Making ESPHome more approachable

[jlpouffier]

Vision

Make it easy to learn and get started with ESPHome, lowering the barrier for new contributors and users to build real, working devices.

How to measure

• Launch a desktop app to make it easier to build devices and verify its available on Windows, Linux, and MacOS
• Revamp and launch ESPHome Device Builder
• Did we adequately support Apollo with the tutorials
• Develop a way to measure ESPHome device building adoption

Success is measured by learning outcomes and onboarding effectiveness, not by units sold.

Stretch Goals

• ESPHome 101 - It will take you from the very beginning of what is a microcontroller, what is a GPIO?, how can I control a light, what is YAML. Learn what ESPHome component is, how to make your first Device
• Clear, simple path from unboxing to a first working ESPHome device
• Documentation and examples tailored to first-time users
• Users successfully complete basic ESPHome workflows
• Starter kit aligns with common tutorials and guides
• Starter kit referenced and reused in community learning resources
• Starter kit used as a baseline for workshops, tutorials, and onboarding

[Hedda]

For reference, here are a few directly and indirectly related roadmap trackers about ESPHome:

• Lower the barrier to entry for ESPHome by introducing a graphical UI for building ESPHome devices roadmap#21

• Show an "ESPHome device setup wizard" to ease onboarding of capabilities surfaced by the ESPHome device roadmap#191

• ESPHome brand development roadmap#144

• ESPHome front page revamp roadmap#148