@matthewp/ask-sdk-helpers

Helper functions for use with the ASK SDK

Usage

Helpers

canHandle functions

The following functions are to be used with the ask-sdk handlers, acting as the canHandle function.

isLaunchRequest()

A canHandle function for launch requests.

const {
  isLaunchRequest
} = require('@matthewp/ask-sdk-helpers');

const LaunchRequestHandler = {
  canHandle: isLaunchRequest(),
  async handle(h) {
    // do whatever
  }
};

isIntentRequest(intentName)

A canHandle function for intent request handlers.

const {
  isIntentRequest
} = require('@matthewp/ask-sdk-helpers');

const ShoppingIntentHandler = {
  canHandle: isIntentRequest('ShoppingIntent'),
  async handle(h) {
    // Do some shopping stuff.
  }
};

isResponseRequest(responseName)

A canHandle function for Connections.Response requests, as used in In-Skill purchases.

Note that you probably want to use IsBuyResponseRequest() and IsCancelResponseRequest() directly instead. This is a lower-level function.

const {
  isResponseRequest
} = require('@matthewp/ask-sdk-helpers');

const ShoppingIntentHandler = {
  canHandle: isResponseRequest('Buy'),
  async handle(h) {
    // Proceed with a purchased item.
  }
};

IsBuyResponseRequest()

Indicates a Connections.Response request with the name Buy. This occurs when the user has gone through the In-Skill purchase buy flow. Use purchaseResult to determine if the user choose to purchase the item or not.

const {
  IsBuyResponseRequest
} = require('@matthewp/ask-sdk-helpers');

const ShoppingIntentHandler = {
  canHandle: IsBuyResponseRequest(),
  async handle(h) {
    // Proceed with a purchased item.
  }
};

IsCancelResponseRequest()

Indicates a Connections.Response request with the name Cancel. This is used in In-Skill purchases when the user goes through a cancellation flow.

const {
  IsCancelResponseRequest
} = require('@matthewp/ask-sdk-helpers');

const ShoppingIntentHandler = {
  canHandle: IsCancelResponseRequest(),
  async handle(h) {
    // Proceed with cancellation
  }
};

isSessionEndedRequest()

Indicates that the session has ended. Use this to do any cleanup necessary at the end of a session.

const {
  isSessionEndedRequest
} = require('@matthewp/ask-sdk-helpers');

const SessionEndedHandler = {
  canHandle: isSessionEndedRequest(),
  async handle(h) {
    // cleanup
  }
};

Request helpers

These helpers are for things related to a request, such as slots and local values.

slot(h, name)

Get a value from a slot.

const {
  isIntentRequest,
  slot
} = require('@matthewp/ask-sdk-helpers');

const AddTodoIntentHandler = {
  canHandle: isIntentRequest('AddTodoIntent'),
  async handle(h) {
    let label = slot(h, 'label');

    // do something with this slot value.
  }
};

SSML

Helpers for building advanced SSML speech patterns.

const {
  isIntentRequest,
  speak,
  pipeResponse,

  ssml,
  pause
} = require('@matthewp/ask-sdk-helpers');

const AnnounceIntentHandler = {
  canHandle: isIntentRequest('AnnounceIntent'),
  async handle(h) {
    return pipeResponse(h)(
      speak(
        ssml(
          'Today was a fantastic win for the home team.',
          pause('3s'),
          'They won with a score of 4 to 2.'
        )
      )
    )
  }
}

ssml(...children)

The ssml helper is a wrapper that is used at the top-level of the SSML speech. It can take any child, such as other ssml elements or just plain text strings.

Although primarily used at the top-level, the ssml helper can be used at any nesting level. When used this way it simply wraps children and concats them.

pause(timeOrOptions)

The pause helper is used for SSML breaks. It is called pause because break is a reserved word in JavaScript.

It can take a time argument like so:

ssml(
  pause('3s')
)

It can also take an object of options:

• time: The time (as a string) for the break.
• strength: The relationship between the pause and surrounding speech.

ssml(
  pause({
    time: '3s',
    strength: 'medium'
  })
)

License

BSD 2-Clause