IoT and ESP32 for Beginners: Build Wi-Fi, MQTT & Smart Home Projects with MicroPython, Node-RED Dashboards, Docker, and Safe IoT Automation

By Hollis Denning

Unlock the Power of ESP32 and Build Your Own Smart Home - No Experience Required

IOT and ESP32 is one of the most powerful, affordable, and beginner-friendly microcontrollers in the world. When combined with MicroPython, MQTT, Node-RED, and Docker, it becomes the ultimate platform for building real smart home systems-lights, sensors, alarms, dashboards, automations, and more.
This book shows you exactly how to do it, step-by-step, using modern 2024/2025 tools and a fully practical, project-based approach.

Whether you're new to IoT, exploring smart home automation, or building your first microcontroller project, this book gives you everything you need to get started.

Inside, You'll Learn How To:

- Set up ESP32 the modern way with MicroPython, Thonny, and VS Code
- Build reliable Wi-Fi and MQTT connections with auto-reconnect logic
- Work with essential sensors: temperature, motion, door, soil, ultrasonic
- Control lights, switches, relays, and alarms safely and effectively
- Create real-time Node-RED dashboards with gauges, charts, and controls
- Use Docker to deploy MQTT, Node-RED, and InfluxDB as a unified IoT stack
- Automate your home with event-driven logic (IF motion → turn on lights)
- Build secure IoT systems with MQTT authentication, TLS, and safe secrets
- Log, visualize, and analyze smart home data in real time
- Deploy your projects on any PC, laptop, Raspberry Pi, or homelab server

Hands-On, Beginner-Friendly Projects You Will Build:

- Wi-Fi-enabled temperature & motion monitor
- Smart door sensor with alerts and buzzer
- MQTT messaging pipeline from device → broker → dashboard
- Node-RED dashboards with real-time controls
- Automation rules for lights, fans, alarms, and schedules
- A complete multi-sensor smart home system (Capstone Project)

All projects are fully local - no cloud services required - giving you privacy, reliability, and full control.

Modern, Secure & Fully Practical IoT Learning

Instead of outdated Arduino workflows, this book teaches you the modern IoT stack used by real engineers:
MicroPython for fast firmware, MQTT for communication, Node-RED for automation, Docker for deployment, and InfluxDB for sensor history.
You'll learn to build systems that are scalable, secure, and resilient, even with minimal experience.

Perfect For:

- Complete beginners exploring IoT and ESP32
- Students, hobbyists, makers, and homelab builders
- Anyone wanting to automate their home
- Future IoT developers who want real skills, not theory
- Anyone tired of "hello world" examples and ready to build real projects

By the end of this book, you'll confidently design, build, secure, and deploy your own IoT systems-even if you started with zero experience.

Start your IoT journey today and turn the ESP32 into your smartest home companion.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0G6G1ZBFS
• ISBN13: 9798278315865
• Release Date: December 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.5" x 11.0"