5-customization.md

Build An Alexa Pet Match Skill in Python using ASK Python SDK

Customize the Skill to be Yours

At this point, you should have a working copy of our Pet Match skill. In order to make it your own, you will need to customize it with data and responses that you create. Here are the things you will need to change:

1. New sentences to respond to your users. There are several sentences and responses that you will want to customize for your skill.

   1. Open a copy of lambda_function.py. If you haven't already downloaded the code for this project, you can find a copy of lambda_function.py here. You can use a simple, lightweight code editor like Atom, Sublime Text, or VSCode.

   2. Look for lines like this: speech = ('Welcome to pet match...' These are strings that hold phrases for Alexa to respond with. Customize them to make it as varied and conversational as time allows.

   3. Continue through lambda_function.py until you reach the bottom of the file. This will ensure that you cover each of the Alexa responses that you need to update.

   4. When you have replaced the data in lambda_function.py, you need to upload the latest data into Lambda. Copy the updated contents into the skill_env folder, zip the contents of the skill_env folder and upload it to AWS Lambda as discussed in the "Finish configuring your function" step in Lambda setup documentation. Test your skill through the Alexa Simulator on the developer portal, with the updated changes.

2. New API. The sample skill uses a custom API to get pet matches. Update it with your API, for better customization and handling.

   1. Go back to your copy of lambda_function.py.

   2. Look for pet_match_api This is the API used to get pet matches. Change it according to your API call.

   3. When you have replaced the api details in lambda_function.py, you need to upload the latest data into Lambda. Copy the updated contents into the skill_env folder, zip the contents of the skill_env folder and upload it to AWS Lambda as discussed in the "Finish configuring your function" step in Lambda setup documentation. Test your skill through the Alexa Simulator on the developer portal, with the updated changes.

3. New language. If you are creating this skill for another language other than English, you will need to make sure Alexa's responses are also in that language.

   • For example, if you are creating your skill in German, every single response that Alexa makes has to be in German. You can't use English responses or your skill will fail certification.

4. Once you have made the updates listed on this page, you can click "Launch" in the top navigation of Alexa developer console, to move on to Publishing and Certification of your skill.