ESP32 Commercial Automation Dashboard

The goal is to turn a fleet of ESP32-based nodes into a complete commercial-grade automation system that handles lighting control and security monitoring while exposing everything through a clean, browser-based control panel.

Firmware
Each ESP32 will run Arduino-style code (C/C++) that:
• Reads and drives relays, motion sensors, light sensors, and any other GPIO needed for lighting and security.
• Exchanges state changes and commands over MQTT (or similar) so every node stays in sync.
• Recovers gracefully from power outages with solid watchdog and OTA update support.

Backend & Dashboard
A lightweight Node.js service will accept the MQTT traffic, persist data, and serve a JavaScript dashboard. From the dashboard I want to:
• View every zone’s light status and toggle it instantly.
• See real-time security events (door contact, PIR, camera triggers).
• Schedule scenes and define automation rules (e.g., arm security after closing hours, dim lobby lights after 10 pm).

Connectivity & Security
Wi-Fi is the primary link, so WPA2, token-based API calls, and SSL for the web UI are mandatory. All credentials must live in a separate config file so new devices can be provisioned quickly.

Acceptance criteria
1. Flash the firmware to two demo ESP32s and show them controlling at least one light circuit and one security sensor each.
2. Access the dashboard remotely, issue a command, and watch it reflected on the hardware in under 2 s round-trip.
3. Reboot the nodes; on reconnect they must publish their state automatically with no human intervention.

If you are comfortable moving from low-level GPIO code all the way up to a polished Node.js/JavaScript front end, this project should fit perfectly.