Here is the scenario: You buy a brand new ESP-8266 version 1. Now when you buy it you can connect it to a serial monitor like Putty for instance right? And if you can connect to the module at that point it will respond to those AT commands. Now do you need to load firmware (nodemcu?) onto the module before you can upload a sketch using Arduino IDE or can you load a sketch using Arduino IDE while the module is still responding to AT commands? Does this question even make sense? I'll keep a sharp eye on here if I need to elaborate further so it will make sense. And I repeat if I made a mistake putting this question onto this existing thread I'm really sorry but I did search and this looked like this was kind of what was already being discussed. On a sidenote I signed up with the official Arduino.cc forums and those guys are the most hateful bunch I have ever seen.
So this is Dave over n' out for now. And nice meeting you guys.