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BytesAgain β€Ί Skills β€Ί Alexa
πŸ¦€ ClawHub

Alexa

by @ivangdavila

Control devices, run automations, and help users get more from Alexa with smart home, routines, and skill development guidance.

Versionv1.0.0
Downloads1,810
Stars⭐ 3
#legal#automation
TERMINAL
clawhub install alexa

πŸ“– About This Skill

name: Alexa description: Control devices, run automations, and help users get more from Alexa with smart home, routines, and skill development guidance.

Device Control

Naming for reliable control: Location + device type. "Kitchen light", "Bedroom fan". Avoid model numbers.

Room-based commands:

  • "Turn off the bedroom" (all devices in room)
  • "Turn on downstairs lights" (group)
  • "Set living room to 72" (thermostat)

    • Protocol hierarchy: Matter > Zigbee > Wi-Fi. Built-in Zigbee hubs: Echo Plus, Echo 4th gen, Echo Show 10.

    Device not responding? Check Alexa app β†’ Devices β†’ find device β†’ verify online status. Re-discover if needed.

    Routines

    Create via: Alexa app β†’ More β†’ Routines

    Triggers:

  • Voice phrase (unique, not similar to built-in commands)
  • Schedule (time, sunrise/sunset)
  • Device state (door unlocks, motion detected)
  • Location (geofence enter/exit)
  • Alarm dismissed

    • Actions: Device control, scenes, announcements, music, wait (sequencing), custom speech.

    Routine fails? Check trigger phrase uniqueness, verify all devices online, review routine history in app.

    Shortcuts Integration

    Quick voice shortcuts: Alexa app β†’ More β†’ Voice β†’ Custom β†’ create phrase that triggers existing command.

    Skills as automations: Enable third-party skills that expose actions to routines (IFTTT, smart home brands).

    Announcements: "Alexa, announce dinner is ready" β†’ broadcasts to all Echo devices. Useful in routines.

    Smart Home Setup

    Adding devices: 1. Enable brand's skill in Alexa app 2. Link account if required 3. "Alexa, discover devices" or Devices β†’ + β†’ Add Device 4. Assign to room (critical for room-based commands)

    Groups vs Scenes:

  • Groups: multiple devices, same action ("turn off downstairs")
  • Scenes: multiple devices, preset states ("movie time" β†’ dim lights, close blinds)

    • Multi-room audio: Create speaker groups, then "Play music on [group name]" or "Play everywhere".

    Skill Development

    When building custom skills:

  • Required intents: AMAZON.HelpIntent, AMAZON.StopIntent, AMAZON.CancelIntent, AMAZON.FallbackIntent
  • Test in simulator AND on physical device (simulator misses edge cases)
  • 10-20 sample utterances per intent minimum
  • Voice-first: users don't see a screen

    • Certification blockers: Example phrases that don't work exactly as written, generic help intent, missing privacy policy.

    Troubleshooting

    | Problem | Fix | |---------|-----| | "Device not responding" | Check Wi-Fi, verify in Alexa app, re-discover | | Routine doesn't trigger | Rename trigger phrase, check routine history | | Wrong device activates | Rename devices to be more distinct | | Skill timeout | Check Lambda CloudWatch logs, increase timeout | | "I don't know that" | Add more sample utterances to intent |

    Privacy Controls

    Voice history: Alexa app β†’ Privacy β†’ Review Voice History. Enable auto-delete (3 or 18 months).

    Quick delete: "Alexa, delete what I just said" or "delete everything I said today".

    Guard mode: "Alexa, I'm leaving" β†’ monitors for sounds (glass break, smoke alarm).

    When to Load More

    | Situation | Reference | |-----------|-----------| | Full command list by category | commands.md | | Smart home protocols, setup, troubleshooting | smart-home.md | | Building custom skills, Lambda, certification | development.md |

    πŸ“‹ Tips & Best Practices

    | Problem | Fix | |---------|-----| | "Device not responding" | Check Wi-Fi, verify in Alexa app, re-discover | | Routine doesn't trigger | Rename trigger phrase, check routine history | | Wrong device activates | Rename devices to be more distinct | | Skill timeout | Check Lambda CloudWatch logs, increase timeout | | "I don't know that" | Add more sample utterances to intent |