A TypeScript Alexa Skill Example

Build and Test

• npm install
• npm run build
• npm run test (node testflow.js)

aws-config.json

• in order to run/test the code:
• • Copy data/aws-config-template.json and rename it aws-config.json
• • Edit the appId and cognitoIdentityPoolId fields

{
    "region": "us-east-1",
    "cognitoIdentityPoolId": "[your cognito identity pool id]",
    "appId": "[your skill's app id]",
    "alexaDynamoDBTableName": "MarketGuideDynamo",
    "lambdaFunctionNameForDBAccess": "MarketGuideLambdaDB"
}

testflow.js

• provided by amazon in the alexa-cookbook repo
• invokes the intents specified in dialogs/default.txt
• • https://github.com/alexa/alexa-cookbook/tree/master/testing/TestFlow
• requires that the region be specified in the code (not necessary when deployed)

AWS.config.update({
    region: "us-east-1"
});

• requires that a Cognito identity pool be specified (not necessary when deployed)

AWS.config.credentials = new AWS.CognitoIdentityCredentials({
    IdentityPoolId: '[your cognito identity pool id]'
});

• requires a valid alexa skill/app id

var appId = '[your skill's app id]';

callLambda.js

• Shows how to access the app/skill's DynamoDB using a vanilla (non-alexa) lambda

Speech Assets

• these are not part of the lambda build process but are helpful when creating the skill
• speechAssets/IntentSchema.json
• speechAssets/InteractionModel.json (can be pasted into a new skill)
• speechAssets/SampleUtterances.txt

Deploy

• copy lib/index.js to the lambda code editor
• (or set up the aws CLI ...)