starter code, with a simple example function, labelled for quick start

index.js

// this code is edited from the original:
// https://medium.com/iotforall/build-your-first-custom-alexa-skill-in-10-minutes-2d27485727ed

// import
var alexa = require("alexa-app");

// 1. DEFINE APP
// -------------
// your app, on the first time it opens, does this
const App = (request, response) => {
  // Alexa says this at the beginning
  response.say(
    "Hello there, I am a bot template that doesn't really do anything. Try asking me about the answer to life, universe and everything."
  );
  // don't go exit the program yet
  response.shouldEndSession(false);
};

// the primary function alexa should call
const getAnswer = (request, response) => {
  generate_suggestions(response);
  return;
};
// secondary function(s)
const generate_suggestions = response => {
  const answer = [
    "42",
    "42",
    "I told you it's 42",
    "go watch Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy",
    "it really is 42"
  ];

  const rand = answer[Math.floor(Math.random() * answer.length)];

  // what is Alexa's output after running this function?
  response.say(rand);
  response.send();
  return;
};

// 2. MAKE APP
// -----------
// make a new app
var app = new alexa.app();
// run the app
app.launch(App);
// tell it what to do
// app.intent("name of function", {what it should listen to}, the function that gets called)
app.intent(
  "GetAnswer",
  {
    slots: {},
    utterances: [
      "what is my number",
      "what do i like to think about when i'm asleep",
      "what is the answer to life universe and everything"
    ]
  },
  getAnswer
);

// 3. CONNECT TO AMAZON'S LAMBDA
// -----------------------------
exports.handler = app.lambda();

if (process.argv.length === 3 && process.argv[2] === "schema") {
  console.log(app.schema());
  console.log(app.utterances());
}