This example project shows how to build an Alexa skill, and allow the skill to use a NodeJS Lambda function. The supporting lambda function allows the Alexa skill to call a secure REST service endpoint. The REST service endpoint is the Marvel developer API.
Therefore, you will need to sign-up for your own developer account to get a public and private access token. The private and public keys can be added to the appropriate MARVEL_PUBLIC_KEY and MARVEL_PRIVATE_KEY constant values. The Lambda function also needss to have the api key assigned to you from the Alexa skills setup.
Create a NodeJS project from scratch using the npm init command. Fill in the information on the prompt
npm init
Next add the alexa-sdk to the project and dependency.
npm install --save alexa-sdk
You can test the lambda function on your local environment without having to deploy up to Amazon lambda by using the lightweight aws-lambda-local library. Install this as follows:
npm install -g aws-lambda-local
Alternatively you can create a package.json and add the necessary dependencies above. Then type in the following in the directory where package.json is located.
npm install
To integrate an Alexa skill to this Lambda function you will need to go to the AWS Developer console and create an Alexa Skills Kit.
- Brij R
Either case these two commands simulates an alexa skills call to the AWS Lambda function. The environment file is called testEvent.json.
Once you have built and tested your lambda function locally you can deploy it to AWS lambda. Go to AWS Console. Go to the AWS Lambda service to create a function. The alexa skills package dependencies and core NodeJS packages are already in a basic template in AWS Lambda. All you really need to do is copy the index.js file into the AWS Lambda Code editor.
- AWS NodeJS SDK - AWS NodeJs sdk
- Lambda-local - AWS lightweight serverless local lambda testing