In trying to learn how to create an Alexa Skill using Java, I realized that there is absolutely no real tutorial for it. There are tutorials for NodeJS and Python. Lots of them! But as for Java — well, you have sample code. If you’re a Java developer wanting to create an Alexa Skill, then follow along!
Before I give you the actual how-to on developing an Alexa Skill, let’s try getting a pre-made Hello World skill working.
I’m using Arch Linux as my operating system on my laptop. So installing an Android development platform is a bit different. One of the problems I encountered is when my Android Virtual Device won’t load due to a missing driver.
As 2016 ends, I realized I haven’t written here in a couple of years. I should though. So I went to work upgrading the platform. I was using Octopress (a Ruby-based static page generator) to generate my blog. My problem though was that it was getting clunky to use. Development also seemed to have stalled with the promise of a new version remaining vaporware for a couple years now. I’ve always wanted to move to Hugo for two reasons: the development is ongoing, and it is using Go.
“Office Notes” is my way of keeping track of my discoveries that might be helpful for my work. I prefer to put it here because it’s so hard to keep track of them on Facebook, Google+, and Diigo. These notes are also updated as new versions come in. So it’s possible that this post can go really long.
Today, I discovered Bolt.
Much of the stuff we do is to make websites.
I’ve been having trouble getting Evolus Pencil to generate PNG files ever since I started using Ubuntu 12.04. I thought it was Ubuntu that was the problem. Turns out it was my copy of Firefox. Evolus Pencil doesn’t play well with Firefox18. The answer was to download xulrunner.
You can get the xulrunner here xulrunner-16.0.2.en-US.linux-x86_64.tar.bz2. Version 16.0.2 should be safe.
After you’ve downloaded the xulrunner archive, explode that into the /opt folder.
I’ve always had trouble studying. Whether it is by learning by myself or through a teacher. But over the years, I found out that the best way for me to learn something is to give something back.
I find it hard to study. A friend once mentioned that I may have ADD. I can’t listen to someone long enough to understand something. Self-study fares a bit better. I’m able to learn.
During the last days of 2012, I started to work on the website for Mensa Philippines. After about 24 hours working on the site using Blogger, it’s now just waiting for the thumbs up of the Mensa officers. So I decided it was high time to give my blog a new look as well. The last time I did a reboot was in May 30, 2010.
At first I was thinking of just giving it a new look.
I have this idea that’s been brewing for the past couple of months. Normally I would work on it using Java but I decided it would be a perfect time to learn new technologies. I ended up learning Google Go and the Google App Engine . There’s still some other stuff I need to learn, like AngularJS and Twitter Bootstrap .
I’ve been using my Core i7 laptop a lot for development and training nowadays.
Recently I upgraded the Ubuntu system on my VirtualBox. That included a correctional upgrade for the kernel. Lo and behold, after that upgrade my display wouldn’t behave anymore. It wouldn’t resize properly to the virtual machine (VM) window. It was either too big or too small for it. I figured I might need to do a reinstall of something.
Update AUG, 22, 2014 I just found out that NerdGrind’s link now points to a spammy site.
Recently I was lucky enough to win a Sony Xperia P during its launch. It was wonderful to finally own a phone with NFC. I was a bit disappointed to find out that the SmartTags that came with it were read-only.
But that disappointment was short lived as a kind stranger on Twitter sent me a small pack on NFC stickers. Meanwhile, I was also given a couple of test cards from Jollibee’s HappyPlus rewards program.