go-alexa-lambda-template

Template project using go-alexa-lambda library.

How to use it

Checkout the template

# this must be in your GOPATH, e.g. in the path to your git repo (see below)
git clone https://github.com/DrPsychick/go-alexa-lambda-template.git
mv go-alexa-lambda-template my-skill-name
cd my-skill-name
rm -rf .git

Test, build and run it

# Makefile requires mmake
go install github.com/tj/mmake/cmd/mmake@v1.4.0
alias make='mmake'
make test
make build

# generate skill and interactionModel(s)
./mydemoskill make --skill --models
ls -la ./alexa/skill.json ./alexa/*/*/en-US.json

# test how lambda responds to a launch request
./test/test-lambda.sh launch

Push it to your own git

# create your own git repo and push it
GITREPO=github.com/yourname/yourproject
git init .
git remote add origin https://$GITREPO.git
# replace module paths of the template with your own
find . -name \*.go -exec sed -i "" -e "s#github.com/drpsychick/go-alexa-lambda-template#$GITREPO#" {} ';'
git add .
git commit -m "initial commit"
git push

Build your own skill

Replace existing Intent with your own

This templates is ready to use with an existing demo intent. Here are some example phrases:

• Alexa open my demo skill and make coffee.
• Alexa prepare lunch with my demo skill.
• Alexa start my demo skill. Yes? Sudo make me a sandwich.

To replace it with your own first intent, do the following:

Replace sample constants and translations

• Replace Intent and Slot name in loca/loca.go
  • Replace DoSomething with your intent name
  • Replace Task with your slot type
• Update your english locale accordingly loca/en-US.go
  • Like above replace DoSomething and Task
  • Change texts and phrases to match your intent.
• Make sure all references to the changed loca. constants are updated in all files.

Replace demo with your own logic

• Adjust skill.go to define your skill manifest and interaction model.
• Adjust app.go and add the behavioural or business logic for your intents.
• Adjust lambda/lambda.go to add more intents or change how to process Alexa requests.
• Of course, adjust loca files to your needs, adding keys and changing texts.

Verify skill manifest and interaction model

• run make build; ./mydemoskill make --skill --models
• check alexa/skill.json and alexa/interactionModel/custom/en-US.json

Before you code

Interaction concept

Make a concept for your skill on how people will interact with it, e.g. use a mind map.

• How will users launch it?
• How will users interact with your skill?
• Write down example phrases and dialogs with your skill.
• Read them out loud and check if it "feels" like a smooth conversation.
• Make sure to repeat the above steps for every language (locale). Especially your invocation will likely be specific to the locale.

Testing your skill

• Create sample lambda requests to ensure your lambda function answers correctly.
• Create a few common dialogs you want to have tested after deploy.
  • Important: ask cli dialog does not work with prompts delegated to Alexa! It will just timeout.
• Manually test dialogs with prompt delegation to Alexa with the Alexa SDK website.