What is SDK Technology?

Danielle Gatsos

UW Smart Phones-MCDM

Creative Commons

7/31/10

SDK stands for Software Development Kit.

It is a set of development tools that facilitate the creation of applications for specific software.

SDK can be utilized for all types of platforms

There are various levels of complexity in SDK.

Simple API interfaces to specific programming language

Complex Sophisticated hardware links with embedded system.

We often see SDK used for debugging and other utilities in an integrated development environment.

How it works.

Target System Developer writes SDK

SDK is manipulated to produce a new application

Software engineer Downloads SDK.

SDK is made available on the internet

Often SDKs are free to encourage more developers to purchase the application.

Some SDKs have licenses that restrict use.

Proprietary SDK

Typically won’t work with

Free Software

SDK under General Public License

Proprietary SDK

There is one type of SDK license that is typically universal.

SDK under LesserGeneral Public License

Proprietary SDK

Apple and Microsoft refer to their SDKs as “Driver Development Kits” because they are created

for specific systems or subsystems.

Trying to Sound Fancy

You can download SDKs for iPhones and Androids directly from their websites and begin producing apps.

SDK development can occur in 1 of 2 ways with smartphones.

1. Build for a specific version that is forward-compatible with laterversions but cannot take advantage of new features.

2. Build for a range of versions, so it can launch in older versions but take advantage of new features as well.

Software Development Kits make it easy for the development of compatible applications on all types of

platforms by providing a specified framework for developers.

“Overview of SDK Based Development.” Retrieved on July 30, 2010 from http://developer.apple.com/iphone/library/documentation/DeveloperTools/Conceptual/cross_development/Overview/overview.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20002001-BABEBGCF

“SDK.” Webopedia: Internet.com. Retrieved on July 30, 2010 from http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/SDK.html

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