JSJ 274: Amazon Voice Services and Echo Skills with Terrance Smith
JavaScript Jabber15 Elo 2017

JSJ 274: Amazon Voice Services and Echo Skills with Terrance Smith

JSJ 274 Amazon Voice Services and Echo Skills with Terrance SmithOn today’s episode of JavaScript Jabber, we have panelists Joe Eames, Aimee Knight, Charles Max Wood, and we have special guest Terrance Smith. He’s here today to talk about the Amazon Alexa platform. So tune in and learn more about Amazon Voice Services![01:00] – Introduction to Terrance SmithTerrance is from Hacker Ferrer Software. They hack love into software.[01:30] – Amazon Voice ServiceWhat I’m working on is called My CareTaker named probably pending change. What it will do and what it is doing will be to help you be there as a caretaker’s aid for the person in your life. If you have to take care an older parent, My CareTaker will be there in your place if you have to work that day. It will be your liaison to that person. Your mom and dad can talk to My CareTaker and My CareTaker could signal you via SMS or email message or tweet, anything on your usage dashboard, and you would be able to respond. It’s there when you’re not.[04:35] – Capabilities Getting started with it, there are different layers. The first layer is the Skills Kit for generally getting into the Amazon IoT. It has a limited subset of the functionality. You can give commands. The device parses them, sends them to Amazon’s endpoint, Amazon sends a call back to your API endpoint, and you can do whatever you want. That is the first level. You can make it do things like turn on your light switch, start your car, change your thermostat, or make an API call to some website somewhere to do anything.[05:50] – Skills KitSkills Kit is different with AVS. Skills Kit, you can install it on any device. You’re spinning up a web service and register it on Amazon’s website. As long as you have an endpoint, you can register, say, the Amazon Web Services Lambda. Start that up and do something. The Skills Kit is literally the web endpoint response. Amazon Voice Services is a bit more in-depth.[07:00] – Steps for programmingWith the Skills Kit, you register what would be your utterance, your skill name, and you would give it a couple of sets of phrases to accept. Say, you have a skill that can start a car, your skill is “Car Starter.” “Alexa tell Car Starter to start the car.” At which point, your web service will be notified that that is the utterance. It literally has a case statement. You can have any number of individual conditional branches outside of that. The limitation for the Skills Kit is you have to have the “tell” or “ask” and the name of the skill to do whatever. It’s also going to be publicly accessible. For the most part, it’s literally a web service.[10:55] – Boilerplates for AWS LambdaBoilerplates can be used if you want to develop for production. If you publish a skill, you get free AVS instance time. You can host your skill for free for some amount of time. There are GUI tools to make it easier but if you’re a developer, you’re probably going to do the spin up a web service and deal it that way.[11:45] – Do you have to have an Amazon Echo?At one point, you have to have the Echo but now there is this called Echoism, which allows you to run it in your browser. In addition to that, you can potentially install it on a device like a Raspberry Pi and run Amazon Voice Services. The actual engine is on your PC, Mac, or Linux box. You have different options.[12:35] – Machine learningThere are certain things that Amazon Alexa understand now that it did last year or time before that like understanding utterances and phrases better. A lot of the machine learning is definitely under the covers. The other portion of it Alexa Voice Service, which is a whole engine that you have untethered access to other portions like how to handle responses. That’s where you can build a custom device and take it apart. So the API that we’re working with here is just using JSON and HTTP.[16:40] – Amazon Echo ShowYou have that full real-time back and forth communication ability but there is no video streaming or video processing ability yet. You can utilize the engine in such a way that Amazon Voice Services can work with your existing tool language. If you have a Raspberry Pi and you have a camera to it, you can potentially work within that. But again, the official API’s and docs for that are not available yet.[27:20] – ChallengesThere’s an appliance in this house that listens to everything I say. There’s that natural inclination to not trust it, especially with the older generations. Giving past that is getting people to use the device. Some of the programming sides of it are getting the communication to work, doing something that Alexa isn’t pre-programmed to do. There isn’t a lot of documentation out there, just a couple of examples. The original examples are written in Java and trying to convert it to Node or JavaScript would be some of the technical challenges. In addition, getting it installed and setup takes at least an hour at the beginning. There’s also a learning curve involved.[29:35] – Is your product layered in an Echo or is your product a separate device?Terrance’s product is a completely separate device. One of the functionality of his program is medicine reminders. It can only respond to whatever the API calls from Amazon tells you to respond to but it can’t do anything like send something back. It can do an immediate audio response with a picture or turn on and off a light switch. But it can’t send a message back in like two hours from now. You do want your Alexa device to have (verbally) a list of notifications like on your phone. TLDR, Terrance can go a little further with just the Skills Kit.[32:00] – Could you set it up through a web server?Yes. There are examples out there. There’s Alexa in the browser. You can open up a browser and communicate with that. There are examples of it being installed like an app. You can deploy it to your existing iPhone app or Android app and have it interact that way. Or you can have it interact independently on a completely different device like a Raspberry Pi. But not a lot of folks are using it that way.[33:10] – MonetizationAmazon isn’t changing anything in terms of monetization. They make discovery a lot easier though. If you knew the name of the app, you could just say, “Alexa, [tell the name of the app].” It will do a lazy load of the actual skill and it will add it to your available skill’s list.However, there is something called the Alexa Fund, which is kind of a startup fund that they have, which you can apply for. If you’re doing something interesting, there is a number of things you have to do. Ideally, you can get funding for whatever your product is. It is an available avenue for you.[36:25] – More information, documentation, walkthroughsThe number one place to go to as far as getting started is the Amazon websites. They have the Conexant 4-Mic Far-Field Dev Kit. It has 4 mics and it has already a lot of what you need. You have to boot it up and/or SSH into it or plug it up and code it. They have a couple of these kits for $300 to $400. It’s one of the safe and simpler options.There are also directions for the AVS sites which is under Alexa Voice Services, where you can go to the Github from there. There will give you directions using the Raspberry Pi. If not that, there’s also the Slack chatroom. It is alexaslack.com. Travis Teague is the guy in charge in there.PicksJoe EamesAimee KnightCharles Max WoodTerrance SmithSpecial Guest: Terrance Smith.

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Jaksot(733)

Optimizing SQL and ORM Practices for High-Performance Applications - JSJ 650

Optimizing SQL and ORM Practices for High-Performance Applications - JSJ 650

In today's episode, Charles, Steve, and AJ, are joined by back-end engineer and team lead at Homebound, Stephen Haberman. We delve into the fascinating world of SQL c and its revolutionary approach to managing SQL queries with dedicated SQL files, delivering benefits such as reduced typing errors and pre-deployment checks. Stephen also walks us through the advantages and limitations of ORMs versus query builders like Prisma and Drizzle, sharing insights into Joyce ORM's unique philosophy and simplified CRUD operations.They explore the intricacies of Domain Driven Design (DDD), its emphasis on ubiquitous language, and how it shapes business logic and storage management. AJ contributes by discussing the potential of SQL c and Slonik for dynamic query building. Additionally, they discuss Steven's innovative work with GraphFileWorker and GrafAST, highlighting the performance improvements in GraphQL backends. Whether you're intrigued by the technicalities of ORMs, the evolution of database tools, or just love a good anecdote, this episode packed with technical insights and lively discussions is one you won't want to miss. Join them on this journey into the world of database management and development!SocialsLinkedIn: Stephen HabermanPicks AJ - TypeScript to JSDocAJ - MySQL to TypeScriptAJ - sqlcAJ - Slonik (Node + Postgres)AJ - SwiftUI EssentialsAJ - Introduction to SwiftUI AJ - Trump, but not saying dumb thingsCharles - Biblios | Board GameCharles - FreeStyle Libre 3 System | Continuous Glucose MonitoringStephen - Grafast | GrafastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

24 Syys 20241h 31min

Mentorship in Tech: Balancing Professionalism and Friendship for Maximum Growth and Accountability - JSJ 649

Mentorship in Tech: Balancing Professionalism and Friendship for Maximum Growth and Accountability - JSJ 649

They dive deep into the world of mentorship, personal growth, and problem-solving with our special guests, Joao and Manny, alongside our insightful panelists, AJ and Charles.In this episode, they explore the transformative power of weekly accountability meetings (WAM), where tasks are committed and followed up with a yes or no, no excuses allowed. Joao and Manny share their journey of mentorship that crossed borders, forging a strong bond through adversity and mutual respect. We'll also delve into how their dynamic friendship amplifies professional standards, and the importance of balancing personal and professional relationships.We discuss the profound impacts of structured problem-solving methods, specifically George Polya's renowned four-step process. Joao and Manny highlight how this systematic approach has refined their coding skills and overall problem-solving abilities. Alongside, we touch upon the fascinating intersection of human learning and AI, emphasizing the unique capacity humans have for generalizing new problems from limited data.In addition, our speakers will share their roadmap for continuous learning, curriculum development, and practical exercises—highlighting tools like Trello for task management and Anki for reinforcing learning. AJ O'Neil offers his unique perspective on the talent it takes to thrive in programming and how personal enjoyment is crucial for sustained success.Later, we'll transition to our Picks section, where AJ, Charles, and the guests share their latest recommendations, from essential productivity tools and engaging books to top-notch apps and board games.Finally, we'll wrap up with some valuable insights on time management, consistent study habits, and the importance of finding a mentor who truly cares about your growth. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiring stories that you won't want to miss. So, tune in for all this and more on Top End Devs!PicksAJ - Apple EarpodsAJ - SwiftUICharles - Biblios | Board GameCharles - FreeStyle Libre 3 SystemManny - Jaco: The Extraordinary and Tragic Life of Jaco PastoriusManny - Baldur's Gate 3 on SteamBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

17 Syys 20241h 19min

Unpacking Deno 2: Code Stability, Free Speech, and more - JSJ 648

Unpacking Deno 2: Code Stability, Free Speech, and more - JSJ 648

Today, Charles, Dan, AJ, and Steve dive into a range of fascinating discussions. Joining this episode is special guest, Ryan Dahl, the visionary creator behind Node.js and Deno.In this episode, they traverse an eclectic mix of topics, from humorous offbeat news and dad jokes to in-depth tech discussions. They explore the complexities and legalities surrounding free speech, offering diverse perspectives on its implications in the modern digital landscape.But the heart of our discussion is Ryan Dahl's exploration of Deno 2, the latest evolution in JavaScript's runtime environment. You'll hear about its distinctive features, including the revolutionary JSR project, and how it aims to simplify and secure modern JavaScript development, addressing challenges and limitations found in Node.js. They also discuss the intricacies of TypeScript support, Deno’s security model, and the future potential of JavaScript in data science.Join them for a lively conversation packed with insights, technical deep-dives, and plenty of humor. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting your coding journey, this episode is sure to offer valuable takeaways and an entertaining ride through the world of modern web development.Sponsors Wix StudioSocialsLinkedIn: Ryan DahlTwitter: @deno_landDenoPicksAJ - SwiftAJ - DenoCharles - Challengers! | Board GameRyan - GrainBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

10 Syys 20241h 34min

Opinionated Core Web Vitals - JSJ 647

Opinionated Core Web Vitals - JSJ 647

Dan Shappir takes the lead this week to discuss Core Web Vitals and how Google is pushing the web to be faster.He leads Chuck, Aimee, and AJ through the ways that developers can measure and improve the performance of websites based on the statistics specified by Google as components of Google rankings.Sponsors Wix StudioLinksWeb VitalsPicksAimee- GitHub | treosh/lighthouse-ci-actionAimee- GitHub | GoogleChrome/lighthouse-ciAJ- Classless CSSAJ- One FinanceAJ- JCS - Criminal Psychology - YouTubeAJ- Auth Library Live StreamCharles- Atlas Shrugged Charles- Dev Influencers | Devchat.tvDan- Core Web Vitals Technology ReportDan- Math Has a Fatal Flaw - YouTubeBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

3 Syys 20241h 10min

Beyond JavaScript: Master TypeScript at Scale at SquiggleConf - JSJ 646

Beyond JavaScript: Master TypeScript at Scale at SquiggleConf - JSJ 646

Dan together with Josh Goldberg, a prominent open-source maintainer and author of "Learning TypeScript, dive into the world of TypeScript and JavaScript with a special focus on the upcoming Squiggleconf. In this episode, they'll detail the conference format, including its dedicated days for talks and workshops, and highlight the impressive lineup of speakers who will cover topics like ASTs, TypeScript at scale, and essential documentation practices.Josh also shares insights into the evolution and practical application of TypeScript ESLint. Expect a deep dive into TypeScript's latest features, such as generics and specific lint rules that enhance code quality and developer experience.SocialsLinkedIn: ‌Josh ‌GoldbergPicksDan - Dan's favorite standalone fantasy booksDan - Despicable Me and MinionsJosh - NeuromancerJosh - WitcherBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

28 Elo 20241h 10min

Deep Dive into Metrics and Monitoring with Prometheus and Grafana - JSJ 645

Deep Dive into Metrics and Monitoring with Prometheus and Grafana - JSJ 645

Dive into a fascinating discussion blending the worlds of literature, gaming, and tech. In this episode, Chuck and Dan explore the intriguing connections between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, including an extraordinary tale about Israeli pilots translating The Hobbit during wartime. They share insights into Guy Gavriel Kaye’s standalone novel Tigana, inspired by Renaissance Italy, and discuss the complexities and strategies of board games like Monopoly and Letters from Whitechapel.But that’s not all. The episode takes a technical turn as the speakers delve into the dynamic world of application monitoring with Prometheus. They unpack the mechanics of event loop lag, heap usage, and GC storms, and share how Prometheus's query language (PromQL) and integration with Grafana can proactively manage and solve performance issues. Hear about real-time alerting, sophisticated querying, and the practical applications of these tools in companies like Next Insurance and Sisense.This episode is packed with information - from managing performance metrics and alerting systems to insightful discussions on favorite standalone fantasy novels and the productivity hacks that keep our hosts on top of their game. So, sit back and join us for an engaging and informative session on Top End Devs!SocialsLinkedIn: Chuck WoodLinkedIn: Dan ShappirPicksCharles - Letters from Whitechapel | Board GameCharles - TrainingPeaks | Empower Your TrainingBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

20 Elo 20241h 25min

Crafting Code and Community: AI, LeetCode, and Meetups - JSJ 644

Crafting Code and Community: AI, LeetCode, and Meetups - JSJ 644

In this episode, they dive deep into the world of coding, meetups, and the evolving landscape of technical interviews. Join them as they explore the fascinating use of OpenAI's technology for coding assistance, the challenges of setting up impactful meetups, and the intricacies of mastering LeetCode problems.Our experts share invaluable insights—from leveraging AI tools like GPT to generate code effectively, to the essential strategies for problem-solving during high-pressure technical interviews. They also touch on the importance of deliberate practice, group support, and finding the right mindset for tackling coding challenges. Plus, hear personal stories about the benefits of taking breaks, the role of LeetCode in honing coding skills, and the shift in interview styles towards speed and pattern recognition.Sponsors Wix StudioSocialsAnatoliy D. ZaslavskiyLinksNYC LeetCode SquadPicksAJ - Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon SandersonAJ - The ChosenAJ - Beauty & The BeatAnatoliy - Authentic relatingAnatoliy - Neurodivergent Guide to the WorkplaceCharles - Challengers! | Board GameSteve - Myspace celebrates its 21st birthday. Do we still need it?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

13 Elo 20241h 9min

Overcoming JavaScript Load Issues: Import Maps and Performance Enhancements - JSJ 643

Overcoming JavaScript Load Issues: Import Maps and Performance Enhancements - JSJ 643

In this episode, they dive deep into the intricate world of JavaScript loading and web performance. Join the panel with insightful discussions led by Dan, Charles, Steve, and special guest Yoav Weiss—an expert with extensive experience in web performance from his time at Google, Akamai, and Shopify.They explore the latest initiatives aimed at improving ES modules, import maps, and the challenges faced with script loading, especially when dealing with web workers. They uncover the critical role of sub-resource integrity, the successful integration of integrity support in Chrome and Safari, and the urgent need for advanced import map solutions for large applications.They also delve into the nuts and bolts of optimizing web performance, including the impact of script execution on browser responsiveness, bundling techniques, and innovative strategies for managing resource download priorities. Tune in to hear about the latest developments, engage with provocative questions, and discover ways you can contribute to the ongoing work of the W3C web performance working group. Plus, stay for heartfelt moments, personal anecdotes, and practical recommendations from the speakers.  SponsorsWix StudioSocialsLinkedIn: Yoav WeissPicksAJ - Jason Bourne 5-part TrilogyAJ - Crucial MX500 has dethroned SP as my pick for best value server SSDCharles - Imaginiff | Board GameCharles - A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)Steve - How Does OpenAI Survive?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

8 Elo 20241h 35min

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