This example shows how to add the Dashbot python sdk to your Alexa skill. It assumes you already have your skill setup as described in the following Amazon example:

https://developer.amazon.com/alexa-skills-kit/alexa-skill-quick-start-tutorial

If you already have a method for packaging and deploying python libraries with lambda functions, you only need steps 4 and 5.

Much of this example involves packaging the python lamdba function for upload to allow the import of external libraries. I am using the approach of setting up a virtualenv within my project, installing external libraries into this environment and bundling the libraries in this environment into the zip file uploaded to Amazon along with my lamdba function code. This repo contains a file called build.py that automates these tasks (though it may need to be adjusted for your environment).

setup pip install virtualenv

Step 1 follow the steps in the original tutorial to setup your skill and lambda function.

	https://developer.amazon.com/alexa-skills-kit/alexa-skill-quick-start-tutorial

Step 2 download your lambda function to edit locally

	1. In the Amazon console, go to lambda and find your function
	2. At the top choose dropdown menu 'Actions'
	3. select export and download your package

Step 3 unzip the file you downloaded in step 2. Create a folder named 'src' in this unzipped directory and copy the lambda_function.py file into it. Copy build.py into the top level of the unzipped directory.

Step 4 Install the dashbot pip

pip install dashbot

Step 5 edit the lambda_function.py file as follows: near the top of the file, add:

	from dashbot import alexa
	dba = alexa.alexa('DASHBOT_API_KEY)
	
Edit the lambda_handler function to send the incoming event and response to dashbot as follows:


	# --------------- Main handler ------------------
	
	def lambda_handler(event, context):
	    """ Route the incoming request based on type (LaunchRequest, IntentRequest,
	    etc.) The JSON body of the request is provided in the event parameter.
	    """
	    print("event.session.application.applicationId=" +
	          event['session']['application']['applicationId'])
	
	    """
	    Uncomment this if statement and populate with your skill's application ID to
	    prevent someone else from configuring a skill that sends requests to this
	    function.
	    """
	    # if (event['session']['application']['applicationId'] !=
	    #         "amzn1.echo-sdk-ams.app.[unique-value-here]"):
	    #     raise ValueError("Invalid Application ID")
	
	    if event['session']['new']:
	        on_session_started({'requestId': event['request']['requestId']},
	                           event['session'])
	
	    if event['request']['type'] == "LaunchRequest":
	        response = on_launch(event['request'], event['session'])
	    elif event['request']['type'] == "IntentRequest":
	        response =  on_intent(event['request'], event['session'])
	    elif event['request']['type'] == "SessionEndedRequest":
	        response =  on_session_ended(event['request'], event['session'])
	    
	    dba.logIncoming(event)
	    dba.logOutgoing(event,response)
	    return response

Step 6 run build.py which builds a new virtualenv, installs requests and dashbot into this environment, and zips up both the lambda_function file and the installed libraries into a a file called build.zip.

Step 7 upload build.zip file to lambda