The new Controls Framework makes it easier and faster to code manage multi-turn skills.

Alexa Skills Kit    >    Get Deeper    >    SDKs

Alexa Skills Kit SDKs

SDKs
Quickly Build Your First Skill

Build your first Alexa skill with our step-by-step instructions and samples, then apply what you learn to build your own.

Be Productive from the Start

Take advantage of your existing programming expertise by choosing between our Java, Node.js, and Python SDKs.

Write Less Code

Use the code we provide for commonly needed utility functions and focus your energy on your ideas.

Key Features of ASK SDKs

Hello World and Other Samples

We provide complete sample code and step-by-step instructions for Hello World and other samples. You can use these samples to understand how to build an Alexa skill, to learn how to use SDK functions, and as a starting point for your own skills.

Request Handling

Request handling in the SDK makes it easy for you to invoke the right code when Alexa sends you a request. You can write a single handler for multiple Alexa intents, or invoke different handlers based on nearly any request attribute.

Controls Framework (beta)

The controls framework makes it easier and faster to code manage multi-turn skills. Create your own or use one of our prebuilt controls for lists, dates, and more, to easily build and manage multi-turn skills in JavaScript.

Response Building

You can deliver responses to your customers that include text-to-speech, audio and video streams, and cards and other visual elements. Customers will receive one or more of these elements depending on what Alexa-compatible device they are using. Using the SDK, you can build responses that include all of these elements.

Attribute Management

You can store and retrieve information at different scopes using Attributes in the SDK. Attributes allow you to keep track of what happened so far, and to use this information to determine what happens next. You can define attributes that for a single request, for a single customer session, or for the lifetime of your skill.

Alexa API Calls

You can call nearly any Alexa API from within your skill logic using service clients in the SDK. The service clients automatically inject relevant endpoint and authentication token information on your behalf.

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Visit our GitHub Repository to Get Started

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Node.js
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Python
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Java
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Latest Feature Updates for ASK SDKs

 

Date Name Summary Locale Availability Links Release Type

7/22/2020

ASK SDK Controls framework

The new Controls Framework makes it easier and faster to code manage multi-turn skills

All

Alexa Blog

Documentation

Beta

7/22/2020

JSX for APL

Author APL documents using JSX and React along with SDKv2 and the latest SDK

All

Alexa Blog

Documentation

Beta

12/6/2019

SMAPI SDK

Build faster on SMAPI using the new SMAPI SDK for Node.js, Python, and Java

All

Documentation - Node.js

Documentation - Java

Documentation - Python

Generally Available

8/22/2019

SDK Productivity Releases

New ASK SDK Support for Express.js and Jinja

All

Alexa Blog

Generally Available

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