Course — IoT

ESP32 Essentials: Build Your First Smart Device

Learn the essential skills of smart electronics by building an RGB Mood Light. Control colour modes with a button, adjust brightness with a dial, and explore GPIO & PWM using the ESP32.

 

Course Details

Learning Path
IoT Launchpad
Category
Embedded Systems & IoT
Skill Level
Beginner
Tags
IoT Lighting Beginner

Description

This hands-on beginner course is your launchpad into the world of embedded systems and smart devices using the powerful ESP32 microcontroller. Designed for absolute beginners, it walks you step-by-step through the fundamentals of digital input, analogue input, and output control—by building a fully functional RGB Mood Light.

Course Curriculum

  • Lesson 1: Intro to ESP32 & Setup
  • Lesson 2: Blinking an LED
  • Lesson 3: PWM & RGB Mode Control
  • Lesson 4: Potentiometer Brightness Control
  • Lesson 1: Intro to ESP32 & Setup
  • Lesson 2: Blinking an LED
  • Lesson 3: PWM & RGB Mode Control
  • Lesson 4: Potentiometer Brightness Control
  • Lesson 1: Intro to ESP32 & Setup
  • Lesson 2: Blinking an LED
  • Lesson 3: PWM & RGB Mode Control
  • Lesson 4: Potentiometer Brightness Control

Skills You’ll Gain

Smart Device Prototyping
Build a working RGB Mood Light using buttons and a potentiometer.
ESP32 I/O Control
Use digital and analogue pins for inputs and PWM outputs.
Modular Firmware
Write clear, reusable code with basic logic handling.
Circuit Debugging
Use breadboards and tools to test and fix simple circuits.
IoT Foundations
Gain the base knowledge to build smarter devices.

Built from Live Workshops

Courses evolve from battle-tested live workshops, adding structured lessons, refined explanations, and new content shaped by real student feedback. Each one delivers a complete, polished learning experience.

Build an RGB Mode Cycler with ESP32

Build an LED with Brightness Control

Prerequisites

No prior electronics or programming experience required. Just curiosity and a willingness to build.

Prerequisites are skill-based: If you already have the listed skills, feel free to register for the course.

 The IoT Launchpad

The Beginner’s Learning Path to Building Smart Lighting Devices

Course 1Build Your First Smart Device

Use a button and potentiometer to control an RGB LED. Learn GPIO, PWM, and simple inputs.

Course 2Integrating Sensors with ESP32

Use motion and light sensors to auto-activate an LED. Great for safety or automation.

Course 3Hosting Web Interfaces on ESP32

Create a web UI to toggle RGB LED colours in real time via browser.

Course 4Real-Time Dashboards with MQTT

Read ambient light and send data to a live web dashboard using MQTT.

CapstoneSmart Home Sensor Hub

Combine sensors into a battery-powered smart monitor with live web tracking.

All learning paths and all courses — included with membership.
Join today to build your complete smart lighting system.

Unlock Everything

Want to Learn More, Build More & Save More?

Join the Vman Academy Membership and get full access to this course — and every future course, included for FREE. As a member, you’ll unlock:

  • Full access to all current and upcoming project-based courses

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  • Private access to our Exclusive Builder Community

  • Early access to new tools, features, and platform releases

We'll be adding more and more courses.
Membership gives you the structure, support, and momentum to grow from hobbyist to confident builder.

One Course
$120
Lifetime Access & Project Files
Full Membership
$420/year
Unlimited Courses & Live Workshops
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This Workshop Is Included

Meet Your Instructor

Devoted to Helping Makers Learn, Think and Build Like Engineers

Vijay Madas

Hi, I’m Vijay — an engineer by training, maker by passion, and educator by choice. I've dedicated my life to the pursuit of refining how engineering is taught — making it more intuitive, hands-on, and truly accessible to self-driven learners.

I created Vman Builds to help makers develop their engineering mind through doing. With real-world problem-solving and practical engineering building — no formal degree required.

With that goal in mind, I've designed these Premium Courses to teach you:

  • Engineering topics through clear, structured, and purposeful lessons

  • Practical engineering skills
  • How to build real, working projects you’ll be proud of

Whether you're starting out or levelling up, these courses give you a clear path to build with confidence and purpose.

I'm ready to build when you are!

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