Alexa learning

Application can be used for learning/memorizing sentences. It was created during Amazon Alexa Hackathon in Warsaw, Poland at 09.04.2016. The application consists of:

• java backend that needs to be deployed on EC2 or some other hosting
• python script lambda.py that needs to be deployed in AWS Lambda and is used as a proxy between Alexa and backend
• AngularJS frontend
• utterances, slot types and intents (see interaction-model directory) that need to be defined in Amazon Alexa Skills Kit on developer.amazon.com (see here)

Backend testing

You can test it on your local instance:

• git clone
• mvn spring-boot:run (in project root directory)
• open your browser and type http://localhost:8080
• you can simulate Alexa requests by sending POST requests to http://localhost:8080/api/echo

Each request's body should be in JSON format:

{ 
    "method" : "{intentName}", 
    "parameters" : {
        "{parameter1Name}" : "{parameter1Value}", 
        "{parameter2Name}" : "{parameter2Value}" 
        ...
    }
}

Example request's body on localhost:8080/#/cards view:

{ 
    "method" : "PrepareCardIntent", 
    "parameters" : {
        "question" : "Do I love java?", 
        "answer" : "yes" 
    }
}

Backend build and deployment

• mvn clean package (in project root directory)
• send target/alexa-learning-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar to your hosting (for example via scp)
• install JRE 8 on your hosting
• execute following command "java -jar alexa-learning-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar"
• insert values for variables in lambda_py - BACKEND_URL (public DNS of your hosting + port 8080) and APP_ID (taken from alexa.amazon.com)
• deploy lambda.py as a Lambda function in AWS console

Intents

There are two screens in frontend app - /learning and /cards. For navigation you should use GoToLearningIntent and GoToCardsIntent.

On /learning you can use:

• CheckAnswerIntent - you will be given correct answer for the current question
• AssessmentIntent - card will be scheduled for the next repetition based on the grade you will give
• HowManyCardsIntent - tells you how many cards are scheduled at the time for a given day

On /cards available are:

• PrepareCardIntent - fills form fields with input and answer
• ConfirmCardIntent - after you correct form fields you can save card to database with that intent

Lambda testing

Most convenient way to test lambda is by running test event in Lambda section of AWS. It doesn't require a physical device (such as Echo) and is very effective for small changes in lambda (e.g. new exception handling), checking configuration and server responses.

Sample test event based on the one created in amazon.alexa.com used to check HowManyWordsIntent flow.

Just paste it in AWS: Code->Actions->Configure Test Event and change applicationId or delete check in lambda.

{
 "session": {
   "sessionId": "SessionId.WHATEVER",
   "application": {
     "applicationId": "YOUR-APP-ID"
   },
   "user": {
     "userId": "USER-ID"
   },
   "new": true
 },
 "request": {
   "type": "IntentRequest",
   "requestId": "EdwRequestId.WHATEVER",
   "timestamp": "2016-04-09T12:44:40Z",
   "intent": {
     "name": "HowManyWordsIntent",
     "slots": {
       "Date": {
         "name": "Date",
         "value": "2016-04-11"
       }
     }
   },
   "locale": "en-US"
 },
 "version": "1.0"
}