Alexa Skill creation for Amazon Echos and other Alexa-enabled devices has become a subject of discussion for a growing number of businesses. As Amazon Alexa use continues to grow at a breakneck pace, there remains a gap between qualified developers and demand for Alexa Skills. Amazon is attempting to remedy this hole by showcasing organizations that specialize in Alexa skill creation and Alexa development framework choices that make skill-building simpler. This essay will go into numerous Alexa programming frameworks that are worth investigating for anybody interested in developing an Alexa skill.
Following the 5 Alexa Development Frameworks
SDK for Alexa Skills Kit
Amazon’s primary tool for enticing developers is the Alexa Skills Kit SDK (Software Development Kit) for Node.js. This kit utilizes JavaScript to integrate your Alexa Skill with AWS Lambda. This kit will assist you in developing replies to Alexa’s inquiries.
Amazon established the Alexa Skills Kit SDK with the intention of individuals solely relying on AWS to construct Skills. There are alternatives for integrating more AWS services with your Skill, and this kit simplifies the process far more than creating it from start. This looks to be Amazon’s suggested method of getting started, or at the very least the toolset that Amazon promotes the most.
It might be a bit challenging to design and test Alexa Skills using just the Alexa Skills Kit SDK. There is no suitable testing tool available, and you must first create a Lambda function for your Skill and link it to a development Alexa Skill before you can begin testing. Each time you make a change to the code, you must update the Lambda function and attempt the Skill using your voice and the Amazon Echo. While this may not seem like a big problem when designing a skill that will utilize a human voice, the time required to update for a minute code change may be rather unpleasant.
Alexa-App
Another possibility is to utilize Matt Kruse’s Alexa-App framework. This framework is not linked with Amazon, but it is gaining traction and currently includes numerous contributors. Matt Kruse has also designed a testing tool called Alexa-app-server that allows you to quickly test your Alexa skills in a web browser. This significantly accelerates the creation of your Alexa Skill. Other individuals have begun parallel projects based on Matt’s initial work and have produced various tools that you may choose to employ depending on the functionality of your Skill.
The Alexa Skills Kit SDK and Alexa-App are the two most frequently used Alexa programming frameworks and, in my view, should serve as the entry point for developers new to Amazon Alexa development. The following are alternatives that Amazon mentions on their website for Agencies and Frameworks but would need some preliminary investigation to decide whether they are a good fit for you.
Customized Instruments
Bespoken Tools has just begun marketing its Alexa Skill building tools. Their tools are command-line/terminal-based and enable developers to work in various programming languages (Java, Python, or JavaScript), while the majority of other frameworks support just one (typically JavaScript). Additionally, they provide a development environment and deployment tools. This seems to be a viable framework for constructing Alexa Skills, but given the framework’s relative youth, it’s certainly worth trying before completely committing your project to their toolset.
PullString
PullString is another Alexa Development Framework with a more extensive toolset. This seems to be an excellent option for developers looking to create a conversational application that runs on different platforms. Pullstring can assist with the development of applications for Messenger, Skype, Slack, and potentially more. If you want to make your skill or conversational application cross-platform, PullString is a must-check.
Conversable
Conversable is listed on Amazon’s Agencies and Frameworks website as a framework for building Alexa Skills, however, it does not seem to be as open as some of the other Alexa development frameworks. They have an attractive website, but without open documentation, it’s impossible to determine the use of their products. This is another option worth considering if you’re developing a cross-platform application, but you’ll probably need to speak with their sales staff first.
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