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 and the correct USB interface.

The Arduino IDE 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.