Ralf Eggert discusses his experience building two Alexa skills using PHP. He describes the technical setup using a custom PHP library and external endpoint server rather than AWS Lambda due to lack of native PHP support. He outlines the development process for each skill, including intents, utterances, certification, and lessons learned. Key challenges included complex voice user interfaces and incomplete custom slot types. Ralf concludes with recommendations such as starting simply, testing thoroughly, and designing sophisticated voice interactions.

1. Learnings fromLearnings from
Building Alexa Skills with PHPBuilding Alexa Skills with PHP

2. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert
CEO Travello GmbH, Programming since 29 years,CEO Travello GmbH, Programming since 29 years,
Trainer, Author, Coach DeveloperTrainer, Author, Coach Developer

3. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 33 fromfrom 2525
AgendaAgenda
My First Alexa Skill
My LearningsMy Second Alexa SkillMy Second Alexa Skill
My Tech Stack

4. My Tech StackMy Tech Stack

5. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 55 fromfrom 2525
Basic Technology SetupBasic Technology Setup

6. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 66 fromfrom 2525
PHP on AWS Lambda?PHP on AWS Lambda?
https://goo.gl/N9VVvb

7. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 77 fromfrom 2525
Why use own end-point server?Why use own end-point server?
No native PHP support
on AWS Lambda functions
Need to compile PHP and
use a Node.js wrapper
More complicated than
a plain old LAMP server

8. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 88 fromfrom 2525
My open-source PHP libraryMy open-source PHP library
https://github.com/travello-gmbh/

9. My First Alexa SkillMy First Alexa Skill

10. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 1010 fromfrom 2525
The ideaThe idea

11. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 1111 fromfrom 2525
How it worksHow it works
Alexa! Start
GUEST reception!
I am very pleased
That guests are here!
Say hello to Ella
Nice to see you Ella.
Your hair colour really
fits together with our
Pillow cases.
Please welcome
Martha
Where on earth have you
Been such a long time
Martha?
Thanks Alexa I was delighted to meet
you Ella And Martha!

12. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 1212 fromfrom 2525
Early successEarly success
Top 10 of activated Skills
from March till today
60 customer reviews so far
July 2017:
- 22.000 customers
- 54.000 Sessions
- 460.000 Utterances

13. My Second Alexa SkillMy Second Alexa Skill

14. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 1414 fromfrom 2525
The ideaThe idea

15. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 1515 fromfrom 2525
How it worksHow it works
Alexa! Start
boredom killer
I am very pleased
to fight your boredom!
Answering the
Questions.
How many are you?
How old are you?
Creativity, entertainment,
gaming, movement, home
or whatever?
Next one please!
First suggestion:
Make Photo-Shooting!
Thanks I will do that.
Second suggestion:
Make a forest Olympiad!

16. My LearningsMy Learnings

17. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 1717 fromfrom 2525
Biggest ChallengesBiggest Challenges
Custom slot type for category
needed too many synonyms
VUI was much more complex
While updating one skil a
Small risk to break other skills
Slot type for German
first names incomplete
Signature Validation
(no problem on AWS Lambda)
Setup second end-point
server (for testing)

18. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 1818 fromfrom 2525
Some numbersSome numbers
15 custom intents
3 custom slot types
185 defined Utterances
100 suggestions
4 custom intents
1 extended slot type
34 defined utterances
100 greeting phrases

19. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 1919 fromfrom 2525
Certification processCertification process
16 hours to go live
(July 2017)
0 Issues
17 hours to go live
after re-submitting
7 days for first feedback
(February 2017)
3 Issues:
- Signature validation
- Single-word invocation
- No response on »abbrechen«
23 hours to go live
after re-submit

20. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 2020 fromfrom 2525
DevelopmentDevelopment
15 working days total
10% time spent
on infrastructure code
90% time spent
on skill code
10 working days total
80% time spent
on infrastructure code
20% time spent
on skill code

21. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 2121 fromfrom 2525
LearningsLearnings
1) Start with a very simple skill
2) Write a solid code base for infrastructure code or use an OS one
3) Test thoroughly (use Postman, unit tests and ASK beta test)
4) Do not trust the built-in slot types blindly (extend them)
5) Design a sophisticated voice user interface (VUI)
6) Build more than one skill
7) Have fun

22. Questions?Questions?

23. Thanks!Thanks!
Contact ralf@travello.audioContact ralf@travello.audio
Web www.travello.audioWeb www.travello.audio

24. Coming soon?Coming soon?

25. Ralf EggertRalf Eggert 2525 fromfrom 2525
Photo creditsPhoto credits
Entertainment Nation
Wandering Wings
Acoustic Folk Band
Flickr CC BY 2.0
Jules Minus
Bored
Flickr CC BY 2.0