Calling a REST API from a Lambda function

Question

I am trying to build a skill that calls a REST API to get data. I am using the HelloWorld sample and modifying it to fit my need. I am using the Request node (node.js) to issue the request.

However, for the hell of me I can't get it to work. I see in the log that the function is called and the correct result is coming back, yet the response sent to Alexa is empty!! Any idea what I am missing?

const HelloWorldIntentHandler = {
  canHandle(handlerInput) {
    console.log("HelloWorldIntentHandler 1: ");
    return handlerInput.requestEnvelope.request.type === 'IntentRequest'
      && handlerInput.requestEnvelope.request.intent.name === 'HelloWorldIntent';
  },
  handle(handlerInput) {
    console.log("HelloWorldIntentHandler 2");
    var speechText = 'Hello World';

    Request.get(url, function(error, response, body) {
      console.log("I'm here")
      var data = JSON.parse(body)
      var result = data.records.totalNum
      if (result > 0) {
          speechText = "There are " + result + " matches";
      } else {
          speechText = "ERROR";
      }

      return handlerInput.responseBuilder
        .speak(speechText)
        .withSimpleCard('Hello World', speechText)
        .getResponse();
     });
  },
};

The error in the log is

Error handled: speechOutput.trim is not a function

Answer 1

I was able to get this to work using Axios instead of Request.

const HelloWorldIntentHandler = {
  canHandle(handlerInput) {
    console.log("HelloWorldIntentHandler 1: ");
    return handlerInput.requestEnvelope.request.type === 'IntentRequest'
      && handlerInput.requestEnvelope.request.intent.name === 'HelloWorldIntent';
  },
  async handle(handlerInput) {
    console.log("HelloWorldIntentHandler 2");
    var speechText = 'default';

    try {
      const response = await Axios.get(url);
      var result = response.data.totalRecs;
      if (result > 0) {
          speechText = "There are " + result + " matches";
      } else {
          speechText = "ERROR";
      }
      console.log("text=" + speechText);
      return handlerInput.responseBuilder
        .speak(speechText)
         .withSimpleCard('Hello World', speechText)
         .getResponse();
    } catch (error) {
      console.log(error);
    }
  },
};