ESP32 devices and control interface.

  • Web-Based Control: Build a user-friendly front end using HTML and Embedded JavaScript (EJS). This interface will let you control your smart devices remotely and interact with your system intuitively.

Why Take This Course?

This course is perfect for anyone interested in IoT, whether you’re a hobbyist exploring automation or a developer looking to expand your skill set. You’ll gain practical experience with popular technologies like ESP32, MQTT, PostgreSQL, and Node.js, all while working on a real-world project. By the end of the course, you’ll understand how to design, build, and deploy smart systems using industry-standard tools and techniques.

What You’ll Achieve

  • Practical Knowledge: Work hands-on with ESP32 microcontrollers and key IoT technologies.

  • Software Development Skills: Create robust applications using Node.js, MQTT, and PostgreSQL.

  • System Design Expertise: Learn to design and build scalable, real-time systems.

  • A Portfolio Project: Develop a fully functional home automation system you can showcase to employers or use as a foundation for future projects.

Watch the full course on the freeCodeCamp.org YouTube channel (1-hour watch).