The various development boards such as the NodeMCU or Wemos D1 make working with the ESP8266 an absolute breeze ... [Ryan] came up with a slick 3D printed programming jig that uses pogo pins.

While the ESP32 is clearly a superior piece of hardware, we think you’ll agree that the ESP8266 is just too useful ... looking use modules like the ESP-12F in their own custom PCBs.