What is Jovo?
Jovo is a Document-Object Mapper for voice platforms (think of Express.js, but for conversational interfaces). It uses a declarative, component-based API similar to React: you define handlers, compose components, and let the framework handle platform-specific translation.
The project was started in 2017 by a group of engineers after building voice apps for multiple clients required maintaining separate Alexa and Google codebases. Driven by open-source community contributions, the framework has since grown to support Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung Bixby, Facebook Messenger, and custom web/mobile interfaces. Today, the foundational repository lives on while the platform has evolved into an independent developer hub for AI tools and insights.
Documentation is available at jovo.tech/docs — including a tutorial, a user guide, and API reference.
Install
$ npm install -g @jovotech/cli
Jovo is hosted on GitHub. The source code, issue tracker, and wiki are all available there.
Supported Platforms
AI Tools, Reviewed by Developers
From voice AI frameworks to LLM APIs, assistant platforms to NLU providers — independent reviews and comparisons written by the Jovo community.
Why Developers Choose Jovo
Write Once, Deploy Anywhere
Stop maintaining separate codebases for Alexa Skills and Google Actions. Jovo's abstraction layer handles the platform-specific payloads, allowing you to write core business logic once.
Enterprise-Grade Architecture
Built with TypeScript, Jovo enforces strict typing and object-oriented principles. The framework is highly extensible via plugins and middlewares, making it perfect for complex, large-scale systems.
Agnostic NLU & CMS Integration
Plug and play your favorite NLU components—whether it's Dialogflow, Rasa, Lex, or Snips. Integrate effortlessly with headless CMS providers like Sanity, Storyblok, or Google Sheets.
Built-in Local Debugging
Test your voice applications via the Jovo CLI's local webhooks. The built-in Jovo Debugger provides a visual interface to simulate requests, monitor sessions, and inspect flow states.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Jovo Framework really free?
Yes, the core Jovo Framework is 100% open-source under the Apache 2.0 license. You can use it freely for both personal and commercial projects without vendor lock-in.
Do I need to know TypeScript to use Jovo?
While Jovo v4 is written entirely in TypeScript to provide excellent autocompletion and type safety, you can still develop your apps using standard JavaScript. However, TypeScript is highly recommended for production.
How does Jovo compare to Voiceflow?
Voiceflow is a visual design tool, whereas Jovo is a code-first developer framework. Jovo offers maximum flexibility for engineering teams building complex backend logic, integrations, and multimodal experiences.
Community
You can find help by joining the Jovo Developer Slack with 2,400+ members, or by browsing the Community Forum.
Contributing
Want to join an open-source project? Areas we could use help with:
- • Jovo core — framework internals, lifecycle hooks, request/response handling
- • Documentation — tutorials, examples, and API reference improvements
- • Plugins — NLU, database, CMS, and analytics integrations
- • Platform support — new platform clients and existing platform maintenance
To contribute, fork any repository from the jovotech organisation on GitHub and send a pull request — all contributions and suggestions are welcome.