In this lesson, you will create your own Lambda function in the AWS console.

Creating Your Lambda function

Congrats! You made your first Lambda function and you have the skills to publish your own! You can reference this course as you need, but please don't use the "Codecademy" name or "code academy" invocation. 

In review, you:
- Created an AWS account
- Customized a Lambda function with your name
- Deployed a Lambda function using a Serverless Application Repository (SAR)
- Copied and pasted code into the Lambda function
- Connected your function and interaction model by copy-pasting the ARN into the Alexa Developer Console

We used the Alexa Developer Console (<a href="https://developer.amazon.com?&sc_category=Earned&sc_channel=RD&sc_campaign= CreateYourLambdaFunction&sc_publisher=Codecademy&sc_content=Content&sc_funnel=Visit&sc_country=WW&sc_medium=Earned_RD_ CreateYourLambdaFunction_Codecademy_Content_Visit_WW_CodecademyDevs_RD_C2L1&sc_segment=CodecademyDevs&sc_trackingcode=RD_C2L1
" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">developer.amazon.com</a>) to create an interaction model and the AWS Console (<a href="https://aws.amazon.com?&sc_category=Earned&sc_channel=RD&sc_campaign= CreateYourLambdaFunction&sc_publisher=Codecademy&sc_content=Content&sc_funnel=Visit&sc_country=WW&sc_medium=Earned_RD_ CreateYourLambdaFunction_Codecademy_Content_Visit_WW_CodecademyDevs_RD_C2L1&sc_segment=CodecademyDevs&sc_trackingcode=RD_C2L1
" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aws.amazon.com</a>) to create the back-end Lambda function. If the interaction model and Lambda function are connected properly with an ARN, then you can test both using the Test Simulator in the [Alexa Developer Console](https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/docs/alexa/test/test-your-skill-overview.html).



Voice invocation goes to interaction model (front-end), which goes to amazon alexa cloud icon, which goes to Hosted Service (back-end). Response returns in reverse order

Review

To find Lambda in the console:
1. Make sure you're logged in to the AWS console at <a href="https://aws.amazon.com?&sc_category=Earned&sc_channel=RD&sc_campaign= CreateYourLambdaFunction&sc_publisher=Codecademy&sc_content=Content&sc_funnel=Visit&sc_country=WW&sc_medium=Earned_RD_ CreateYourLambdaFunction_Codecademy_Content_Visit_WW_CodecademyDevs_RD_C2L1&sc_segment=CodecademyDevs&sc_trackingcode=RD_C2L1
" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aws.amazon.com</a>.
2. Click **Services** at the top of the screen, and type "Lambda" in the search box. You can also find Lambda in the list of services. It is in the "Compute" section.
3. Select **Lambda** from the search results.

---
#### Set AWS Region
---

At the time of writing, AWS Lambda works with the Alexa Skills Kit in four regions: 
* US East (N. Virginia)
* US West (Oregon)
* EU (Ireland)
* Asia Pacific (Tokyo)

Developers pick one of these locations based on their users: picking a region close to users will reduce lag time between requests and responses. 

Select AWS Lambda 

We are now ready to connect our Lambda function to the interaction model we created in the <a href="https://www.codecademy.com/courses/learn-alexa-skills-kit/lessons/intro-to-alexa/exercises/amazon-developer-account?action=resume_content_item&course_redirect=learn-alexa" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Build Your First Alexa Skill</a> course. 

(These next steps require a "Codecademy" interaction model and an account on <a href="https://developer.amazon.com/edw/home.html#/skills?&sc_category=Earned&sc_channel=RD&sc_campaign= CreateYourLambdaFunction&sc_publisher=Codecademy&sc_content=Content&sc_funnel=Visit&sc_country=WW&sc_medium=Earned_RD_ CreateYourLambdaFunction_Codecademy_Content_Visit_WW_CodecademyDevs_RD_C2L1&sc_segment=CodecademyDevs&sc_trackingcode=RD_C2L1
" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">developer.amazon.com</a>. If you don't have those, the course linked above will show you how to set those up.)

In the Build Your First Alexa Skill course, you learned that the way to connect the Voice User Interface to the Lambda function is through the Amazon Resource Name (ARN). You may remember that we provided you with an ARN for a Lambda function we created for you. Now you can replace this number with your own ARN.

---
#### Copy the Lambda ARN
---

The ARN value for your Lambda function should appear on the top right corner. It starts with lowercase "arn". Copy this entire string starting with the lowercase "arn".

---
#### Paste the new ARN
---
1. In the Alexa section on <a href="https://developer.amazon.com/edw/home.html#/skills?&sc_category=Earned&sc_channel=RD&sc_campaign= CreateYourLambdaFunction&sc_publisher=Codecademy&sc_content=Content&sc_funnel=Visit&sc_country=WW&sc_medium=Earned_RD_ CreateYourLambdaFunction_Codecademy_Content_Visit_WW_CodecademyDevs_RD_C2L1&sc_segment=CodecademyDevs&sc_trackingcode=RD_C2L1
" target="_blank">developer.amazon.com</a>, find the skill we created in the first lesson, **Codecademy**, and click on it.
2. Click on the **Endpoint** tab for the skill.
3. Make sure **AWS Lambda ARN** is selected as the **Service Endpoint Type**.
5. **Delete** the existing ARN from the **Default** text box, and paste the ARN for your Lambda function. 
6. Click **Save Endpoints**.

Nice work! Your skill is ready for testing. 

Copy the ARN

When a user asks Alexa to open a skill, the request is routed to the skill's back-end, which determines what behavior was requested and an appropriate response. In this lesson, you will create that back-end with JavaScript. We will store and run our code in _AWS Lambda_, where it will be accessible by our skill. We call that code a _Lambda function_.

#### Why AWS Lambda?
AWS Lambda is a serverless compute service that runs your code in response to events. It has many applications, but it's ideal for building Alexa Skills. It:
* offers a free tier AWS account with up to 1 million requests per month,
* works with the Alexa Skills Kit SDK, and
* automatically scales to support the rate of incoming requests without requiring you to configure anything.

In this course, we assume that you've already built your skill's interaction model in <a href="https://www.codecademy.com/courses/learn-alexa-skills-kit/lessons/intro-to-alexa/exercises/review?action=resume_content_item&course_redirect=learn-alexa" target="_blank">Build Your First Alexa Skill</a>. If you haven't done that, take the time to complete the course and come back when you're ready!

We will also use this opportunity to customize the skill's response to include your name, so Alexa responds: 
- "Hello John, welcome to the Codecademy skill" 

Introduction to AWS Lambda

We are now ready to paste our code into the AWS Lambda **Function code** section.

Copy the Code

The **index.js** file on the right contains the code from the <a href="https://www.codecademy.com/courses/learn-alexa-skills-kit/lessons/intro-to-alexa/exercises/review?action=resume_content_item&course_redirect=learn-alexa" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Build Your First Alexa Skill</a> course. 

We will use this code to create our own function, but before we do that, let's make it a bit more fun. Let's edit the greetings that Alexa responds with when we say:

_Alexa, open {YOUR-FIRST-NAME} {LAST-INITIAL}'s code academy_

_Alexa, tell {YOUR-FIRST-NAME} {LAST-INITIAL}'s code academy to say hello_
 

Edit Lambda Function Code

If you already have an AWS account, sign into the AWS console at <a href="https://aws.amazon.com?&sc_category=Earned&sc_channel=RD&sc_campaign= CreateYourLambdaFunction&sc_publisher=Codecademy&sc_content=Content&sc_funnel=Visit&sc_country=WW&sc_medium=Earned_RD_ CreateYourLambdaFunction_Codecademy_Content_Visit_WW_CodecademyDevs_RD_C2L1&sc_segment=CodecademyDevs&sc_trackingcode=RD_C2L1
" target="_blank">aws.amazon.com</a>, and skip to the **next exercise**.

---
#### Create an AWS Account (Free Tier)
---
If you do not have an AWS account, you will need to create one. 

You will need a valid credit card to set up your account, but it won't cost anything to get started: the <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/free?&sc_category=Earned&sc_channel=RD&sc_campaign= CreateYourLambdaFunction&sc_publisher=Codecademy&sc_content=Content&sc_funnel=Visit&sc_country=WW&sc_medium=Earned_RD_ CreateYourLambdaFunction_Codecademy_Content_Visit_WW_CodecademyDevs_RD_C2L1&sc_segment=CodecademyDevs&sc_trackingcode=RD_C2L1
" target="_blank">AWS Free Tier</a> will serve our purpose. 


1. Visit <a href="https://aws.amazon.com?&sc_category=Earned&sc_channel=RD&sc_campaign= CreateYourLambdaFunction&sc_publisher=Codecademy&sc_content=Content&sc_funnel=Visit&sc_country=WW&sc_medium=Earned_RD_ CreateYourLambdaFunction_Codecademy_Content_Visit_WW_CodecademyDevs_RD_C2L1&sc_segment=CodecademyDevs&sc_trackingcode=RD_C2L1
" target="_blank">aws.amazon.com</a> and then choose **Create an AWS Account**.
2. Follow the instructions to create a new account. Do not worry about the IAM role, we will get to that in the next few exercises.
3. Part of the sign-up procedure involves receiving a phone call and entering a PIN using the phone keypad.
4. It can sometimes take a couple minutes for your new AWS account to go live. You will receive an e-mail when your account is active. 

Once your account is created, **sign in to the AWS console** at <a href="https://aws.amazon.com?&sc_category=Earned&sc_channel=RD&sc_campaign= CreateYourLambdaFunction&sc_publisher=Codecademy&sc_content=Content&sc_funnel=Visit&sc_country=WW&sc_medium=Earned_RD_ CreateYourLambdaFunction_Codecademy_Content_Visit_WW_CodecademyDevs_RD_C2L1&sc_segment=CodecademyDevs&sc_trackingcode=RD_C2L1
" target="_blank">aws.amazon.com</a>.


Sign in or Sign up for AWS Account

----
#### Create Lambda Function
----
If you haven't created a Lambda function before, click the orange **Get Started** button near the center of your screen.

If you have created a Lambda function before, click the **Create function** button. It should be near the top of your screen. 

---
#### Choose Serverless Application Repository
---
We will start by using a serverless application repository (SAR), which is a shortcut to getting everything set up for your skill, and includes the Node.js ASK SDK library automatically.

The Node Alexa Skills Kit (ASK) SDK from Amazon makes it faster and easier to build skills, and we will be using it throughout this course.  We will dive deeper into the SDK a little later, but for now, know that we need to include the SDK in our Lambda function, and the SAR allows us to do that automatically. 

1. Type "Alexa" in the search/filter box, and hit <kbd>enter</kbd>. 
2. Choose the Application named **alexa-skills-kit-nodejs-factskill**. 

----
#### Create Application Name
----
At the bottom of the next page under **Configure application parameters**, type in your skill's name: "myCodecademySkill".

Click **Deploy**.

On the next page, wait for the deployment process to finish. Once finished, click the link under  **alexaskillskitnodejsfactskill** under **Resource** to access your skill.

Note: Though you named your function "myCodecademySkill", the function name may appear as something else, like:
```
aws-serverless-repository-alexaskillskitnodejsfactskill-XXXXXXXXXXXX
```

Create Lambda Function

After creating the skill, you will find the Lambda Configuration Page. This gives you access to your function code, <a href="https://developer.amazon.com/docs/custom-skills/host-a-custom-skill-as-an-aws-lambda-function.html?&sc_category=Earned&sc_channel=RD&sc_campaign=CreateYourLambdaFunction&sc_publisher=Codecademy&sc_content=Content&sc_funnel=Visit&sc_country=WW&sc_medium=Earned_RD_CreateYourLambdaFunction_Codecademy_Content_Visit_WW_CodecademyDevs_RD_C2L1&sc_segment=CodecademyDevs&sc_trackingcode=RD_C2L1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">triggers, roles, policies, and resources</a>. It also lists your function's name and ARN.

For this course, the only section you need to recognize is **Function code**. This is where we will be copy-and-pasting our **index.js** file.