Your first flash, line by line

The smallest real config

Save this as hello.yaml (pick the board line matching yours):

esphome:
  name: hello-latent

esp32:
  board: esp32-s3-devkitc-1
  framework:
    type: esp-idf

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

logger:
  level: INFO

Create secrets.yaml beside it, then:

esphome run hello.yaml

What happens now

Compile — the first build downloads the toolchain and takes minutes. Later builds are fast.
Port pick — ESPHome lists serial ports; pick /dev/cu.usbmodem… (macOS) or COMx (Windows).
Flash — progress bars, a reboot…
Logs — you should see WiFi connecting and an IP address. That IP is your proof of life.

When it does not work

No port listed → wrong cable (data vs charge), or hold the BOOT button while plugging in, then retry.
Port busy → something else holds it open (a serial monitor, a background relay/daemon). Close it and retry — on shared lab machines this is the most common flash killer.
"Auth Expired" WiFi loops on a phone hotspot → add fast_connect: true under wifi: and set the hotspot to WPA2-Personal. ESP32s only join 2.4 GHz networks, never 5 GHz-only.
Boot loops after flashing → power. Use a real 5V adapter or a powered hub, not a low-power laptop port.

You are now dangerous

Every solution in the catalog is this same loop with a richer YAML: download config → set secrets → esphome run. That is the entire skill.