aws lambda: Cannot find module 'string-similarity' - node.js

Question

I'm trying to do my first skill for alexa and I'm using aws lambda for logic, my problem is that when I run the test it gives me back:
{
"errorMessage": "Cannot find module 'string-similarity'",
"errorType": "Error",
"stackTrace": [
"Function.Module._load (module.js:474:25)",
"Module.require (module.js:596:17)",
"require (internal/module.js:11:18)",
"Object.<anonymous> (/var/task/index.js:3:24)",
"Module._compile (module.js:652:30)",
"Object.Module._extensions..js (module.js:663:10)",
"Module.load (module.js:565:32)",
"tryModuleLoad (module.js:505:12)",
"Function.Module._load (module.js:497:3)"
]
}
I need string-similarity to compare two strings but I do not understand how to install it in lambda.
this is my package.json
{
"name": "test",
"version": "1.0.0",
"description": "",
"main": "index.js",
"scripts": {
"test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
},
"keywords": [
"alexa",
"skill"
],
"author": "",
"license": "",
"dependencies": {
"ask-sdk": "^2.0.0",
"string-similarity": "^1.2.0",
"i18next": "^10.6.0",
"i18next-sprintf-postprocessor": "^0.2.2"
}
}
and so I call the package in the index.js
'use strict';
const Alexa = require('ask-sdk');
var stringSimilarity = require('string-similarity');
...
how can i solve this error
thanks for your help and sorry for my english but I'm not a native speaker.

Answer 1

You are getting this error because you are using 'string-similarity' but you have not installed it in your project that is why it is giving you "errorMessage": "Cannot find module 'string-similarity'".
You can not add Node Modules directly in Lambda function. If you need to use external modules/libraries you need to have your project in local machine so you can npm install the required modules an then upload the .ZIP file of your project in lambda function see details HERE.
Alternatively you can use ASK CLI to write your code some editor of your choice and deploy the lambda function with a simple command.