{"id":15619193,"url":"https://github.com/xavidop/alexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2","last_synced_at":"2025-04-28T13:14:31.813Z","repository":{"id":44757399,"uuid":"291245912","full_name":"xavidop/alexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2","owner":"xavidop","description":"Alexa Skill v2 template using Node.js","archived":false,"fork":false,"pushed_at":"2022-01-26T15:18:32.000Z","size":8843,"stargazers_count":6,"open_issues_count":1,"forks_count":0,"subscribers_count":1,"default_branch":"master","last_synced_at":"2025-04-28T13:14:26.189Z","etag":null,"topics":["alexa","alexa-custom-skill","alexa-request","alexa-requests","alexa-sdk","alexa-skill","alexa-skills","alexa-skills-kit","aws","aws-lambda","custom-skill","lambda-functions","nodejs","npm","skill-sample","visual-studio","visual-studio-code"],"latest_commit_sha":null,"homepage":"","language":"JavaScript","has_issues":true,"has_wiki":null,"has_pages":null,"mirror_url":null,"source_name":null,"license":"apache-2.0","status":null,"scm":"git","pull_requests_enabled":true,"icon_url":"https://github.com/xavidop.png","metadata":{"files":{"readme":"README.md","changelog":null,"contributing":null,"funding":".github/FUNDING.yml","license":"LICENSE.txt","code_of_conduct":null,"threat_model":null,"audit":null,"citation":null,"codeowners":null,"security":null,"support":null},"funding":{"github":"xavidop","patreon":null,"open_collective":null,"ko_fi":null,"tidelift":null,"community_bridge":null,"liberapay":null,"issuehunt":null,"otechie":null,"custom":null}},"created_at":"2020-08-29T10:02:47.000Z","updated_at":"2024-03-25T15:26:48.000Z","dependencies_parsed_at":"2022-09-08T09:11:24.409Z","dependency_job_id":null,"html_url":"https://github.com/xavidop/alexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2","commit_stats":null,"previous_names":[],"tags_count":0,"template":false,"template_full_name":null,"repository_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/xavidop%2Falexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2","tags_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/xavidop%2Falexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2/tags","releases_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/xavidop%2Falexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2/releases","manifests_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/xavidop%2Falexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2/manifests","owner_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/owners/xavidop","download_url":"https://codeload.github.com/xavidop/alexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2/tar.gz/refs/heads/master","host":{"name":"GitHub","url":"https://github.com","kind":"github","repositories_count":251319593,"owners_count":21570428,"icon_url":"https://github.com/github.png","version":null,"created_at":"2022-05-30T11:31:42.601Z","updated_at":"2022-07-04T15:15:14.044Z","host_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub","repositories_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories","repository_names_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repository_names","owners_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/owners"}},"keywords":["alexa","alexa-custom-skill","alexa-request","alexa-requests","alexa-sdk","alexa-skill","alexa-skills","alexa-skills-kit","aws","aws-lambda","custom-skill","lambda-functions","nodejs","npm","skill-sample","visual-studio","visual-studio-code"],"created_at":"2024-10-03T08:03:27.012Z","updated_at":"2025-04-28T13:14:31.790Z","avatar_url":"https://github.com/xavidop.png","language":"JavaScript","funding_links":["https://github.com/sponsors/xavidop"],"categories":[],"sub_categories":[],"readme":"![.github/workflows/main.yml](https://github.com/xavidop/alexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2/workflows/.github/workflows/main.yml/badge.svg?branch=master\u0026event=push)\n[![codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/xavidop/alexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2/branch/master/graph/badge.svg)](https://codecov.io/gh/xavidop/alexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2)\n\u003c!-- TOC --\u003e\n\n- [Alexa Skill with Node.js](#alexa-skill-with-nodejs)\n  - [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)\n  - [Creating the Skill with ASK CLI](#creating-the-skill-with-ask-cli)\n  - [Project Files](#project-files)\n  - [Lambda function in Javascript](#lambda-function-in-javascript)\n  - [Building the Skill with Visual Studio Code](#building-the-skill-with-visual-studio-code)\n  - [Running the Skill with Visual Studio Code](#running-the-skill-with-visual-studio-code)\n  - [Debugging the Skill with Visual Studio Code](#debugging-the-skill-with-visual-studio-code)\n  - [Testing requests locally](#testing-requests-locally)\n  - [Deploying your Alexa Skill](#deploying-your-alexa-skill)\n  - [Test requests directly from Alexa](#test-requests-directly-from-alexa)\n  - [Resources](#resources)\n  - [CICD](#cicd)\n  - [Conclusion](#conclusion)\n\n\u003c!-- /TOC --\u003e\n\n\n# Alexa Skill with Node.js\n\nAlexa skills can be developed using Alexa Lambda functions or a REST API endpoint. \nLambda function is Amazon's implementation of serverless functions available in AWS. \nAmazon recommends using Lambda functions despite they are not easy to debug. \nWhile you can log to a CloudWatch log, you can't hit a breakpoint and step into the code. \n \nThis makes live debugging of Alexa requests a very hard task.\nIn this post, we will implement a custom skill for Amazon Alexa by using Node.js, npm and AWS Lambda Functions. This skill is basically a Hello World example. \nWith this post you will be able to create a custom skill for Amazon Alexa, implement functionality by using Node.js and start your custom skill both from your local computer and from AWS.\nThis post contains materials from different resources that can be seen on Resources section.\n\n## Prerequisites\n\nHere you have the technologies used in this project\n1. Amazon Developer Account - [How to get it](http://developer.amazon.com/)\n2. AWS Account - [Sign up here for free](https://aws.amazon.com/)\n3. ASK CLI - [Install and configure ASK CLI](https://developer.amazon.com/es-ES/docs/alexa/smapi/quick-start-alexa-skills-kit-command-line-interface.html)\n4. Node.js v10.x\n5. Visual Studio Code\n6. npm Package Manager\n7. Alexa ASK for Node.js (Version \u003e2.7.0)\n8. ngrok\n\nThe Alexa Skills Kit Command Line Interface (ASK CLI) is a tool for you to manage your Alexa skills and related resources, such as AWS Lambda functions.\nWith ASK CLI, you have access to the Skill Management API, which allows you to manage Alexa skills programmatically from the command line.\nWe will use this powerful tool to create, build, deploy and manage our Hello World Skill. Let's start!\n\n## Creating the Skill with ASK CLI\n\nFor creating the Alexa Skill, we will use de ASK CLI previously configured. First of all, we have to execute this command:\n\n```bash\n\n    ask new\n\n```\nThis command will run and interactive step-by-step creation process:\n\n1. The first thing the ASK CLI is going to ask us is the runtime of our Skill. In our case, `Node.js v10`:\n\n![image](img/runtime.png)\n\n2. The second step is the template of the Skill that our Skill is going to base on. In our case, we will select `Hello World` template:\n\n![image](img/template.png)\n\n3. Finally, the ASK CLI is going to ask about the name of the Skill:\n\n![image](img/name.png)\n\n## Project Files \n\nThese are the main files of the project:\n\n```bash\n\n    ├───.ask\n    │       ask-states.json\n    ├───.vscode\n    │       launch.json\n    ├───lambda\n    │    ├─── local-debugger.js\n    │    ├───test\n    │    │    └─── helloworld-tests.js\n    │    └───src\n    │         ├───errors\n    │         ├───intents\n    │         ├───interceptors\n    │         ├─── utilities\n    │         ├─── index.js\n    │         └─── package.json\n    ├───skill-package\n    │    ├───interactionModels\n    │    │    └─── custom\n    │    │           └─── es-ES.json\n    │    ├───asstes\n    │    │    └─── en-US_largeIcon\n    │    └─── skill.json\n    ├──ask-resources.json\n\n\n```\n\n* .ask: folder which contains the ASK CLI's config file. This config files will remain empty until we execute the command `ask deploy`\n* `.vscode/launch.json`: Launch preferences to run locally your Skill for local testing. This setting launch `lambda/local-debugger.js`. This script runs a server on http://localhost:3001 for debug the Skill.\n* lambda/src/: A folder that contains the source code for the skill's AWS Lambda function:\n  * `index.js`: the lambda main entry point.\n  * `utilities/languageStrings.js`: i18n dictionaries used by the library `i18next` which allow us to run same in Skill in different configuration languages.\n  * `package.json`: this file is core to the Node.js ecosystem and is a basic part of understanding and working with Node.js, npm, and even modern JavaScript\n  * `utilities/util.js`: file with helpful functions.\n  * `local-debugger.js`: used for debug our skill locally.\n  * `errors`: folder that contains all Error handlers.\n  * `intents`: folder that contains all Intent handlers.\n  * `interceptors`: here you can find all interceptors.\n* lambda/test/: A folder that contains the source code for tests.\n  * interactionModels/custom – A folder that contains interaction models for the skill. Each interaction model is defined in a JSON file named according to the locale. For example, es-ES.json.\n  * assets – A folder that contains all the assets for the skill. For example, te icon of the Alexa Skill.\n  * `skill.json` – The skill manifest. One of the most important files in our project.\n* `ask-resources.json` – In this file we will setup the folders of the lambda code and the skill-package.\n\n\n## Lambda function in Javascript\n\nThe ASK SDK for Node.js makes it easier for you to build highly engaging skills by allowing you to spend more time implementing features and less time writing boilerplate code.\n\nYou can find documentation, samples and helpful links in their official [GitHub repository](https://github.com/alexa/alexa-skills-kit-sdk-for-nodejs)\n\nThe main Javascript file in our lambda project is `index.js` located in `lambda/src` folder. This file contains all handlers, interceptors and exports the Skill handler in `exports.handler`.\n\nThe `exports.handler` function is executed every time AWS Lambda is initiated for this particular function. \nIn theory, an AWS Lambda function is just a single function. This means that we need to define dispatching logic so a single function request can route to appropriate code, hence the handlers.\n\n```javascript\n\n  /**\n  * This handler acts as the entry point for your skill, routing all request and response\n  * payloads to the handlers above. Make sure any new handlers or interceptors you've\n  * defined are included below. The order matters - they're processed top to bottom \n  * */\n  exports.handler = Alexa.SkillBuilders.custom()\n      .addRequestHandlers(\n          LaunchRequestHandler,\n          HelloWorldIntentHandler,\n          HelpIntentHandler,\n          CancelAndStopIntentHandler,\n          FallbackIntentHandler,\n          SessionEndedRequestHandler,\n          IntentReflectorHandler)\n      .addErrorHandlers(\n          ErrorHandler)\n      .addRequestInterceptors(\n          LocalisationRequestInterceptor)\n      .lambda();\n\n```\nIt is important to take a look into the `LaunchRequestHandler` as an example of Alexa Skill handler written in Node.js:\n\n```javascript\n\n  const LaunchRequestHandler = {\n      //Method that returns true if this handler can execute the current request\n      canHandle(handlerInput) {\n          return Alexa.getRequestType(handlerInput.requestEnvelope) === 'LaunchRequest';\n      },\n      //Method that will process the request if the method above returns true\n      handle(handlerInput) {\n          const speakOutput = i18n.t('WELCOME_MSG');\n\n          return handlerInput.responseBuilder\n              .speak(speakOutput)\n              .reprompt(speakOutput)\n              .getResponse();\n      }\n  };\n\n```\n\n## Building the Skill with Visual Studio Code\n\nInside `package.json`, we will almost always find metadata specific to the project. \nThis metadata helps identify the project and acts as a baseline for users and contributors to get information about the project.\n\nHere is how this file looks like:\n\n```json\n\n  {\n    \"name\": \"alexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld\",\n    \"version\": \"1.0.0\",\n    \"description\": \"Alexa HelloWorld example with NodeJS\",\n    \"main\": \"index.js\",\n    \"scripts\": {\n      \"test\": \"echo \\\"Error: no test specified\\\" \u0026\u0026 exit 1\"\n    },\n    \"repository\": {\n      \"type\": \"git\",\n      \"url\": \"https://github.com/xavidop/alexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld.git\"\n    },\n    \"author\": \"Xavier Portilla Edo\",\n    \"license\": \"Apache-2.0\",\n    \"dependencies\": {\n      \"ask-sdk-core\": \"^2.7.0\",\n      \"ask-sdk-model\": \"^1.19.0\",\n      \"aws-sdk\": \"^2.326.0\",\n      \"i18next\": \"^15.0.5\"\n    }\n  }\n\n```\n\nWith Javascript or Node.js the term of build is a little bit different. For build our Skill, we can run the following command:\n\n```bash\n\n  npm install\n\n```\n\nThis command installs a package, and any packages that it depends on. \nIf the package has a package-lock or shrink-wrap file, the installation of dependencies will be driven by that.\n\nIt could be the way to build our Alexa Skill.\n\n## Running the Skill with Visual Studio Code\n\nThe `launch.json` file in `.vscode` folder has the configuration for Visual Studio Code which allow us to run our lambda locally:\n\n```json\n\n  {\n    \"version\": \"0.2.0\",\n    \"configurations\": [\n        {\n            \"type\": \"node\",\n            \"request\": \"launch\",\n            \"name\": \"Launch Skill\",\n            // Specify path to the downloaded local adapter(for Node.js) file\n            \"program\": \"${workspaceRoot}/lambda/local-debugger.js\",\n            \"args\": [\n                // port number on your local host where the alexa requests will be routed to\n                \"--portNumber\", \"3001\",\n                // name of your Node.js main skill file\n                \"--skillEntryFile\", \"${workspaceRoot}/lambda/src/index.js\",\n                // name of your lambda handler\n                \"--lambdaHandler\", \"handler\"\n            ]\n        }\n    ]\n}\n\n```\nThis configuration file will execute the following command:\n\n```bash\n\n  node --inspect-brk=28448 lambda\\local-debugger.js --portNumber 3001 --skillEntryFile lambda/src/index.js --lambdaHandler handler\n\n```\n\nThis configuration uses the `local-debugger.js` file which runs a [TCP server](https://nodejs.org/api/net.html) listening on http://localhost:3001\n\nFor a new incoming skill request a new socket connection is established.\nFrom the data received on the socket the request body is extracted, parsed into JSON and passed to the skill invoker's lambda handler.\nThe response from the lambda handler is parsed as a HTTP 200 message format as specified [here](https://developer.amazon.com/docs/custom-skills/request-and-response-json-reference.html#http-header-1)\nThe response is written onto the socket connection and returned.\n\nAfter configuring our launch.json file and understanding how the local debugger works, it is time to click on the play button:\n\n![image](img/run.png)\n\nAfter executing it, you can send Alexa POST requests to http://localhost:3001.\n\n## Debugging the Skill with Visual Studio Code\n\nFollowing the steps before, now you can set up breakpoints wherever you want inside all JS files in order to debug your skill:\n\n![image](img/debug.png)\n\n## Testing requests locally\n\nI'm sure you already know the famous tool call [Postman](https://www.postman.com/). REST APIs have become the new standard in providing a public and secure interface for your service. Though REST has become ubiquitous, it's not always easy to test. Postman, makes it easier to test and manage HTTP REST APIs. Postman gives us multiple features to import, test and share APIs, which will help you and your team be more productive in the long run.\n\nAfter run your application you will have an endpoint available at http://localhost:3001. With Postman you can emulate any Alexa Request. \n\nFor example, you can test a `LaunchRequest`:\n\n```json\n\n  {\n    \"version\": \"1.0\",\n    \"session\": {\n      \"new\": true,\n      \"sessionId\": \"amzn1.echo-api.session.[unique-value-here]\",\n      \"application\": {\n        \"applicationId\": \"amzn1.ask.skill.[unique-value-here]\"\n      },\n      \"user\": {\n        \"userId\": \"amzn1.ask.account.[unique-value-here]\"\n      },\n      \"attributes\": {}\n    },\n    \"context\": {\n      \"AudioPlayer\": {\n        \"playerActivity\": \"IDLE\"\n      },\n      \"System\": {\n        \"application\": {\n          \"applicationId\": \"amzn1.ask.skill.[unique-value-here]\"\n        },\n        \"user\": {\n          \"userId\": \"amzn1.ask.account.[unique-value-here]\"\n        },\n        \"device\": {\n          \"supportedInterfaces\": {\n            \"AudioPlayer\": {}\n          }\n        }\n      }\n    },\n    \"request\": {\n      \"type\": \"LaunchRequest\",\n      \"requestId\": \"amzn1.echo-api.request.[unique-value-here]\",\n      \"timestamp\": \"2020-03-22T17:24:44Z\",\n      \"locale\": \"en-US\"\n    }\n  }\n\n```\n\n## Deploying your Alexa Skill\n\nWith the code ready to go, we need to deploy it on AWS Lambda so it can be connected to Alexa.\n\nBefore deploy the Alexa Skill, we can show the `ask-states.json` file in `.ask` folder it is empty:\n\n```json\n  {\n    \"askcliStatesVersion\": \"2020-03-31\",\n    \"profiles\": {\n      \"default\": {\n        \"skillInfrastructure\": {\n          \"@ask-cli/lambda-deployer\": {\n            \"deployState\": {}\n          }\n        }\n      }\n    }\n  }\n```\n\nDeploy Alexa Skill with ASK CLI:\n\n```bash\n    ask deploy\n```\n\nAs the official documentation says:\n\nWhen the local skill project has never been deployed, ASK CLI creates a new skill in the development stage for your account, then deploys the skill project. If applicable, ASK CLI creates one or more new AWS Lambda functions in your AWS account and uploads the Lambda function code. Specifically, ASK CLI does the following:\n\n1. Looks in your skill project's config file (in the .ask folder, which is in the skill project folder) for an existing skill ID. If the config file does not contain a skill ID, ASK CLI creates a new skill using the skill manifest in the skill project's skill.json file, then adds the skill ID to the skill project's config file.\n2. Looks in your skill project's manifest (skill.json file) for the skill's published locales. These are listed in the manifest.publishingInformation.locales object. For each locale, ASK CLI looks in the skill project's models folder for a corresponding model file (for example, es-ES.json), then uploads the model to your skill. ASK CLI waits for the uploaded models to build, then adds each model's eTag to the skill project's config file.\n3. Looks in your skill project's manifest (skill.json file) for AWS Lambda endpoints. These are listed in the manifest.apis.\u003cskill type\u003e.endpoint or manifest.apis.\u003cskill type\u003e.regions.\u003cregion code\u003e.endpoint objects (for example, manifest.apis.custom.endpoint or manifest.apis.smartHome.regions.NA.endpoint). Each endpoint object contains a sourceDir value, and optionally a uri value. ASK CLI upload the contents of the sourceDir folder to the corresponding AWS Lambda function and names the Lambda function the same as the uri value. For more details about how ASK CLI performs uploads to Lambda, see AWS Lambda deployment details.\n4. Looks in your skill project folder for in-skill products, and if it finds any, uploads them to your skill. For more information about in-skill products, see the In-Skill Purchasing Overview.\n\n\nAfter the execution of the above command, we will have the `config` file properly filled:\n\n```json\n\n  {\n  \"askcliStatesVersion\": \"2020-03-31\",\n  \"profiles\": {\n    \"default\": {\n      \"skillInfrastructure\": {\n        \"@ask-cli/lambda-deployer\": {\n          \"deployState\": {\n            \"default\": {\n              \"iamRole\": \"arn:aws:iam::141568529918:role/ask-lambda-alexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2-1598694434658\",\n              \"lambda\": {\n                \"arn\": \"arn:aws:lambda:us-east-1:141568529918:function:ask-alexa-nodejs-lambda-he-default-default-1598694445212\",\n                \"lastModified\": \"2020-08-29T10:40:58.405+0000\",\n                \"revisionId\": \"eeeee1c4-2c47-463c-927f-ef3074753dbd\"\n              }\n            }\n          }\n        }\n      },\n      \"skillId\": \"amzn1.ask.skill.a37d291d-4f48-46e0-8149-20fcbb1dda36\",\n      \"skillMetadata\": {\n        \"lastDeployHash\": \"akfVROzLAyhVmotpASooDMTXGn4=\"\n      },\n      \"code\": {\n        \"default\": {\n          \"lastDeployHash\": \"1tYE/EFqTNpN6n/m66RegKKtlow=\"\n        }\n      }\n    }\n  }\n}\n\n```\n\n## Test requests directly from Alexa\n\nngrok is a very cool, lightweight tool that creates a secure tunnel on your local machine along with a public URL you can use for browsing your local site or APIs.\n\nWhen ngrok is running, it listens on the same port that you’re local web server is running on and proxies external requests to your local machine\n\nFrom there, it’s a simple step to get it to listen to your web server. Say you’re running your local web server on port 3001. In terminal, you’d type in: `ngrok http 3001`. This starts ngrok listening on port 3001 and creates the secure tunnel:\n\n![image](img/tunnel.png)\n\nSo now you have to go to [Alexa Developer console](https://developer.amazon.com/alexa/console/ask), go to your skill \u003e endpoints \u003e https, add the https url generated above . Eg: https://20dac120.ngrok.io.\n\nSelect the My development endpoint is a sub-domain.... option from the dropdown and click save endpoint at the top of the page.\n\nGo to Test tab in the Alexa Developer Console and launch your skill.\n\nThe Alexa Developer Console will send a HTTPS request to the ngrok endpoint (https://20dac120.ngrok.io) which will route it to your skill running on Web API server at http://localhost:3001.\n\n\n## Resources\n* [Official Alexa Skills Kit Node.js SDK](https://www.npmjs.com/package/ask-sdk) - The Official Node.js SDK Documentation\n* [Official Alexa Skills Kit Documentation](https://developer.amazon.com/docs/ask-overviews/build-skills-with-the-alexa-skills-kit.html) - Official Alexa Skills Kit Documentation\n\n## CICD\n\nIf you want to Devops your Skill, check it out this [markdown file](./CICD.md)\n\n## Conclusion \n\nThis was a basic tutorial to learn Alexa Skills using Node.js.\nAs you have seen in this example, the Alexa Skill Kit for Node.js and the Alexa Tools like ASK CLI can help us a lot and also they give us the possibility to create skills in an easy way. \nI hope this example project is useful to you.\n\nThat's all folks!\n\nHappy coding!\n","project_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/projects/github.com%2Fxavidop%2Falexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2","html_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/projects/github.com%2Fxavidop%2Falexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2","lists_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/projects/github.com%2Fxavidop%2Falexa-nodejs-lambda-helloworld-v2/lists"}