Alexa-Local-Express

This is the testing bed of alexa apps running on local nodejs express server.

Preparing the environments

1. Install node.js and npm, download the repository.
2. npm install
3. https is mandatory for Alexa calls. Below is a simple guide on creating self-signed certificates in different ways.

// create a self signed cert
openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa:2048 -sha256 -exfile v3.ext -keyout key.pem -out cert.pem -days 3650
openssl rsa -in key.pem -out newkey.pem && mv newkey.pem key.pem

// create a local CA and use it to sign cert
openssl genrsa -des3 -out rootCA.key 2048
openssl req -x509 -new -nodes -key rootCA.key -sha256 -days 2048 -out rootCA.pem
sudo openssl req -new -sha256 -nodes -out server.csr -newkey rsa:2048 -keyout server.key -config csr.cnf
sudo openssl x509 -req -in server.csr -CA rootCA.pem -CAkey rootCA.key -CAcreateserial -out server.crt -days 500 -sha256 -extfile v3.ext
openssl x509 -text -in server.crt -noout

// create a pfx file from the crt and key files
openssl pkcs12 -export -out domain.name.pfx -inkey domain.name.key -in domain.name.crt

4. node index.js (Do note some platforms require elevated priviledge to bind port 443)

Functions

Open a webpage or any local files

A openSthIntent intent from Alexa will trigger a webpage or any local file (include running commands). The functionality can be further extended to run remote commands and etcs. Alternative way of testing can also be achieved by using alexaApp.request() without using Amazon echo devices.

alexaApp.request(intentStr)
  .then(function(response) {
    console.log(JSON.stringify(response, null, 3));
  });

Reprompt function is included to ask user's next request. Answer "no", "nope" or "stop" will trigger the AMAZON.StopIntent to stop the session.