ESP32-C3 programming overview

[ttshaw1]

I'm looking at designing a PCB based around an ESP32-C3 IC, and I'm looking for an overview on programming the IC.

In the past I've used PIC microcontrollers with the PICKit4 in-circuit programmer/debugger. Essentially that let me connect a few pins on the PICKit to connectors on my boards, which would connect to 5 pins on the MCU, and allow me to program and debug the MCU hands-free with good integration into Microchip's IDE. Is there an analogous programmer/debugger for the ESP32-C3? I was looking at the ESP-Prog, but if it requires that I use the physical buttons to reprogram the ESP that's not ideal. If the ESP-Prog is well-integrated with some of Espressif's software, or if there are other programmers that are integrated with other software, I'm interested in those as well. What's the standard approach?

[ESP_Sprite]

You could use the ESP-Prog and it has a circuit to put the chip into programming mode automatically; the buttons on there are just for the odd combination of software/drivers/OS where that doesn't work.

The nice thing about the C3 (and S3 as well) is that if you have the chip on hand, you already have a perfectly serviceable programmer as well: the C3 has an internal USB-serial-JTAG converter to program and debug the chip. Simply add an USB port to your design and hook up the D+ to GPIO19, the D- to GPIO18, GND to GND and optionally Vbus to whatever eats 5V on your PCB and you're done.

Some more info is here, by the way.