/alexa-node-lib

Primary LanguageJavaScript

alexa-node-lib

  • A very light-weight node library for writing Alexa skills.

If you're looking for a more feature rich Alexa lib for node I think https://github.com/alexa-js/alexa-app is very good.

  • Example using Express
const express = require('express');
const alexa = require('alexa-node-lib');

const app = express();

app.set('port', process.env.PORT || 3000);

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.json({ message: 'error' });
});

app.post('/api', (req, res) => {
  alexa.say(res, 'Text');
});

app.listen(app.get('port'), () => {
  console.log(`running on port ${app.get('port')}`);
});
  • Say method

Alexa has it's own markup language called SSML. When sending a json response back to Alexa you can either set the type as PlainText or SSML.

We always set it as SSML the alexa.say() method automatically wraps your text in <speak> tags.

So you can call the method, pass in the res object and give it a text value.

alexa.say(res, 'This is what Alexa will say');
  • SessionEnd Alexa also allows you to send a shouldEndSession value back with true or false which will end the conversation immediately on Alexa's side or keep the convo open.

Note: Leaving the convo open will error out since you only have a small window to keep the skill listening before Alexa sends a "I don't know" type response back to use.

  • Reprompt If can also pass into the say method reprompt text.
  • Example of say method
alexa.say(res, 'text alexa will say', 'text for the reprompt', true);