Alexa Gadgets Toolkit Features

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Note: On December 31, 2021, we paused support for third-party device makers working with Alexa Gadgets, while we work to create an even better developer and customer experience. Please stay tuned to the Amazon developer portal for updates. In the interim, please visit the landing pages for Alexa Voice Service, Alexa Connect Kit, and Alexa Skills Kit to discover ways you can provide new customer experiences with voice.

This topic lists the features that the Alexa Gadgets Toolkit supports, and which interface or process your gadget must implement to use each feature.

The last column of the table notates whether the features are required or optional, defined as follows:

Required – These features are needed for your gadget to function. For example, your gadget must be able to connect to an Echo device over Bluetooth.
Optional – These features are available to use based on the hardware capabilities of your gadget. For example, your gadget might be able to raise a flag when the Echo device receives a notification.

In this topic, Echo device refers to the Echo device that is paired to the gadget.

Features
Examples

Features

Connecting and updating

For your gadget to...	It must support...	Example trigger	Required?
Connect to an Echo device	Bluetooth pairing and connection process Reconnection process `Alexa.Discovery` interface	A user says "Pair my gadget."	Yes
Get over-the-air (OTA) updates	OTA update process	The OTA firmware version is greater than the gadget's current firmware version.	No (but recommended for a commercial launch)

Custom Interfaces

For your gadget to...	It must support...	Example trigger	Required?
Trigger unique gadget behaviors from a skill	Directives from a Custom Interface that you define	The skill opens, which triggers the gadget to flash its lights.	No
Send inputs from a gadget to a skill	Events from a Custom Interface that you define	A robot has finished spinning, which triggers Alexa to say "Your robot is warmed up and ready to go!"	No

Wake word

For your gadget to be notified when...	It must support...	Example trigger	Required?
The Echo device detects that a user said the wake word of that Echo device	`Alexa.Gadget.StateListener.StateUpdate` directive	A user says "Alexa", "Echo", or "Computer".	No
The wake word times out	`Alexa.Gadget.StateListener.StateUpdate` directive (with `wakeword` as a supported type)	The user didn't continue to speak after they said the wake word.	No

Timers

For your gadget to be notified when...	It must support...	Example trigger	Required?
A user sets a timer on their Echo device	`Alerts.SetAlert` directive	A user says "Alexa, set a 5-minute timer."	No
A user deletes a timer on their Echo device	`Alerts.DeleteAlert` directive	A user says "Alexa, cancel my 5-minute timer."	No
A timer expires on the Echo device	`Alexa.Gadget.StateListener.StateUpdate` directive (with `timers` as a supported type)	A timer on the Echo device expires.	No
A user dismisses a timer on their Echo device	`Alexa.Gadget.StateListener.StateUpdate` directive (with `timers` as a supported type)	When a timer expires, a user says "Alexa, stop."	No

Alarms

For your gadget to be notified when...	It must support...	Example trigger	Required?
A user sets an alarm on their Echo device	`Alerts.SetAlert` directive	A user says "Alexa, set an alarm for 6 AM."	No
A user deletes an alarm on their Echo device	`Alerts.DeleteAlert` directive	A user says "Alexa, cancel my 6 AM alarm."	No
An alarm expires on the Echo device	`Alexa.Gadget.StateListener.StateUpdate` directive (with `alarms` as a supported type)	An alarm on the Echo device expires.	No
A user dismisses an alarm on their Echo device	`Alexa.Gadget.StateListener.StateUpdate` directive (with `alarms` as a supported type)	When an alarm expires, a user says "Alexa, stop."	No

Reminders

For your gadget to be notified when...	It must support...	Example trigger	Required?
A user sets a reminder on their Echo device	`Alerts.SetAlert` directive	A user says "Alexa, remind me to walk the dog at 6 PM."	No
A user deletes a reminder on their Echo device	`Alerts.DeleteAlert` directive	A user says "Alexa, cancel my reminder for 6 PM."	No
A reminder expires on the Echo device	`Alexa.Gadget.StateListener.StateUpdate` directive (with `reminders` as a supported type)	A reminder on the Echo device expires.	No
A user dismisses a reminder on their Echo device	`Alexa.Gadget.StateListener.StateUpdate` directive (with `reminders` as a supported type)	When a reminder expires, a user says "Alexa, stop."	No

Notifications

For your gadget to be notified when...	It must support...	Example trigger	Required?
The Echo device receives a notification	`Notifications.SetIndicator` directive	The Echo device receives a notification that a package was delivered.	No
The notification on the Echo device is cleared	`Notifications.ClearIndicator` directive	A user says "Alexa, clear my notifications."	No

Speech

For your gadget to...	It must support...	Example trigger	Required?
Sync to the words Alexa speaks	`Alexa.Gadget.SpeechData.Speechmarks` directive	A user asks "Alexa, what's the weather?" and Alexa answers.	No

Current time

For your gadget to...	It must support...	Example trigger	Required?
Receive time information from the Echo device	`Alexa.Gadget.StateListener.StateUpdate` directive (with `timeinfo` as a supported type)	Time information is sent at 30-minute intervals.	No

Tempo

For your gadget to...	It must support...	Example trigger	Required?
Receive the tempo of Amazon Music that is playing through the Echo device	`Alexa.Gadget.MusicData.Tempo` directive	The Echo device is playing Amazon Music.	No

Examples

The following examples list which interfaces to support based on what you want your gadget to do.

You can find additional information in the Alexa Gadgets Toolkit (Beta): How It Makes the Echo Wall Clock Tick blog post.

If you want your gadget to...	It must support...
Display the time	`Alexa.Gadget.StateListener` interface with `timeinfo` support `Alexa.Discovery` interface Bluetooth pairing/connection and reconnection OTA updates (recommended)
Raise a flag in response to the notifications that the user has enabled in the Alexa app under Settings > Notifications	`Notifications` interface `Alexa.Discovery` interface Bluetooth pairing/connection and reconnection OTA updates (recommended)
Lip sync to Alexa's speech	`Alexa.Gadget.StateListener` interface with `wakeword` support `Alexa.Gadget.SpeechData` interface `Alexa.Discovery` interface Bluetooth pairing/connection and reconnection OTA updates (recommended)
Take an action when timers are set, deleted, expired, or dismissed	`Alexa.Gadget.StateListener` interface with `timers` support `Alerts` interface `Alexa.Discovery` interface Bluetooth pairing/connection and reconnection OTA updates (recommended)
Take an action when alarms are set, deleted, expired, or dismissed	`Alexa.Gadget.StateListener` interface with `alarms` support `Alerts` interface `Alexa.Discovery` interface Bluetooth pairing/connection and reconnection OTA updates (recommended)
Take an action when reminders are set, deleted, expired, or dismissed	`Alexa.Gadget.StateListener` interface with `reminders` support `Alerts` interface `Alexa.Discovery` interface Bluetooth pairing/connection and reconnection OTA updates (recommended)
Move to Amazon Music	`Alexa.Gadget.MusicData` interface `Alexa.Discovery` interface Bluetooth pairing/connection and reconnection OTA updates (recommended)

Last updated: Feb 14, 2022