Software Development Kit

What Does Software Development Kit Mean?

A software development kit (SDK) is a set of tools used for developing applications provided by hardware and software providers. SDKs are usually comprised of application programming interfaces (APIs), sample code, documentation, etc.

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Techopedia Explains Software Development Kit

From a business perspective, the idea is that a tightly knit development community will serve as a competitive advantage in the marketplace. An example is Apple and the combination of the iPhone and the App Store™. The selection of applications for the iPhone provides a competitive advantage to Apple versus its competitors. In this sense, the device goes from being a commoditized piece of hardware to a platform that other companies need to plugin to. So while the term SDK has been around since the beginning of software, it can often serve as the starting point in an IT company’s business strategy.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…