Before we can start using Adafruit.IO to display our light level data, we need to A) have an account with Adafruit.IO and B) create the dashboard for the light sensor data. If you're keeping track of where we are, the information flow at this point is sensor->ESP8266->MQTT->Python. We just need to complete the last steps of configuring Adafruit.IO and we're good to go.

The first step, when you open io.adafruit.com, is to click the "My Dashboards" button.

This brings up a list of any dashboards you have, but, more importantly, it brings up the navigation bar on the left side of the screen:

Click the "Your Feeds" link to open up the list of feeds you have. Remember, io.adafruit.com is in beta, so you're limited to the number of feeds you can have. The feeds list will allow you to create a new feed by clicking the blue "Create Feed" button on the right. As you can see, I already have a feed for the light sensor but we'll still walk through all the steps. Go ahead and click the "Create Feed" button.

This will bring up the "New Feed" dialog.

For the name, use "lightsensor" and then enter a descriptive text in the Description field. Once you're done, click on the "Create Feed" button to make the new data feed for io.adafruit.com.

The next step is to create the Dashboard and l ink the feed to it. Go back to the navigation bar on the left side and click the "My Dashboads" link. This brings up the the list of dashboards and, more importantly, a "Create Dashboard" button on the right side of the screen. Click it.

This brings up the new dashboard dialog box.

Name your dashboard something appropriate and creative, like "LightSensor" and then click the "Create Dashboard" button. This will bring up a blank dashboard. On the right side is a set of control buttons. Click the blue one with the plus sign to add a new dashboard element.

When you click that button, you'll be presented with a display of the various kinds of dashboard elements you can use. I favor the line chart, but use what feels right for you.

Once you select the dashboard element you want, you'll need to associate a topic feed with that element. Here you want to use the feed you created several steps ago The system will present a dialog box that lets you choose the feeds you want in your dashboard element.

Select your light sensor feed and click "Next Step."

Now you can enter the values you want to constrain the line graph (or other element you've chosen). One of the changes I made was that I record 24 hours of data instead of just one. I'm not particular about my graph labels, but you can change whatever fields you like in order to make the dashboard as useful as possible for you.

Once you have finished editing the parameters, click the "Create Block" button in the lower right. This will create the block and give you the opportunity to change the location and size of that block.

And you're done! You now have a light sensor feeding data, via an intermediate MQTT queue, into Adafruit.IO!!!!