Use the AVS Device SDK sample app


Congratulations on creating your first AVS prototype. If your sample app is running, you see the following ASCII art in the terminal window.

#    #     #  #####      #####  ######  #    #
# #   #     # #     #    #     # #     # #   #
#   #  #     # #          #       #     # #  #
#     # #     #  #####      #####  #     # ###
#######  #   #        #          # #     # #  #
#     #   # #   #     #    #     # #     # #   #
#     #    #     #####      #####  ######  #    #

#####                                           #
#     #   ##   #    # #####  #      ######      # #   #####  #####
#        #  #  ##  ## #    # #      #          #   #  #    # #    #
#####  #    # # ## # #    # #      #####     #     # #    # #    #
# ###### #    # #####  #      #         ####### #####  #####
#     # #    # #    # #      #      #         #     # #      #
#####  #    # #    # #      ###### ######    #     # #      #

Authorize the sample app

Before you can use the sample app, you have to authorize it with Amazon. To learn how to do this, follow the instructions in the applicable quick start guide.

Unauthorized device

Before you have authorized the sample app, your terminal displays a NOT YET AUTHORIZED message. This means that the AVS client is waiting for authorization.

##################################
#       NOT YET AUTHORIZED       #
##################################
################################################################################################
#       To authorize, browse to: 'https://amazon.com/us/code' and enter the code: {XXXX}       #
################################################################################################

Authorized device

After you have authorized the sample app, your terminal displays an Authorized! message. This means that the AVS client is waiting for you to initiate a conversation.

###########################
#       Authorized!       #
###########################
########################################
#       Alexa is currently idle!       #
########################################

Test the sample app for the first time

To test the sample app

  1. Say "Alexa" into the microphone. If you don't have a wake word enabled, you can trigger Alexa by using tap-to-talk.

    You should see a series of messages scrolling in your terminal window. One of these messages shows a Listening status. This status indicates that the wake word you spoke triggered Alexa.

  2. Say "Tell me a joke."

    Alexa responds with a funny joke. You should see the text change from Listening to Thinking..., then Speaking.

    Here is a screenshot of the text that illustrates what state the sample app is in.

    listening

Interactions

You can trigger Alexa with a wake word or by using tap-to-talk. This configuration depends on what operating system you're using and what CMake parameters you used to build the SDK.

Interact with Alexa by using tap-to-talk

If your sample app doesn't use a wake word, press T+Enter to talk to Alexa. This command simulates a Tap-to-Talk interaction, which is equivalent to saying the Alexa wake word. To interact with the sample app, you might still have to connect a microphone to your computer. A standard pair of earbuds with a microphone attached should work.

For example:

You (T+Enter): "What's the weather like?"

Alexa: "Right now in Portland, it's 71 degrees with sun…"

Interact with Alexa by using a wake word

If your sample app uses a wake word engine, start your interaction by speaking the "Alexa" wake word.

For example:

You: "Alexa, what is the current weather?"

Alexa: "Right now in Portland, it's 71 degrees with sun….

Try a multi-turn interaction

A multi-turn interaction is more natural method of communication with Alexa. You can continue on a conversation without starting every phrase with the "Alexa" wake word.

For example:

  1. Say Alexa.
  2. Ask Set an alarm".
  3. When Alexa asks you What time, say a number, such as 8.
  4. Alexa then asks you if you meant AM or PM.
  5. Respond with the appropriate choice.

You probably noticed that despite having a bit of back and forth with Alexa, you only had to say the wake word once at the start of the conversation.

To recognize this process in the sample app

In your terminal window, you can scroll up until you see the UI state LISTENING. Right above that you'll see that the state of the Audio Input Processor (AIP) has changed from IDLE to EXPECTING_SPEECH and then RECOGNIZING – all without requiring the wake word again. This automated process only occurs during multi-turn turn interactions.

You can learn more about multi-turn interactions on the SpeechRecognizer page.

AIP_Multi

Other multi-turn interactions to try

  • Say "Alexa, Wikipedia." You have the option to request information about multiple topics without speaking the wake word before the subject.

Multi-lingual interactions

Alexa can speak multiple languages, such as Japanese, German, Hindi, and other global dialects of English.

To try some of these settings

  1. Start the sample app.
  2. Press c + Enter.
  3. Press 1 to see the various language options.

When you ship your product and your customer tries to change languages, your device needs to send a SettingsUpdated event to the cloud.

Languages

Sample app menu options

Interaction options

Action Command
Tap to talk t+Enter, followed by your query (no need to say "Alexa…").
Hold to talk h+Enter, followed by your query (no need to say "Alexa…").
Simulate button release h+Enter
Stop an interaction s+Enter

Playback controls

Action Command
Play 1
Pause 2
Next 3
Previous 4

Settings

Action Command
View available settings c+Enter
Adjust speaker settings p+Enter
Report firmware version f+Enter
Help screen i+Enter
Reset device k+Enter.

This command erases any data stored on the device and you have to reauthorize your sample app. It also exits the app.
Quit q+Enter

Setting options

View the different settings that you can modify in the sample app.

Action Command
Language options 1 + Enter
Do Not Disturb options 2 + Enter
Wake word confirmation 3 + Enter
Speech confirmation 4 + Enter
Time zone options 5 + Enter
Network options 6 + Enter
Alarm Volume Ramp 7 + Enter
Settings Options q + Enter

Language options

Changes the default locale in the sample app.

Action Command
de-DE 1 + Enter
en-AU 2 + Enter
en-CA 3 + Enter
en-GB 4 + Enter
en-IN 5 + Enter
en-US 6 + Enter
es-ES 7 + Enter
es-MX 8 + Enter
es-US 9 + Enter
fr-CA 10 + Enter
fr-FR 11 + Enter
hi-IN 12 + Enter
it-IT 13 + Enter
ja-JP 14 + Enter
pt-BR 15 + Enter
["en-CA","fr-CA"] 16 + Enter
["fr-CA","en-CA"] 17 + Enter

Do Not Disturb configuration

Enable or Disable Do No Disturb.

Action Command
Enable Do Not Disturb E + Enter
Disable Do Not Disturb D + Enter

Wake word confirmation configuration

Action Command
Enable Wake Word Confirmation Configuration E + Enter
Disable Wake Word Confirmation Configuration D + Enter

Speech confirmation configuration

Action Command
Enable Speech confirmation E + Enter
Disable Speech confirmation D + Enter

TimeZone configuration

Modify the default timeZone. For example, you are presented with a menu featuring various timeZones, as shown in the following table.

Action Command
America/Vancouver 1 + Enter
America/Edmonton 2 + Enter
America/Winnipeg 3 + Enter
America/Toronto 4 + Enter
America/Halifax 5 + Enter
America/St_Johns 6 + Enter

Network info configuration

Update the network information on your device.

Action Command
Display current network info 1 + Enter
Set connection type 2 + Enter
Set the network name (ESSID) 3 + Enter
Set physical access point name 4 + Enter
Set IP Address 5 + Enter
Set subnet mask 6 + Enter
Set MAC address 7 + Enter
Set DHCP server address 8 + Enter
Set static IP settings 9 + Enter

Alarm volume ramp

Enable or disable ascending alarms.

Action Command
Enable Alarm volume ramp E + Enter
Disable Alarm volume ramp D + Enter

Sample app debug mode

You can run the sample app in debug mode to troubleshoot your device and run diagnostic tools. If the sample app is running in debug mode, you see the following message when it first starts.

SDK Version 1.20.1

WARNING! THIS DEVICE HAS BEEN COMPILED IN DEBUG MODE.

RELEASING A PRODUCTION DEVICE IN DEBUG MODE MAY IMPACT DEVICE PERFORMANCE,
DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE AVS SECURITY REQUIREMENTS,
AND COULD RESULT IN SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF THE ALEXA SERVICE ON YOUR DEVICES.

Troubleshooting

  • Can't hear sound: If you don't hear any sound, make sure that both your microphone and speakers are both working.
  • Sample app is unresponsive: If Alexa isn't responding or the sample app appears stuck (or displaying error messages when you try to speak), type s + enter to stop that interaction. You can also type q + enter to exit the sample app.

For more details on how to troubleshoot other common issues, see the Troubleshooting Guide.


Was this page helpful?

Last updated: Dec 20, 2023