472 Simulate Arduino, ESP32, Pi Pico, STM32, And ATtiny with Wokwi

When I listened to The Amp Hour, episode #599, I was astonished by the project and its creator, Uri. He built a simulator for all kinds of MCUs and electronic parts. This project is so cutting-edge that I cannot believe only one young guy was able to create it. And because it is useful and fun, I invite you to follow me.
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[@davidwitten2746]

Excellent! Just what the Arduino/ESP32/STM/Pico world needs! Truly amazing implementation...

[@AndreasSpiess]

I agree!

[@PeetHobby]

I would rather see implementation with symbols of the components (like most simulators) instead of pictures of components.

[@MandoRick1978]

Not to mention that Urish is a very nice guy, he interacts with his discord community. He wants to help kids learn electronics. I have much respect for Urish and his Wokwi creation. Been following him for quite a while now.

[@bobweiram6321]

Building software from free and open source projects and putting it behind a paywall is a dick move.

[@shaulbarlev1]

@@bobweiram6321 I think you should set out and develop a version of Wokwi yourself, maybe throw in a new feature, and release it for free. Maybe in your free time? Let me know how it goes.

[@AndreasSpiess]

@bobweiram6321 Could you please add the evidence for your allegation?

[@bobweiram6321]

@@AndreasSpiess Where do I begin? It's painfully obvious. The libraries and compilers used for simulator are all open sourced. It uses MicroPython, Arduino, and Rust compiler and libraries. It even "uses" its RP2040 Ada PIO code generator from an open source Ada project. Even the editor, icons, JavaScript libraries as well as the HTML framework used to build the site are open sourced too. It's not a matter of what's been borrowed from open source projects, but what's not been borrowed from other open source projects. WOKWI's main app, however, which integrated the other open source packages is closed source. They do have a repo on GitHub, but it only for ancillary projects such as examples and some of the packages used in building the app. I would post a link, but I don't want this comment flagged. WOKWI gets away with this because it circumvents open source license requirements via legal loopholes, making it technically legal, but highly unethical. Open source licenses were written before the advent of cloud computing. Since cloudware is not distributed as copies, it's under no obligation to the terms of the open source projects used. Moreover, WOKWI doesn't give any form of attribution to the open source projects it's derived from, which makes it even more scummy. You yourself was mislead into thinking Urish wrote the entire application by himself. I'm shocked other people haven't called Urish out on it. In fact, he's been given a platform on several community venues to give demonstrations and tutorials. In reality, these are merely underhanded sales and marketing opportunities to sell WOKWI.

[@zviper]

@@bobweiram6321 Are you OK? you may need to be checked out. Im literally, right NOW working on something on wokwi with a esp32...

[@MaxintRD]

Another great video! Wokwi is simply amazing and it deserves a wider audience. I've been using it for some time now and it can be quite useful. It even allows you to use all libraries that are available in the Arduino library manager. It was quite interesting to successfully test a virtual TM1637 display with my TM16xx library. I also tested the serial output for an I2C scanner and must say it's astonishing to see how accurate the simulation is. Of course not everything is identical (e.g. timing), but al in all Wokwi is a very useful product and a wonderful achievement.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I agree. This is why I thought it deserves a video…

[@dragonmares59110]

With my students we use simulIDE as it can be set locally quite easily on mac/windows/linux but yes Wokwi is pretty nice too. With SimulIDE we also are able to use the real serial port of the PCs we use so the student can interface their virtual arduino/esp32 with actual devices plugged.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I did not know simulIDE. Thank you for the tip!

[@thekikaz]

thanks for the tip! i like it to have a local version instead of a browser based simulation! and the best, they have linux support! amazing!

[@bobweiram6321]

Wow! Exactly what I was looking for! A real desktop application running on Mac and Windows! What makes it unique is its ability to create and simulate high level components, such as MCUs, as well as lower level discrete components. I don't like how the developer of WOKWI incorporates free and open source software created by others and serves it behind a paywall for profit. While it maybe perfectly legal, it's far from the spirit of open source whose contributors intended their code to benefit the community and not for the financial benefit of an individual.

[@zoltanbiro6388]

@@bobweiram6321 he has to make a living too

[@julians.2597]

@@bobweiram6321 considering they intentionally contributed to a software repository that has a permissive license, you're wrong. They could have chosen to publish them under a restrictive share alike license but chose not to.

[@johnward7619]

I've been on this project for a while. Also subscribed. Its so great to show the youth and get people involved.its also great to do some dev work before putting the hardware together

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@brendancooney9401]

The youth???😂

[@johnward7619]

@brendancooney9401 yes, some are quite overwhelmed by the fact that they need to make the hardware device, etc, etc, but would like to experiment.... this is the perfect middle ground....

[@brendancooney9401]

@@johnward7619 Nah, not the youth!!

[@GeekGarageDK]

I love Wokwi. Been using it for a few months and I've also designed custom board for it (with more to come). I'm also trying to help out with some guidelines on doing custom boards and i love how responsive he is and open minded with a complete stranger giving suggestions and actually implementing it!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for sharing your experience with Wokwi!

[@avejst]

Great video as always 👍😀 I havent heard the podcast, but I love the simple and induitive approach to the simulation. Thanks for sharing your experience with All of us 👍😀

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@tonybell1597]

OMG.... that's Awesome ! Well done that chap!

[@AndreasSpiess]

I agree!

[@PM-qw4mc]

Once again, an innovative and inspiring video, well presented as usual. Thank you!

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@villageidiot8718]

Glad I was sitting in the first row. This looks very interesting. You always have great content!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@GDScriptDude]

The visualization of the circuit on Wokwi is very nice.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I agree.

[@videolan]

Excellent! Wokwi looks fantastice. Think I may buy some ATTinys after all!

[@AndreasSpiess]

The ATtinys are nice for small projects. But they need an initial effort.

[@mookfaru835]

WOooooooooooooooow!!!!!! I Was just looking at this by searching on the internet, It makes learning so much easier. Instead of playing on "survival mode" in life, now you can try "creative mode" where everything is freely available to you. the barrier is so much lower to learn I was so happy when I creatied a motor driven by an arduino, where in real life I am not ready enough to take notes and remember information from days apart. It is also very time consuming after every mistake.

[@AndreasSpiess]

And it is also cheaper because nothing will be destroyed ;-)

[@PhG1961]

What an amazing product! Great overview!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@ronaldronald8819]

Amazing I am a couch programmer. The less stuff the better. And a much happier wife because of less mess. Cheers Andreas for sharing.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Also in a Hotel room 😉

[@JohnUllrey]

This is really great news, I remember looking for a simulator about a year ago and couldn't find one. Great for when you are away from home on a long trip and want to work on your IoT projects but can't.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Indeed, it is for sure easier to bring through airport security than a project with PCBs and wires ;-)

[@klassichd10]

Kudos! Great project! Thank you fo the information!

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome! I thought this project deserves a mentioning on the channel.

[@klassichd10]

@@AndreasSpiess Absolutely, it does!

[@marcelldavis6426]

This progamm is exactly what i need.🎉😊 Adee und ä scheenä :)

[@AndreasSpiess]

Happy to hear that!

[@peter.stimpel]

Oh, this would have been so ueful when I had to make an attiny and an esp32 talk to each other. The attiny is acting as a watchdog in this project and resets the esp32 if there is no ping pong on rs232 ... nice project!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Interesting idea. I did not ask myself if it can simulate 2 chips in the same diagram. Probably not...

[@Wokwi]

@@AndreasSpiess not *yet*

[@teebeeonline]

Wokwi is really nice. A little bit slow during the compilation in my own experience.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I agree, particularly when you use many libraries. It was very fast with the ATtiny examples…

[@RatthaninWartcheeranon]

I sometimes test and debug short sketches on wokwi. Good tool for concept test

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@dd0356]

Great interesting project!! I will save money as there will be less burnt esp32. unfortunately not save time! On the jokes part, our computer guy got one radio antenna and tower installed installed at a place so that he could get a silent place to play games on his mobile even though that meant maintaining a long underground cable, installing ups and so forth. another poor joke, my 1.5 year old son has to examine everything i have even the screwdriver, batteries, multimeter and so on that i have to keep in a safe box. Now i understand what others in my family would have felt when i did the same 😀

[@AndreasSpiess]

:-))

[@daskasspatzle2396]

Looks awesome. I am a bit surprised that it supports some STM32s, but not the commonly used ones. Thank you for sharing :-)

[@AndreasSpiess]

I do not know his reasoning. I assume, it is effort to add a new chip bedcause each is at least slightly different.

[@brylozketrzyn]

It could support templates. IPs in STMs are most often very similar and you could just create them based on headers you already have.

[@norm1124]

Super Sache - Ich werde mir die AmpHour gleich mal anhören.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Ist bei mir Standard bei meinen längeren Velofahrten…

[@helmuthbecker7636]

Thanks Andreas :)

[@AndreasSpiess]

My pleasure!

[@pergitukdekat]

Thanks wokwi👍

[@XavierGonzàlez-r7h]

"I'm sure this app will be a hit. Thanks for letting me know about it."

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@jimlynch9390]

That is simply amazing. Thanks for the intro. 73, de K4GVO

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@Rekless70]

Great video. Thank you

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad you liked it!

[@erniepike3902]

Woul love to incorporate this into Kicad (or similar) to ensure PCB design of microcontroller cicruts with less chance error than manual tranlation.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Good idea!

[@PeetHobby]

Thinkercad has simulated an Arduino in a browser for many years, so it's not a fully new concept. But still very cool.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I did not know that thinkercad was able to do that!

[@skovgaard79]

Another great video

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bfs007a]

Note that the MQTT explorer isn't supported by its creator and is locked by its license. I like that Wokwi seems to have made a clear decision with what it supports and what it doesn't, makes it easier to predict.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I know. I do not need more, so this is no problem for me…

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

I use RP Picos. Thanks for the information.

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@mcconkeyb]

Nice, a good development environment sure makes designing much easier. Have you tried the Eclipse IDE, I'm in the process of slowly moving my work over to this platform, sometimes its better, sometimes its not. 🙂

[@AndreasSpiess]

Yes, have. And did not like it :-(

[@spehropefhany]

You can even use it to help create custom silicon.

[@AndreasSpiess]

There are probably better tools for that. But I am no specialist in this matter.

[@spehropefhany]

@@AndreasSpiess Absolutely, but I think none easier to use. Matthew Venn uses it as an optional front end for his Tinytapeout.

[@dennyfox3139]

Very cool!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@wernerviehhauser94]

Neat. I usually simulate my AtTinys in TinkerCAD, but this looks nice. I'll have to see if it works through my workplace firewall and filters, though.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I did not know of thinkercads possibilities…

[@wernerviehhauser94]

@@AndreasSpiess I didn't either until I started a workgroup where older students teach Arduino to younger students, and there we used TinkerCAD to simulate an UNO. It took me a while to notice that they also support Tiny's, but I have no idea how deep the simulation goes. What my students noticed last week is that using digital pins to send a high or low signal to another UNO required their GNDs to be connected.

[@Wokwi]

If it doesn't, please let us know!

[@TechnoEveryday]

Great 🎉🎉🎉

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thanks 🤗

[@amosbibelnik7900]

Another Israeli great mind ! ❤❤

[@DFX2KX]

well thanks for sharing this, I've just burned several hours playing around with a virtual Pico.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I hope you were successful ;-)

[@DFX2KX]

Also they've got a Pico W in beta now, apparently.

[@TRETT1956]

Sehr gut , danke für die Info. Werner

[@AndreasSpiess]

Gern geschehen!

[@freepoet6737]

I see they have the pico-W in beta

[@AndreasSpiess]

Cool!

[@mistahke]

Been using for a while really good product! The only thing that is missing is autoasave... ask me how I know...

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@chuxxsss]

Afternoon Andreas, I 😢have the big C again. My son found some nice gold this weekend.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Get well soon!

[@RajveerSingh-vf7pr]

Now you can put ci - cd in place for automatic deployment of your code with properly testing it before hand...

[@AndreasSpiess]

Very good!

[@wolfberrinhos7068]

Excellent Project. certanely vert usefull

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad you think so!

[@jtreg]

bladdy ell!😁 amazing!!

[@tlmoller]

Nice idea. Could be usefull and interesting.

[@AndreasSpiess]

:-)

[@EsotericArctos]

Th RCNUN converters look virtually identical to the CPT branded ones I have recently used. I too build in the "chineseum" factor, but taking that into account I have found them quite reliable, and they are fully potted making them quite weather resistant also.

[@AndreasSpiess]

They are good for high-current applications, I think. And I agree, the mechanical design is good. That is why it is disappointing they were not able to remove this common mode error...

[@juan070767]

excelent very well

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@y2ksw1]

It's definitely a thing to try

[@AndreasSpiess]

Enjoy!

[@y2ksw1]

@@AndreasSpiess Unfortunately I find the Terms of Service unacceptable. I don't like to give up my freedom and I don't like paid subscriptions. Hopefully the site owner reads the comments and adjusts the Terms to less invasive manners and maybe offers other payments. I'm not a frequent user of simulations and for the money I would pay over time, I just buy the hardware and work live.

[@AndreasSpiess]

You do not need a paid version to play with it.

[@monolith4076]

Wokwi is great with a only downside! The Site has no option of Search in database by keywords! i hope in the future this will be implemented if someone will tell to Urish (no sugestion box on the site)

[@AndreasSpiess]

He left a few comments. So maybe he reads this comment.

[@_a_x_s_]

Impressive!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Indeed!

[@inoid724]

Mega !

[@AndreasSpiess]

:-)

[@eugy2008]

Andreas, did you use online or local version? I am wondering how difficult is it to install this program locally.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I used the hosted version except for the gateway where mentioned

[@klave8511]

I was also keen to use the attiny85 but it’s more pain than it’s worth, I just use a pro mini now. Much faster to get going, more resources and not really any bigger.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I asgree, the initial setup for the ATtinies is high. But I did it years ago and now, I just program them nearly effortless...

[@SA-oj3bo]

It is a great simulator, but I miss the oscilloscoop and a joystick with real analog values, acting like 2 potentiometers. I like Wokwi because y can test ESP32 with arduino and micropython.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Maybe an addition for the future...

[@magnetiseur77]

This kind of simulator exist with PROTEUS (But not for all these µC). Labcenter has some job to do now.... ;-)

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for mentioning PROTEUS. I did not know this product.

[@stevec5000]

Where does the sketch and diagram for a project come from? Are there some preconfigured ones or do we have to come up with them ourselves? For instance if I wanted to simulate a radio circuit using an Arduino Uno with a radio receiver chip, push buttons and LCD display how would I go about doing that?

[@AndreasSpiess]

The chips are made by the platform. I do not think it is possible to simolare a radio as this simulation is digital and not analog

[@livetohash6152]

Would love to load a sketch and it builds the circuit 🎉🎉🎉

[@AndreasSpiess]

Maybe in a few years...

[@johncongerton7046]

brilliant

[@AndreasSpiess]

Indeed!

[@Gandalf-490]

THANK YOU!!!

[@AndreasSpiess]

You're welcome!

[@DynamicSun]

interessting, and inspiring, what can be done in a browser

[@AndreasSpiess]

Indeed. The browsers now can run virtual machenes. Increadible!

[@jumbo999614]

Too bad Wokwi doesn't have Transistor. IC like CD4026 which is frequently used for 7-segment display also not available.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Maybe it is already on his list? Or you propose it to him.

[@whatilearnttoday5295]

Looks like you can remove the Arduino IDE libraries and use AVR chips as AVR chips. Nice.

[@AndreasSpiess]

:-)

[@godofwinetits3826]

Me I still use Proteus IDE, I checked the wokwi, still have a few components

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@JostSchwider]

👍 - auch für den YT-Algo! 😊

[@AndreasSpiess]

Danke!

[@originalmianos]

You can't really complain about the lack of VCC. The ESP on the right seems to be able to run without any power.

[@AndreasSpiess]

True!

[@MikesTropicalTech]

Wow!

[@AndreasSpiess]

:-)

[@jonathan-._.-]

🤔 i wonder if it simulates power supply issues , for the longest time my esp32 would crash when another devices was turned on and it took me ages to figure out

[@AndreasSpiess]

It will not simulate analog stuff. And yes, I made my first video about this topic 5 years ago ;-)

[@chlordk]

07:33 How many programmers does it take to replace a light bulb? None - it's a hardware problem.

[@AndreasSpiess]

:-))

[@joostluyten_ON3JT]

Shoot, I assumed you already knew it. I use it to try some code first before flashing it in my arduino for over a year or so.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@wktodd]

Can you simulate and debug the Pico PIO? Ig so, it would be very helpful

[@AndreasSpiess]

I do not know.

[@Wokwi]

Yes, you can :)

[@ayan.debnath]

I face one issue - when to use a capacitor or resistor between a microcontroller and a sensor etc.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Agreed. As said, this is not LTspice…

[@resist_or_die]

how can things like this exist and we don't all know about them? thanks for curing my ignorance :)

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@k.chriscaldwell4141]

Thank you. Question: What programmer are you using to program the ATiny85 with? Is it via Arduino? Thank you.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I use an USBasp dongle and a small board with a socket.

[@k.chriscaldwell4141]

@@AndreasSpiess Thank you.

[@peacock777]

Warum gibt es auf der Wokwi-HP keine Suchfunktion? Wie kann ich nach Projekten auf der Seite suchen?

[@AndreasSpiess]

Ich weiss nicht.

[@paulbishop7399]

great until you need a sensor that isnt in the library :(

[@AndreasSpiess]

I agree that not all sensors are supported…

[@Wokwi]

There is actually a way to code your own sensors in C, check out the "Wokwi Custom Chips API". Still in beta, but users have already created complex simulation models such as DS18B20 OneWire temperature sensor, or a 2.9" E-Paper display. Someone even hacked together a custom logic analyzer / scope that displays the signals in realtime.

[@danedwards_ee]

I felt slightly limited, as I wanted some basic components, like didoes and mosfets.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I agree, he could add some more parts…

[@haffolderhaus]

😮😮👀👍

[@AndreasSpiess]

:-)

[@Ninnuam999]

And my teachers insist on using proteus

[@AndreasSpiess]

Also a good choice.

[@user-xb5zu6zu7j]

Proteus is a similar software

[@AndreasSpiess]

Does Proteus also simulate MCUs? It looks more like LTspice...

[@Wokwi]

Proteus does simulate some MCUs, and it's been around for a very long time (since 1988). Unfortunately, it only runs on Windows, licenses are not very affordable (the lower tier starts at ~$250 per license). It does some things that Wokwi doesn't do (e.g. PCB schematic capture, layout, more comprehensive analog simulation), but doesn't have their ESP32 nor Pi Pico.

[@bobweiram6321]

WOKWI is just a strung together collection of open source software using a graphical interface hosted behind a pay wall. It's unfair to profit from the work of other developers.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I did not know that.

[@DataDashy]

Not really useful :/ why would you do the other than maybe educational purposes, why dumbing down the ESP to attiny level when it can run the same code with way more features... Man these guys instead should spend time on fixing the bodgy/crappy tcp stack code on the ESPs cause this board is a dogpoo at best on the longrun, let your bitcoin price tracker run for 1 year and please pull out the debug info from it how many time did it segfault, reconnect to wifi, become unavailable or the whole firmware died

[@AndreasSpiess]

I have many ESP32s running here. They run stable. But they need a good power supply.

[@simonnaughton2272]

@@AndreasSpiesswhat does “really” good mean? Maybe this could be a video…. “Common stuff people whinge about with micro controllers and beginner electronics”.

[@AndreasSpiess]

@@simonnaughton2272 Most problems reported with reboots are because Vcc of the chip goes below 2.5V for a few ms (during transmission where the ESP32 consumes more than 500mA)

[@lefteriskostoulas]

Amazing platform... I would like to nRF microcontrollers on this platform

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are free to propose it on the project page ;-)

[@lasersbee]

Who is Sir Quit ? 6:22... That would be 74HC5[Ninety]5 ICs...

[@AndreasSpiess]

I do not understand :-(

[@IoT_]

​@@AndreasSpiesshe probably meant to say that you just mispronounced one number : saying "eighty five" , instead of "nighty five".