Honestly, if you are behind in the Lambda code and Developer’s slots, I would say use this opportunity to contrast the old and new ways of doing it. I will be interested in your results.
I’m stuck getting Ask Alexa setup. I’m getting a java.lang.NullpointerException error in the app when I hit the Setup Variables button. I saw a few instances of this in this thread early on, but none of the solutions seem to apply (or at least not that I’ve been able to detect). The live logging return when I run the Setup Variables command is “java.lang.NullPointerException: Cannot invoke method toLowerCase() on null object”
My Oauth appears set up correctly. Not sure where to look for what this null object might be. Any assistance is appreciated.
You have a device or extension that may have gotten saved as a ‘null’. I thought I had trapped all of those, but may have missed something…I would start systematically taking things out of Ask Alexa, then add them back in until you get the error. If you happen to find what it is, let me know and I can see if I can trap for it in the future.
EDIT
I just looked in my code…you should look at your Message queues (if you have any) or the routines/modes built into SmartThings…check the troubleshooting at http://thingsthataresmart.wiki/index.php?title=Ask_Alexa#Troubleshooting to see if you have a null routine.
If you need assistance troubleshooting this PM me. I have some suggestions of areas in the code to comment out to determine WHERE the issue is.
SOLUTION
Well with some great help from @MichaelS, we were able to find the cause of my issue. It seems that I had my Alexa Dot on a language setting of Canadian English, and i had all of my language settings on AWS and Lambda on US English. It appears it makes a difference, for me the quick fix was to change my echo dot to US English to solve this problem quickly. A frustrating problem, but hopefully this will help someone down the road!
A quick update. I did have to revert to Canadian English and re-do the ALex Skills in Canadian English, as this created problems with my Amazon account. Once i did this everything is working so far!
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Very interesting symptoms…voice commands to the skill didn’t work, but the simulator does…Thanks to @Torgysk for the patience and the solution!
Updated the main app to 2.3.6a based on troubleshooting with @shinckley. Root cause was when a user has not entered an invocation name…Now it defaults to ‘smart things’ when left blank. Remember, the invocation name in the Smart App NOW populates the Developer area, so it should match what you intend to use there.
Thanks for the patience while we troubleshoot.
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MichaelS allowed me early access to the new update. As a complete noob with no pervious experience of Lambda or any real experience of working with any type of code, I’ve managed to install this app.
If anyone is interested in installing this app but has limited knowledge like myself let me say that with the instructions and the new process of a simple copy and past, you can easily get this installed. With a little time and following the extremely detailed instructions provided by Michael I am certain that anyone can get this installed.
App is working perfectly, extremely happy with the enhanced functionality it provides.
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Before I go ahead and finish setting this up I’d like to ask something: how does everyone else get around the issue of only being able to use a device once? I know how to create aliases but no matter what I’m always struggling to eliminate all my dups. It’s my fault but with a multisensor if it’s listed under motion sensors does that mean you cannot use it for humidity or temperature? With the Aeotec Multi 6 that’s hard to get around because it’s got so many sensors.
Right off the bat, are you actively controlling all of those devices? If not, why list them in Ask Alexa? I have some specific lights that I control, but mostly I use more of the macros, rooms/groups and reporting features. I have over a hundred devices, but only control a minor few through Ask Alexa, and they are more like whole rooms instead of individual devices.
Does that help at all?
I have a good number of devices also and really don’t control them individually. I have most of my devices within the rooms/group extensions and control them with my invocation name. Most of the devices in the rooms have similar names, so this makes it easier for me.
I’ll always add my switches and such to Ask Alexa, but never use them wit the smartapp. My primary reason for wanting this smartapp is to get status of various sensors. I’m still not really very sure how to avoid using duplicates. I’d hate to only take advantage of one sensor on my multisensors.
The issue with duplicates is not limited to Ask Alexa…all voice devices have this issue…verbally, these devices have no ability to understand the context of what you are asking for. If you have 5 devices called living room and you asked the status of the living room, it wouldn’t know which one you wanted. I have toyed with a couple idea, including giving you the status of the all of the devices with the same name. I have also thought about designating a type of status (give the temperature of the living room), but all give the user MORE information that they want…making it confusing. Right now, the closest thing we have is if you have a multifunction device it will give you the attributes of everything it can do (i.e. the temperature is xx degrees, the humidity is xx, etc). Have you used that feature? (it is called additional attributes).
The best thing to do it set up a room for overall status, or us an alias name for the type of device it is i.e.“living room temperature”. Have you tried that?
I wanted to start this Friday off with a positive note….I have gotten a LOT of comments about
my new installation procedure and how it effectively has cut down the installation time and updates to mere minutes. Thank you for all of the positive comments thus far and the couple new donations! For the person that sent me 0.0513 bitcoins recently…thank you! At today’s rate it is $600+! This will keep the ask-alexa domain running for years! Reach out to me via PM so I can thank you personally!
However, outside of this positive news, I was a bit disturbed over the last week when I started receiving screenshots and code from a user participating in the Echosistant beta test. While this person had the best of intentions as they are apparently a fan of Ask Alexa, I think it was very ‘low class’ to break the trust @tonesto7 and his team put into their testers. All of the comments about ‘they stole your code and ideas’ is creative drama we don’t need. I have to believe that there is only good intent from Tony’s new team (I have spoken to him about this and he is a stand up guy) and hope there isn’t any negativity coming from that team. So, I would ask that you do not betray their trust and keep the code/screen shares to yourself. This stuff is open source so there is no real concept of ‘stealing; while many of you have pointed out that Echosistant used a considerable amount of Ask Alexa code since its inception… I was fully aware of that fact, they acknowledged it and was one of the reasons I kept innovating. However, being open source, if their new application does something that Ask Alexa doesn’t and there is a desire from the user community for me to include a feature, I will figure out a way to do it. However, I will do it within the confines of my code; I have no need or desire to copy someone else’s code. That is not ‘classy’ in my opinion and I don’t learn anything from it. I would expect if they use code or ideas from my app that they will acknowledge it in the code and documentation similarly to what I do on my wiki and in my code.
For those that concerned about which application to install, you are spending too much time thinking about it 
Install both! From the small amount I have seen, there will be power in having both apps, depending on your use case. While some people are concerned about ‘installation numbers’, outside of the few thousand dollars I received via donations, I have no financial gain from people installing my app. And while (I guess) there are bragging rights for the number of installs , I already have one bragging right: I was first to do an Alexa integration with Alexa Helper which lead to Ask Alexa. My biggest desire here is that people find use in my app! If so, I am happy! And if not, then other applications can take the mantel…I will congratulate them at the imaginary award ceremony
So, let’s use 2018 as a year to expand our households and find new and creative ways to use Alexa and not spend a lot of time creating drama. If you want drama, watch TV!
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Thanks for the shout-out @MichaelS .
While we aren’t happy about the upsetting incident that happened earlier this week, we knew there was a chance for someone to share our work.
As you may have noticed, Echosistant Evolution has taken a different approach. We are not using slots and utterances in the skills, and the Lambda code and installer are nothing like anyone has done before.
As always, Echosistant was about processing free text and the its power doesn’t come from tweaking rigid Alexa skills, but from free text processing.
The new Echosistant Evolution improves user experience in many ways, not only will offers seamless installation process, but a flexibility that only the free text can provide.
This approach ensures that both AA and ES continue on different paths, which are not similar in any shape or form, except for the end result. They both can control our smart homes using Alexa.
We too hope that 2018 is the year to expand the power of Alexa in more creative, intuitive and natural ways.
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I am being completely honest…when I realized what was sent to me I deleted it from my e-mail (it was not via a PM). So I didn’t see any of what was going on.
Either way, I appreciate the openness and the leadership you are showing with your new app. Good luck!
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This is also my problem. I don’t have a developer code listed. Was this addressed?
The resolve for Simon was to ensure he had the latest version (2.3.6a) and that he had the invocation name (i.e. Settings>>Personalization>>Invocation name) set up. Just going to that page MAY resolve the issue. If not, please PM me and we can troubleshoot. If you are new and can not PM…I will PM you…just let me know.
Thanks Michael. I am new so if you can PM.m I’d appreciate it
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Pm sent…make sure you have the latest code as outlined at Ask-Alexa.com
For those that are wondering, I contacted both Franklin and Tony and asked them to remove the off topic discussion in my thread…I want this area to be for Ask Alexa with no negativity…Thanks to both guys for understanding as going down the ‘negative rabbit hole’ only makes people look silly.
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