ESP8266 + Arduino Pro-Micro project brain storming help

Projects General Guidance
1

Hey gang-

My experience with the ESP8266 is minimal at best.. some minimal tests..etc to ensure things I ordered were working.. and not much more.

(ie: using a serial programmer to throw some AT commands at it..set mode/baud rate..etc)

Most of what I have read/tried was using the ESP8266 as a 'standalone' module.. without the need for matching Arduino..

but my project -now- would seem to require it.... and I just wanted to start some communication, get some feedback to get my head straight and ensure I understand how things should work..

Project Summary/Goal:

  • Pair an ESP8266 module with an Arduino Pro-Micro (not to be confused with a Pro-Mini)..

  • Have the ESP8266 'host' (serve) a minimal webpage with several buttons.

  • When any of these buttons are clicked.. I want to send some (serial?) data back to the Arduino.. so it can 'do whatever'

(ie: I want top have the Pro-Micro act as a keyboard/mouse.. and when the web page hosted on the ESP has some buttons clicked.. it should send some data back to the Pro-Micro... which in turn will send keyboard/mouse data to the PC)

I have seen some tutorials where the webpage is hosted on a standalone ESP8266

I have seen some tutorials where the web page is housed on an external server (local WAMP/LAMP install.. or from a live domain.. where it reaches out to the ESP via IP address)

but I have NOT see anything where:

  • web page is hosted ON the ESP8266
  • also connected to Arduino..

maybe I'm just over-thinking this.. and it really a no-brainer?

but I havent been able to wrap my head around HOW (when a webpage is hosted ON the ESP8266 module) when a button is clicked on the webpage to send any sort of 'return data/response' back to the Arduino side?

Would it be two separate 'programs'.. where I upload code to the ESP8266 to host the webpage (like any ESP8266 web server tutorial out there).. and then when the page 'submits'.. use a serial output.. that some other code/sketch on the Arduino listens to on some software serial set up pins?

The closest I guess I see is.. the tuts where the ESP8266 is a webserver.. that controls a pi/led on the ESP8266 itself..

I want the same.. EXCEPT.. the 'pin/led' is connected to the Arduino.. and not the ESP (actually dont want to control a pin on the Arduino.. just get the data there so I handle it how I need to... ie: send keyboard/mouse commands using Pro-Micro)

Anyone have any links or tutorials.. or just some suggestions to clear things up for me in my head?

Paul, others... feel free to ridicule me on this one! haha.. I'm having a brain fart here (and sure I'm making it harder than it is).. so I deserve it! :slight_smile:

Thanks