Deploying the IFTTT skill

The Watson Assistant Solutions offering provides a boilerplate in Node.js for creating an IFTTT skill.

About this task

The IFTTT skill boilerplate uses a dedicated IFTTT nlu. You must not change the nlu type in the manifest file of the skill.

The high-level steps for deploying an IFTTT skill are as follows:

1. Clone the IFTTT skill boilerplate.
2. Configure the skill.
3. Host your IFTTT skill externally, for example, on IBM Cloud.
4. Register the IFTTT skill with your Watson Assistant Solutions tenant.

Before you begin

1. Get access to your Watson Assistant Solutions tenant. For instructions, see Access your Watson Assistance tenant.
2. Install GIT.
3. Install NodeJS.
4. Clone the IFTTT skill boilerplate. Contact the Watson Assistant Solutions team for access to the service boilerplate.
5. If you plan to host your skill on IBM Cloud, register for an IBM Cloud account.
6. If you plan to host your skill on IBM Cloud, install the IBM Cloud CLI tool.
7. Deploy an IFTTT service.

Procedure

Complete these steps to clone, deploy, and register the IFTTT skill with your tenant.

Step 1: Create the IFTTT skill

1. From the skill boilerplate top-level directory, optionally edit the IFTTT skill manifest file if you want to change the skill name, author, host name, or domain.
2. Optionally specify the port that the skill will listen on. In the IFTTT skill boilerplate, the default port is 10011. If you have multiple skills deployed on your local system, you might want to change the port number. Edit the .env.sample file and rename it .env.
3. In the skill manifest file, ./res/assets/manifest.json, specify the following parameters:
   • iftttServiceEndpoint: The URL of your IFTTT service endpoint.
   • ifttt-skill-key: The skill key you specified when you configured your IFTTT service.
4. Test that you can communicate with your skill on your local system.
   1. Start your skill from the top-level directory of your skill. Enter: npm run start
   2. Start a web browser and open the conversation REST API in the Swagger UI. Enter: http://localhost:11011. The swagger documentation page is displayed.

Step 2: Deploy your IFTTT skill.

If you want to host your skill on third-party cloud platform, follow the instructions for deploying applications from your cloud provided.

If you plan to host your skill on IBM Cloud, complete these steps:

1. Open the IBM Cloud CLI.
2. To log in to IBM Cloud, enter bx login -a my.bluemix.net -o paste-your-IBMid-here -s dev
3. To push your skill to IBM Cloud, enter bx app push. An App started message is displayed.

Step 3: Register your skill with your Watson Assistant Solutions tenant

1. Log in to the Watson Assistant Solutions console.
2. Click the Skills tab and click Add Skill. Specify the skill end point URL and the skill name.
3. Follow the on-screen dialog to review and test your skill and to optionally add your skill to a new or existing skill set.

Alternatively, use the following endpoints of the Conversation REST API to register your skill:

• Skills: Register a skill and create a skill set.
• SkillSets: Create a skill set and add skills to a skill set. For more information about the Conversation REST API, click Conversation API on the home page to view the Swagger specification.

Next topic

Create an IFTTT applet