1. Grab a USB-C data cable
Use a USB-C cable that supports data, not just charging. If your computer doesn't recognize the board, the cable is usually the first thing to swap.
2. Plug into the ESP32's USB-C port
Your pinGPT has two USB-C ports. Use the one directly on the ESP32 module — not the one on the carrier board. The carrier port is for powering motors, not for talking to your computer.
3. Install Thonny on your computer
Thonny is the friendly editor we'll use to write and send MicroPython code to your board. Go to thonny.org and download the version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Install it like any normal application.
4. Open Thonny and select your board
Launch Thonny. In the bottom-right corner, click the interpreter selector and choose MicroPython (ESP32), then pick the serial port that corresponds to your pinGPT. You should see a prompt starting with >>>.
5. Free Hamsty 🐹
Hamsty is your electronic companion living inside pinGPT. Powering up the board for the very first time wakes him up — congratulations, you've just freed him! From now on, every program you run gives Hamsty a new trick.
What just happened
A single cable gave your board power and a serial link to your computer. Thonny is the bridge that lets you send code. And Hamsty is ready for his first mission in Chapter C.