A new tool called ESP-GenUI aims to make web interface development for the ESP32 as simple as dragging nodes on a canvas—complete with browser-based code generation and flashing options.
For years. building a usable interface on an ESP32 has often meant leaving the browser. hunting through code. and stitching together UI logic by hand. Geoffrey Wells is trying to cut that friction out of the process entirely with ESP-GenUI—a tool built specifically for creating web interfaces for the ESP32.
The pitch is straightforward: design a website by dragging nodes onto a canvas and linking them to form the web interface you want. The tool comes with nodes aimed at the kinds of elements that show up again and again in embedded dashboards and control panels.
There are nodes for GPIO control. camera feeds. and gauges. along with “all sorts of other common elements” meant for quickly putting together practical interfaces. Everything is handled from within the browser. so the workflow stays in one place rather than bouncing between editing tools and device programming utilities.
What makes the approach particularly convenient is what happens next. ESP-GenUI generates code automatically, and the output can be flashed directly without needing to open any external tools. If you prefer a different path, the tool can also generate Arduino code. That version can be opened and flashed from within the IDE.
Wells says the goal is “to make UI development as easy as possible” for the ESP32, and the browser-first, node-and-link method is clearly meant to lower the barrier for people who want a clean interface without spending days wrestling with UI plumbing.
You can try the tool yourself via the link provided with the release. The same write-up also points to other resources for embedded user interfaces, including a “highly-flexible display library for the ESP32,” and invites feedback on favorite tools and techniques in the comments.
A demonstration video is included as well, embedded from YouTube, to show what ESP-GenUI looks like in action.
ESP32 ESP-GenUI web interface embedded UI dashboards GPIO control camera feeds gauges Arduino code flashing development tool
So it flashes the ESP32 like instantly? Kinda wild.
I don’t get why you’d drag nodes instead of just coding it, but I guess for beginners it’s easier? Also camera feeds on an ESP32 seems like it’ll be laggy.
Wait, does this replace Arduino entirely or is it like a wrapper? The article says Arduino code but also says browser-first flashing without external tools, so I’m confused. Also “browser-based code generation” sounds like it could get messy with security if it’s running in your browser…
This is cool but probably won’t work if your ESP32 is connected to the wrong WiFi or if your GPIO mapping is different. I swear every time I try these dashboard tools I end up back in the code anyway. Still, dragging gauges and linking them sounds like something my cousin would use instead of figuring out stuff manually.