This tutorial takes you through building a simple Node.js application that is connected to a COVID-19 chatbot using the Watson Assistant APIs. The steps are taken from this [assistant-simple repository](https://github.com/watson-developer-cloud/assistant-simple) and adopted for 2020 Call for Code challenge. You can use this tutorial as a starting template for the [COVID-19 challenge](https://developer.ibm.com/callforcode/getstarted/covid-19/). ## Learning objectives In this tutorial, you will: 1. Learn how to create a simple Node.js application. 2. Connect the application to a chatbot using the IBM Watson Assistant APIs. 3. Test and run the application locally. 4. Deploy the application on IBM Cloud as a Cloud Foundry application. Here is a demo of the final application:  ## Prerequisites 1. Sign up for an [IBM Cloud account](https://www.ibm.com/account/reg/us-en/signup?formid=urx-42793&eventid=cfc-2020?cm_mmc=OSocial_Blog-_-Audience+Developer_Developer+Conversation-_-WW_WW-_-cfc-2020-ghub-starterkit-communication_ov75914&cm_mmca1=000039JL&cm_mmca2=10008917). 1. Download the [IBM Cloud CLI](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/cli/index.html#overview). You will use it to push your Node.js application to the cloud. 1. You should already have a Watson Assistant service created when you deployed the COVID bot. You need to get the credentials from that chatbot to use in your Node.js application: - Log in to your IBM Cloud account. - Go to resources and open your Watson Assistant service instance. - You will be taken to Watson Assistant launch page. Click **Service Credentials** to view the service credentials.  - You will use these credentials to populate the `.env` file when configuring the application below. Copy and save the JSON somewhere or leave this window open. ## Estimated **time** This tutorial will take you about 30 minutes to complete. ## Steps The following steps assume that you have created an assistant, imported the COVID skills, and have the Watson Assistant service credentials available. ## Configuring the application 1. Clone the repository and cd into `starter-kit/covid-simple`. 2. Copy the *.env.example* file to a file called *.env* ``` cp .env.example .env ``` 3. Open the *.env* file and add the service credentials that you obtained in the previous step. The following example *.env* file configures the `apikey` and `url` for a Watson Assistant service instance hosted in the US East region: ``` ASSISTANT_IAM_APIKEY=X4rbi8vwZmKpXfowaS3GAsA7vdy17Qhxxxxxxxx ASSISTANT_URL=https://gateway-wdc.watsonplatform.net/assistant/api ``` - If your service instance uses `username` and `password` credentials, add the `ASSISTANT_USERNAME` and `ASSISTANT_PASSWORD` variables to the *.env* file. The following example *.env* file configures the `username`, `password`, and `url` for a Watson Assistant service instance hosted in the US South region: ``` ASSISTANT_USERNAME=522be-7b41-ab44-dec3-xxxxxxxx ASSISTANT_PASSWORD=A4Z5BdGENxxxx ASSISTANT_URL=https://gateway.watsonplatform.net/assistant/api ``` However, if your credentials contain an IAM API key, copy the `apikey` and `url` to the relevant fields. ```JSON { "apikey": "ca2905e6-7b5d-4408-9192-xxxxxxxx", "iam_apikey_description": "Auto generated apikey during resource-key ...", "iam_apikey_name": "auto-generated-apikey-62b71334-3ae3-4609-xxxxxxxx", "iam_role_crn": "crn:v1:bluemix:public:iam::::serviceRole:Manager", "iam_serviceid_crn": "crn:v1:bluemix:public:iam...", "url": "https://gateway-syd.watsonplatform.net/assistant/api" } ``` ``` ASSISTANT_IAM_APIKEY=ca2905e6-7b5d-4408-9192-xxxxxxxx ``` 4. Add the `ASSISTANT_ID` to the previous properties: ``` ASSISTANT_ID=522be-7b41-ab44-dec3-xxxxxxxx ``` ## Running locally 1. Install the dependencies: ``` npm install ``` 1. Run the application: ``` npm start ``` 1. View the application in a browser at `localhost:3000`. ## Deploy to IBM Cloud as a Cloud Foundry application 1. Log in to IBM Cloud with the [IBM Cloud CLI](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/cli/index.html#overview): ``` ibmcloud login ``` 1. Target a Cloud Foundry organization and space: ``` ibmcloud target --cf ``` 1. Edit the *manifest.yml* file. Change the **name** field to something unique. For example, `- name: covid-assistant-simple-yourname`. 1. Deploy the application ``` ibmcloud app push ``` 1. View the application online at the app URL. For example, [covid-assistant-simple-yourname.mybluemix.net](covid-assistant-simple-yourname.mybluemix.net). ## Take on COVID-19 You now know how to build a chatbot using Watson Assistant and a website on IBM Cloud that users to interact with the chatbot. You can see some other Watson Assistant sample applications in the [official documentation](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/services/assistant?topic=assistant-sample-apps). It's your turn to use these technologies to help tackle this pandemic and make a difference by accepting the [COVID-19 challenge](https://developer.ibm.com/callforcode/getstarted/covid-19/)! # SSC_IBM_COVID_Crisis_Communication