In this article we\u2019ll evaluate how to set up both, starting with the functionality.<\/p>\n
The functionality is simply some code that will be executed when Alexa is tasked with our custom actions (or skill). This code for our purposes will run on AWS Lambda, a service matching perfectly with Alexa, it\u2019s cost-efficient and super easy to set up.<\/p>\n
Here are all the steps we need to take into account when building an Alexa skill:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Set Up AWS (Amazon Web Services) Lambda<\/li>\n
- Create a free Alexa Developer Account<\/li>\n
- Create a sample of Alexa Skill<\/li>\n
- Test the newly created Alexa skill<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
So let\u2019s start with the first step:<\/p>\n
Setting up an AWS (Amazon Web Services) Lambda<\/h2>\n
- \n
- Go to the Amazon Web Services management console and create a new account<\/a> if you don\u2019t have one already. Click on the \u201cComplete Sign Up\u201d button.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.37.42-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- After adding the appropriate data in all the required fields, login to the AWS management console. Keep in mind that AWS is a paid service, though they offer a trial period of 1 year with certain limitations, but it\u2019s more than enough for what we want to do.<\/li>\n
- After the successful login, the AWS management console dashboard will be displayed to you.<\/li>\n
- Different web based services are available of AWS portal. From the find services list, search for the \u201cLambda\u201d service. Select the \u201cLambda\u201d service.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.38.14-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- Lambda service only works in the US East (N. Virginia), EU (Ireland), US West (Oregon), and Asia Pacific (Tokyo). Make sure to choose one of the given regions before creating the Lambda service.<\/li>\n
- After choosing the \u201cLambda\u201d service you will be redirected to the Functions screen. Choose the \u201cCreate function\u201d option.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.38.48-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- Click on the \u201cUse a blueprint\u201d option and search for the \u201cAlexa-skills-kit-color-expert-python\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.39.08-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\nIt\u2019s worth noting we\u2019ll use a blueprint for sample, a blueprint is an already developed sample which can be easily added to your AWS lambda account. If you want to build your own skills, you can either program the lambda yourself, or use the blueprint and update it to your needs.<\/p>\n
There are blueprints for Python, NodeJS and other programming languages, in our case we will use one based off Python, though we will ignore the code for this tutorial and focus more on the Alexa side of things.<\/p>\n
- \n
- If the results are not displayed under the \u201cUse a blueprint\u201d section, then select the third option \u201cBrowse serverless app repository\u201d and search for the \u201cAlexa-skills-kit-color-expert-python.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.39.23-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- Now enter the \u201cTopicNameParameter\u201d and click on the \u201cDeploy\u201d button.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.39.40-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- Now click on the \u201cLogical ID\u201d text.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.39.55-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- The function code will be displayed to you. Copy the \u201cARN\u201d code displayed to you on the \u201ctop right corner\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.40.32-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\nCreating your free Alexa Developer Account<\/h2>\n
Now we have to create an Alexa Developer Account<\/a>. Go to the Amazon developer portal and create an account if you don\u2019t have an account already. While creating the new account, add the appropriate data in all required fields.<\/p>\n
Just sign in to the Amazon developer portal if you have signed up already.<\/p>\n
Create a sample of Alexa Skill<\/h2>\n
Here is where we build the actual Alexa interface, that is how we\u2019re going to talk to Alexa to solve our problems and communicate with our Lambda function.<\/p>\n
Follow all these steps carefully:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Now choose the \u201cAlexa\u201d option from the dashboard and select \u201cAlexa Skills Kit.\u201d You will be redirected to the \u201cAlexa developer console.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.51.39-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- Click on the \u201cCreate Skill\u201d button.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.51.56-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- Enter the skill name, choose the language, and click on the \u201cCreate Skill\u201d option.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.52.08-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\nThe skill name can be anything you want, keep it meaningful to what you are trying to achieve. But don\u2019t confuse the name with the phrase you will use to invoke Alexa to perform the task. The name is only for your reference.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Enter the skill invocation name. This is what you will have to say to Alexa when communicating with your skill.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.52.27-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- On the Alexa skill dashboard, you will the list of your created skills. Click on \u201cMyBookSkill.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.52.42-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- Take a look at the sample intents to understand how you can create your own intents.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.52.56-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\nWith the invocation name you told Alexa to \u201ctalk\u201d to your program, now intents, will tell your program exactly what procedure to execute. They can be anything your program can perform, like \u201cfind a book\u201d, or \u201cread Live<\/span> Code Stream<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n
- \n
- For creating your own intent, click on the \u201cAdd Intent \u201d button.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.53.12-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- Enter the name of intent and then enter the utterances.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.53.27-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- Now choose the slots type from the left menu and click on \u201cAdd slot type.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.53.42-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\nSlots allow you to create lists of possible values, IDs and synonyms. Often times they\u2019re generated by code, but for now we\u2019ll set them up manually.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Enter the name of the slot type. I have entered here \u201cBOOK_TYPE\u201d, and after that enter the values.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.54.03-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- Enter all the values and then click on the \u201cBuild model.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.54.39-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- Now click on the endpoint section from the left menu and enter the Lamba ARN value.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.54.49-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n- \n
- After entering the ARN value, click on the \u201cSave endpoints\u201d option.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-11.55.07-AM.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\nAlexa skill is now successfully created.<\/p>\n
Test the newly created Alexa skill<\/h2>\n
After the implementation of the Alexa skill, we have to test it. The testing verifies the either we\u2019re achieving our desired results or not?<\/p>\n
We can test the Alexa skill in many ways:<\/p>\n
- \n
- We can deploy the Alexa skill on Amazon devices i.e. Amazon Echo Dot, Amazon Echo, or on any other device which supports the deployment of Alexa.<\/li>\n
- We can test the Alexa skill by using the simulator. Just say the skill invocation name that you have written while creating the Alexa skill.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This is the fun part, so enjoy it.<\/p>\n
Alexa, and voice assistants in general are here to stay, and the success of your product or services may be limited by the integration that these systems will present in the future.<\/p>\n
So grab yourself some time and take a look into the endless possibilities these assistants give to users and developers alike.<\/p>\n
\nThis <\/span><\/i>article<\/span><\/i><\/a> was originally published on <\/span><\/i>Live Code Stream<\/span><\/i><\/a> by <\/span><\/i>Juan Cruz Martinez<\/span><\/i><\/a> (twitter: <\/span><\/i>@bajcmartinez<\/span><\/i><\/a>), founder and publisher of Live Code Stream, entrepreneur, developer, author, speaker, and doer of things.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n
- After entering the ARN value, click on the \u201cSave endpoints\u201d option.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Now click on the endpoint section from the left menu and enter the Lamba ARN value.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Enter all the values and then click on the \u201cBuild model.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Enter the name of the slot type. I have entered here \u201cBOOK_TYPE\u201d, and after that enter the values.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Now choose the slots type from the left menu and click on \u201cAdd slot type.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Enter the name of intent and then enter the utterances.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- For creating your own intent, click on the \u201cAdd Intent \u201d button.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Take a look at the sample intents to understand how you can create your own intents.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- On the Alexa skill dashboard, you will the list of your created skills. Click on \u201cMyBookSkill.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Enter the skill invocation name. This is what you will have to say to Alexa when communicating with your skill.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Enter the skill name, choose the language, and click on the \u201cCreate Skill\u201d option.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Click on the \u201cCreate Skill\u201d button.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Now choose the \u201cAlexa\u201d option from the dashboard and select \u201cAlexa Skills Kit.\u201d You will be redirected to the \u201cAlexa developer console.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- The function code will be displayed to you. Copy the \u201cARN\u201d code displayed to you on the \u201ctop right corner\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Now click on the \u201cLogical ID\u201d text.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Now enter the \u201cTopicNameParameter\u201d and click on the \u201cDeploy\u201d button.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- If the results are not displayed under the \u201cUse a blueprint\u201d section, then select the third option \u201cBrowse serverless app repository\u201d and search for the \u201cAlexa-skills-kit-color-expert-python.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Click on the \u201cUse a blueprint\u201d option and search for the \u201cAlexa-skills-kit-color-expert-python\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Go to the Amazon Web Services management console and create a new account<\/a> if you don\u2019t have one already. Click on the \u201cComplete Sign Up\u201d button.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n