In this article, I will show the process through which you can add your backend logic using python. We will be using AWS Lambda as it blends well with Alexa.
If you are someone new to AWS you can refer to this blog.
Amazon Alexa makes our life easy by providing an SDK. So in order to use the ASK SDK, we can make use of the layer feature in AWS Lambda. Click here to know how to add a layer in AWS lambda.
In case the python version of yours is 3.7, you can leverage my layer which is in my GitHub repository. Just download the zip and add the layer with runtime python 3.7 enabled. Once this is done we are good to get started.
Click add layer from your lambda function and select the layer you created. You can import the libraries using the following example code.
import ask_sdk_core.utils as ask_utils
from ask_sdk_core.skill_builder import SkillBuilder
from ask_sdk_core.dispatch_components import AbstractRequestHandler
from ask_sdk_core.dispatch_components import AbstractExceptionHandler
from ask_sdk_core.handler_input import HandlerInput
from ask_sdk_model import ResponseI am going to save your time by giving a hello world template that you can use to get started.
import logging
import ask_sdk_core.utils as ask_utils
from ask_sdk_core.skill_builder import SkillBuilder
from ask_sdk_core.dispatch_components import AbstractRequestHandler
from ask_sdk_core.dispatch_components import AbstractExceptionHandler
from ask_sdk_core.handler_input import HandlerInput
from ask_sdk_model import Response
logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
logger.setLevel(logging.INFO)
class LaunchRequestHandler(AbstractRequestHandler):
"""Handler for Skill Launch."""
def can_handle(self, handler_input):
# type: (HandlerInput) -> bool
return ask_utils.is_request_type("LaunchRequest")(handler_input)
def handle(self, handler_input):
# type: (HandlerInput) -> Response
speak_output = "Welcome, you can say Hello or Help. Which would you like to try?"
return (
handler_input.response_builder
.speak(speak_output)
.ask(speak_output)
.response
)
class HelloWorldIntentHandler(AbstractRequestHandler):
"""Handler for Hello World Intent."""
def can_handle(self, handler_input):
# type: (HandlerInput) -> bool
return ask_utils.is_intent_name("HelloWorldIntent")(handler_input)
def handle(self, handler_input):
# type: (HandlerInput) -> Response
speak_output = "Hello World from Chennai!"
return (
handler_input.response_builder
.speak(speak_output)
# .ask("add a reprompt if you want to keep the session open for the user to respond")
.response
)
class HelpIntentHandler(AbstractRequestHandler):
"""Handler for Help Intent."""
def can_handle(self, handler_input):
# type: (HandlerInput) -> bool
return ask_utils.is_intent_name("AMAZON.HelpIntent")(handler_input)
def handle(self, handler_input):
# type: (HandlerInput) -> Response
speak_output = "You can say hello to me! How can I help?"
return (
handler_input.response_builder
.speak(speak_output)
.ask(speak_output)
.response
)
class CancelOrStopIntentHandler(AbstractRequestHandler):
"""Single handler for Cancel and Stop Intent."""
def can_handle(self, handler_input):
# type: (HandlerInput) -> bool
return (ask_utils.is_intent_name("AMAZON.CancelIntent")(handler_input) or
ask_utils.is_intent_name("AMAZON.StopIntent")(handler_input))
def handle(self, handler_input):
# type: (HandlerInput) -> Response
speak_output = "Goodbye!"
return (
handler_input.response_builder
.speak(speak_output)
.response
)
class FallbackIntentHandler(AbstractRequestHandler):
"""Single handler for Fallback Intent."""
def can_handle(self, handler_input):
# type: (HandlerInput) -> bool
return ask_utils.is_intent_name("AMAZON.FallbackIntent")(handler_input)
def handle(self, handler_input):
# type: (HandlerInput) -> Response
logger.info("In FallbackIntentHandler")
speech = "Hmm, I'm not sure. You can say Hello or Help. What would you like to do?"
reprompt = "I didn't catch that. What can I help you with?"
return handler_input.response_builder.speak(speech).ask(reprompt).response
class SessionEndedRequestHandler(AbstractRequestHandler):
"""Handler for Session End."""
def can_handle(self, handler_input):
# type: (HandlerInput) -> bool
return ask_utils.is_request_type("SessionEndedRequest")(handler_input)
def handle(self, handler_input):
# type: (HandlerInput) -> Response
# Any cleanup logic goes here.
return handler_input.response_builder.response
class IntentReflectorHandler(AbstractRequestHandler):
"""The intent reflector is used for interaction model testing and debugging.
It will simply repeat the intent the user said. You can create custom handlers
for your intents by defining them above, then also adding them to the request
handler chain below.
"""
def can_handle(self, handler_input):
# type: (HandlerInput) -> bool
return ask_utils.is_request_type("IntentRequest")(handler_input)
def handle(self, handler_input):
# type: (HandlerInput) -> Response
intent_name = ask_utils.get_intent_name(handler_input)
speak_output = "You just triggered " + intent_name + "."
return (
handler_input.response_builder
.speak(speak_output)
# .ask("add a reprompt if you want to keep the session open for the user to respond")
.response
)
class CatchAllExceptionHandler(AbstractExceptionHandler):
"""Generic error handling to capture any syntax or routing errors. If you receive an error
stating the request handler chain is not found, you have not implemented a handler for
the intent being invoked or included it in the skill builder below.
"""
def can_handle(self, handler_input, exception):
# type: (HandlerInput, Exception) -> bool
return True
def handle(self, handler_input, exception):
# type: (HandlerInput, Exception) -> Response
logger.error(exception, exc_info=True)
speak_output = "Sorry, I had trouble doing what you asked. Please try again."
return (
handler_input.response_builder
.speak(speak_output)
.ask(speak_output)
.response
)
# The SkillBuilder object acts as the entry point for your skill, routing all request and response
# payloads to the handlers above. Make sure any new handlers or interceptors you've
# defined are included below. The order matters - they're processed top to bottom.
sb = SkillBuilder()
sb.add_request_handler(LaunchRequestHandler())
sb.add_request_handler(HelloWorldIntentHandler())
sb.add_request_handler(HelpIntentHandler())
sb.add_request_handler(CancelOrStopIntentHandler())
sb.add_request_handler(FallbackIntentHandler())
sb.add_request_handler(SessionEndedRequestHandler())
sb.add_request_handler(IntentReflectorHandler()) # make sure IntentReflectorHandler is last so it doesn't override your custom intent handlers
sb.add_exception_handler(CatchAllExceptionHandler())
lambda_handler = sb.lambda_handler()This code is also available on my GitHub repository.
Link skill with lambda function
Go to the Alexa developer console and click on the endpoint tab. Copy your skill ID by clicking on “Copy to Clipboard” as shown below.
Click on “Add trigger” in the lambda function and select “Alexa skill kit”.
Paste the Alexa skill ID and click “Add”.
Congratulations!! you have successfully linked your skill with your AWS lambda function.