Arduino LLM Agent
llm-arduino-mcp
An intelligent backend server that uses Large Language Models (LLMs) to generate, compile, and upload Arduino, ESP8266, and ESP32 firmware automatically — powered by Ollama and Arduino CLI.
LLM + MCP inspired flow
Generate, compile, and upload Arduino sketches automatically using natural language prompts and local Ollama LLM models.
Features
- Ollama local LLM API for private codegen
- Automated compile & upload using Arduino CLI
- Supports multiple boards: Arduino Uno, ESP8266, ESP32 — extend easily
- Simple Express API — plug into your own frontend
Quick Start
- Install and run Ollama (
ollama serve)ollama run llama3.2
- Install and configure
arduino-cli - Clone this repo and
npm run start(orbun runversion) - Send POST request with your prompt:
curl -X POST http://localhost:3000/generate-arduino \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"prompt": "Write Arduino code to blink LED on pin 2 using ESP32."}'
MCP (Model Context Protocol) Status
This project partially follows MCP (Model Context Protocol) principles:
- Uses structured system + user roles.
- Passes prompt context in a clear format.
- Automates an external tool (Arduino CLI) based on generated context.
Planned Improvements for MCP Compliance
- Add a versioned Context Registry for reusable system instructions.
- Support custom context creation and switching via REST.
- Standardize request/response payloads to fully align with OpenAI’s Chat API format.
- Add tool/plugin calls as structured operations.
- Store complete chain-of-thought and compile/upload logs.
- Add role-based API auth for context control.
The goal is to evolve this project into a reusable, standards-friendly MCP backend for embedded LLM workflows.
Prerequisites
- Install arduino-cli
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/arduino/arduino-cli/master/install.sh | sh
Or download a copy of the Arduino CLI, place it in a directory of your choice, and make sure to add it to your system’s PATH according to your operating system.
arduino-cli core update-index
arduino-cli core install arduino:avr
arduino-cli core install esp8266:esp8266
arduino-cli core install esp32:esp32
- Add arduino-cli to the system path
- Ensure Ollama is setup on your machine
- Refer: https://ollama.com/download
To install dependencies:
bun install
Update the server.js
- Update Ollama model as per your Ollama setup
- Tested with llama3.2:latest
- Update Port for you board
const OLLAMA_URL = 'http://localhost:11434/api/chat'; // Change if your Ollama server is running on a different port
const SERIAL_PORT = 'COM5'; // Change as per your board
const OLLAMA_MODEL = 'llama3.2:latest'; // Change as per your Ollama setup
To run:
bun run start
Usage
- Make sure the Arduino Board is attached to the com port
- Run following from the terminal
curl --location 'http://localhost:3000/generate-arduino' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data '{
"prompt": "Write Arduino code for ESP8266 board to blink an LED on pin LED_BUILTIN every 3 seconds. Do not include any libraries."
}'
Roadmap & Future Improvements
This project is a strong starting point for combining LLMs with embedded automation. Here are planned ideas to take it further:
-
Web UI Enhancements
- Add a proper web frontend with code syntax highlighting (e.g., Ace Editor or Monaco).
- Display generated code nicely with download or copy buttons.
- Show compilation logs and upload status in real-time.
-
Board Management
- Add a dropdown in the UI to select supported boards manually.
- Fetch board list dynamically from a config file (
boards.json). - Auto-detect connected boards and available serial ports.
-
User Prompts & Templates
- Offer ready-made prompt templates for common tasks (blink LED, read sensor, etc.).
- Add prompt history and re-run support.
-
Project Files
- Allow multiple sketches and auto-archive generated code.
- Provide an option to download the
.inoas a zip.
-
Security & Permissions
- Add basic API authentication or API keys.
- Validate generated code before compile/upload for safety.
-
Docker & Deployment
- Add a Dockerfile to package Ollama, Arduino CLI, and the server together.
- Provide instructions for deployment on local networks or edge devices.
-
CI/CD Integration
- Use GitHub Actions to lint, test, and deploy the backend.
- Add unit tests for code block & board parsing.
-
Extensibility
- Support other microcontroller families (RP2040, STM32, etc.).
- Modular plugin system for new boards or new codegen models.
-
Monitoring
- Add basic logging & metrics for LLM usage, compile stats, success/failure rates.
Want to contribute?
Feel free to open an Issue or PR for any of these improvements! Do start the project if you like it.