Help needed - - running into issues with python and its tools

Greetings

Looking at ESP8266 and wanting to program it using micropython (really
don't want to have to learn C++ (not enough hours in the day as it is!!)).

One of the tools I need to be able to use is esptools - -  well in the
devuan world you need to run that on either Devaun 3 or 5 - - - its just
not available on devuan 4.

Tried installing all the tools I need using downloads and .deb installs but
then I need to have python3.12 and that's also not part of Devuan4.

Not versed enough to set up a good venv (if that's possible) so that I
could work in that specific venv and have my cake (and get to eat it too
(grin!).

Suggestions - - - ideas - - - please?

TIA