Sun Sep 10

  • found out that asciidoc does not support strikethough in a way that supports Github (or viceversa) link link. This prevented me from being able to format a log title in the way I wanted.
Amazon Alexa is a kind of voice-based interface not unlike Apple Siri.

  • Amazon Echo is a hardware product line that makes Alexa convenient to use

  • Developers can "teach Alexa skills" which is analogus to e.g. writing iOS apps. teach -> write, skill -> app

  • Alexa skills are configured with an amazon developer account, then implemented. The skill's interaction model is defined in this configuration layer, e.g. what utterances can be used.

  • Invocation Name is the name given to enter your skill from alexa. For example essence will enter the ssense skill

  • Each skill has multiple intents. These are like functions or endpoints in your skill. You defined them as a developer.

  • Each intent has multiple utterances. These are ways the user can speak to execute the intent.

  • There is another concept called slots which are for parameters in intents. But I have not actually played with these yet.

  • There are different APIs available for developers to use to build skills. For highly custom skills there is a Custom API which can POST intents to any host running an HTTPS server.

  • links: Alexa Skills entry point for developers, Amazon Echo Show entry point for developers, Custom API, JSON Interface Reference for Custom Skills, Display Interface Reference

  • DGraph's go client is their most feature complete one. DGraph's dgraphloader is built on top of it.