ESP32 SMART HOME MASTERCLASS
Build a complete ESP32 smart-home system from sensor to dashboard
Turn your first ESP32 sensor project into a connected home device. Learn to read sensors, add a dashboard, and prepare MQTT and Home Assistant integrations, with a clear path through each build.
Created by Marco Schwartz
Beyond the free temperature guide
Your first dashboard is just the start
The free guide gets temperature and humidity into your browser. This course helps you understand the device behind those readings and take it further.
- 01
Make the device dependable
Set up Wi-Fi, serial diagnostics, and device identity so you can work out what went wrong when a build stops responding.
- 02
Move from sensing to control
Read a sensor, add a local dashboard, and explore manual control with a safe output module.
- 03
Prepare it for your smart home
Design MQTT device state and Home Assistant integration, then document the wiring and setup for your next build.
A clear result, not another playlist
What you will learn
- Build multiple ESP32 smart-home device patterns
- Read sensors and control outputs safely
- Create local dashboards
- Publish MQTT-ready device state
- Prepare Home Assistant integrations
- Document and troubleshoot deployable devices
Your finished project
By the end, you will have a documented ESP32 temperature-monitoring system that reads a real sensor, exposes a local dashboard, and is ready to connect to MQTT and Home Assistant.
Step-by-step learning path
Course curriculum
3 sections / 6 lessons
1Setup and First Flash2 lessons
- Plan the smart-home build and set up the ESP32Preview01
- First flash: Wi-Fi, serial diagnostics, and device identity02
2Sensors, Dashboard, and Data2 lessons
- Read a home automation sensor01
- Add local dashboard and manual control02
3Automation-Ready Finish2 lessons
- Design MQTT and Home Assistant integration01
- Package and document the smart-home system02
See how the course teaches
Try a lesson before enrolling
Open the public lesson directly on this page. No account or payment is required.
Designed for practical progress
About this course
The main Makecademy ESP32 course. Students build a complete progression from board setup to sensors, outputs, dashboards, MQTT topics, Home Assistant friendly device state, alerts, power planning, and deployment habits.
Learn from experience
Meet your instructor
Marco Schwartz
Maker educator and electronics & IoT instructor
Marco Schwartz teaches practical electronics, embedded programming, and connected-device projects. His courses help makers move from wiring and firmware to dependable Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi, MQTT, Node-RED, and home automation systems they can understand, troubleshoot, and extend.
- 15+ years of electronics and maker education
Student results
What learners are saying
4.7 from 3 stories
“This masterclass lives up to the name. It covers everything from the basics to surprisingly advanced automation projects. My smart home setup has leveled up big time.”
“Comprehensive, well organized, and genuinely fun. I started with zero ESP32 experience and finished feeling like I could build anything.”
“Tons of great content here. It's a longer course so it took me a while to get through, but every module had something useful. Recommended for serious makers.”
Before you start
Requirements
- One ESP32 development board
- USB cable
- Arduino IDE or PlatformIO installed
- Breadboard and jumper wires
- At least one sensor and one safe output module
A good fit for
Who this course is for
- Arduino or ESP32 beginners who want a complete project instead of disconnected demos
- Makers who want dependable sensor readings, dashboards, and automations
- Home Assistant users ready to build their own connected devices
- Developers who want a practical introduction to embedded IoT workflows
Answers before you enroll
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from the free temperature guide?
The free guide walks you through one DHT22 temperature and humidity dashboard. The course takes the next steps: device diagnostics, manual control, MQTT device state, Home Assistant integration planning, and documenting a system you can troubleshoot and extend. You can start the course without finishing the guide first.
Do I need previous ESP32 experience?
No. The course starts with board setup and your first flash. Basic familiarity with the Arduino IDE is useful, but every ESP32-specific step is introduced inside the course.
What hardware do I need?
You need an ESP32 development board, USB cable, breadboard, jumper wires, and at least one temperature or environmental sensor. A safe low-voltage output module is useful for the control lessons.
Will this work with Home Assistant?
Yes. You will learn how to structure MQTT topics and device state so your project is ready for a clean Home Assistant integration rather than a fragile one-off connection.
Is the course self-paced?
Yes. Start immediately after checkout, work through the lessons at your own pace, and return to your course dashboard whenever you are ready to continue.
What happens if the course is not right for me?
Contact Makecademy support within 14 days of purchase. We will review the request and issue a refund when the course is not a suitable fit.
Ready to build it?
Start ESP32 Home Automation and IoT Masterclass today
Follow a clear path from the first setup step to a finished project you can explain, troubleshoot, and extend.
$29
Enroll nowBuild with confidence for 14 days
Open the course, review the learning path, and start the first project. If it is not the right fit, contact us within 14 days and we will help make it right.