Alexa Skills Fundamentals (New 2019)

Unlock the power of Alexa! This project-based course guides you through building two engaging Alexa Skills, even with no prior coding experience. Learn to create Alexa Skills without coding, leveraging simple copy-and-paste techniques.

What you'll learn:

• Build Practical Alexa Skills: Develop skills for businesses, schools, churches, or cities. Also, create a fun skill offering random tips.
• City Guide Skill: Master the creation of a comprehensive city guide Alexa skill, understanding its functionality and how to customize it.
• No-Code Development: We'll show you how to create Alexa Skills without writing code. All coding is done through easy copy/paste.
• Understand & Modify Code: Gain confidence in understanding and adapting sample code to fit your needs.
• Card Design: Learn how to design visually appealing Alexa Skill cards.
• JavaScript & Node.js Basics: Get a foundational understanding of JavaScript and Node.js – no exhaustive lectures, just essential knowledge.
• Publishing & Beyond: See your skill get published to the Alexa Skills Store and learn how to modify your Alexa Skill after publication.
• Write Alexa Skills - A comprehensive guide to the skill creation process.
• Code Alexa Skills - Practical application of skill development.
• US English - Focus on US English voice interaction.

Essential Skills & Topics Covered:

• Writing Alexa Skills: A step-by-step approach to crafting effective Alexa interactions.
• Publishing Alexa Skills: Navigating the process of submitting your skill to the Alexa Skills Store.
• Securing Your AWS Account: Crucial for any Alexa skill developer.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Learn how to implement MFA for your AWS Root Account for enhanced security.
  • Billing Alerts: Set up billing alerts using CloudWatch, SNS, and the Billing Console to monitor your AWS costs. We utilize the AWS Free Tier throughout the course, but alerts are recommended for high-volume skills.