We’re excited to introduce a new Alexa skill-building course for Ruby developers in collaboration with Makers Academy, a leading web developer bootcamp based in the UK. This course is offered for free online.

Our four educational modules will dive into building custom skills for Alexa using Ruby. You’ll learn how to set up Alexa web interactions in Ruby, and work with intents, utterances, and slots. You’ll also learn to build more complex Alexa skills with features like sessions, persisted data, authorization, and cards.

Each module page features a variety of learning materials including:

• Code-walkthrough videos you can easily share, save for later, or add to your own playlist on YouTube
• Reference links to learn more about Alexa Skills Kit features and technologies covered in the training
• Code samples on GitHub to follow along and build custom Alexa skills

To start learning, check out our new developer education pages.

Build a New Skill, Earn Developer Perks

Bring your big idea to life with Alexa and earn perks through our tiered rewards system. US developers, publish a skill in November, and receive an Alexa developer hoodie. If 100 customers use your skill in its first 30 days in the Alexa Skills Store, you can also apply to receive a free Echo Dot to help you make Alexa even smarter. If you need inspiration, consider creating a holiday-themed skill to get into the holiday spirit. If you're not in the US, check out our promotions in the UK, Germany, and India. Learn more about our promotion and start building today.