Programming an ESP 01

I suggest that you first play around with an ESP8266 development module, like the NodeMCU, to make sure you have the Arduino IDE setup correctly. This page describes the process that I followed: http://www.instructables.com/id/Quick-Start-to-Nodemcu-ESP8266-on-Arduino-IDE/

Since the ESP-01 does not have a USB interface, I purchased one of these serial-USB boards: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01J2UXXCA. I added a push button to the serial-USB board to connect GND to the GPIO0 pin. After connecting the ESP-01 to the serial-USB board, I hold down the push button for a few seconds after I connect it to the USB cable so the ESP-01 will enter programming mode. In the Arduino IDE, I select the "Generic ESP8266 Module" board.

The serial monitor can be used to capture the IP address that you will need later to communicate with the board.

After I program the ESP-01, I transfer it to a modified Refrigerated Box Car or Faller Vehicle, depending on the application. I unplug the USB cable from the serial-USB board before removing the ESP-01.