esptool
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Description:
ESP8266 and ESP32 serial bootloader utility
Type: Formula  |  Latest Version: 5.1.0@0  |  Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: esp32 esp8266 firmware iot serial bootloader
Install: brew install esptool
About:
esptool is a command-line utility for interacting with the bootloader of Espressif ESP8266 and ESP32 microcontrollers. It enables flashing firmware, reading and writing memory, and reading chip information over a serial connection. This makes it an essential tool for developers working with ESP-based IoT devices.
Key Features:
  • Firmware flashing and memory manipulation
  • Support for ESP8266 and ESP32 SoCs
  • Serial bootloader communication
  • Chip identification and MAC address reading
Use Cases:
  • Flashing custom or updated firmware to ESP32/ESP8266 devices
  • Debugging hardware by reading memory or writing test firmware
  • Erasing device flash memory before deployment
Alternatives:
  • PlatformIO – A full IDE and build system that integrates esptool for flashing, providing a higher-level workflow.
  • Arduino IDE – A graphical environment for ESP development that uses esptool internally for uploading code.
License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Dependencies: cryptography, libyaml, python@3.14
Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, sonoma, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Oct 14, 2025 7:34am 0 VERSION_BUMP 2a621054
Sep 16, 2025 8:30am 0 VERSION_BUMP 1e4f004a
Sep 13, 2025 3:15pm 0 VERSION_BUMP d1e8b4db
Jan 2, 2025 12:55pm 1 VERSION_BUMP 161c0e91
Jan 2, 2025 1:10am 1 VERSION_BUMP 9fce4542
Oct 12, 2024 9:41pm 0 VERSION_BUMP a16e7ae2
Oct 12, 2024 5:06pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 88ed99bf
Sep 18, 2024 5:16pm 0 VERSION_BUMP fd387742
Sep 18, 2024 3:33pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 4f199b1b