Alexa
Verified@ivangdavila
npx machina-cli add skill @ivangdavila/alexa --openclawDevice 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 → Devices → find device → verify online status. Re-discover if needed.
Routines
Create via: Alexa app → More → 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 → More → Voice → Custom → 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" → broadcasts to all Echo devices. Useful in routines.
Smart Home Setup
Adding devices:
- Enable brand's skill in Alexa app
- Link account if required
- "Alexa, discover devices" or Devices → + → Add Device
- 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" → 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 → Privacy → 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" → 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 |
Overview
Alexa enables device control, automations, and skill-driven interactions for smart homes. It emphasizes reliable room-based commands, routine orchestration, and easy setup via the Alexa app, while offering privacy controls and troubleshooting guidance.
How This Skill Works
Alexa maps devices through brand skills and device discovery, with a protocol hierarchy of Matter > Zigbee > Wi-Fi and built-in hubs like Echo Plus. Users organize devices by rooms, create routines with voice phrases, schedules, or device states, and specify actions such as device control, scenes, announcements, music, or waits. For developers, building custom skills requires defined intents, thorough testing on both simulators and real devices, and providing ample utterances to cover edge cases.
When to Use It
- Setting up a connected home with room-based control and guided discovery
- Automating daily activities with routines triggered by time, location, or device state
- Managing groups and scenes for multisensor or multi-device actions
- Integrating third-party skills to extend routine capabilities
- Troubleshooting device responsiveness or routine failures
Quick Start
- Step 1: Enable the brand's skill in the Alexa app and link your account if required
- Step 2: Say 'Alexa, discover devices' and assign each device to a room
- Step 3: Create a routine or a quick voice shortcut to trigger your common commands
Best Practices
- Name devices using Location + device type to ensure reliable control (eg, Kitchen light, Bedroom fan)
- Keep routine trigger phrases unique and add enough utterances for robustness
- Verify devices are online and re-discover if needed when adding new devices
- Assign devices to rooms to enable room-based commands and accurate groupings
- Test custom skills in both simulator and on real hardware, and provide clear privacy guidance
Example Use Cases
- Turn off all devices in the bedroom using a single room command
- Create a routine that announces dinner, dims lights, and plays music
- Set up a quick shortcut to trigger an existing command via a voice phrase
- Discover devices after enabling a brand skill and assign them to a room for easy control
- Group multiple speakers for synchronized playback across the home
