Software Development Kit (SDK)

Christopher Rice

          SDK
stands for Software Development Kit.  You have probably heard that term
kicked around in the past and did not know exactly what it meant.  Well,
after this article, that will no longer be the case 🙂 

SDK stands for Software Development Kit. You have probably heard that term kicked around in the past and did not know exactly what it meant. Well, after this article, that will no longer be the case 🙂

The next question, what can it do for me?

Answer: A lot, if you know how to use it.

The next question, what can it do for me?

Answer:  A lot, if you know how to use it.

          There are
a few different SDK’s that you can download from Microsoft.  Here is a link
to the main download page:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/downloads/default.asp?URL=/code/topic.asp?URL=/msdn-files/028/000/123/topic.xml

          An SDK
includes tools, headers, libs, sample code, and documentation to help you develop
and write to Microsoft technologies and products.  They actually expose
much of their code in the form of samples that will allow you to write against
their providers.  I have seen these products be very helpful in the field.

          The
Platform SDK encompasses the SDKs for most Microsoft products. It is available
as a single download or in smaller components (individual product SDK’s).

          To give
you an idea of some of the kits that are available, take a look at the following
screenshot:

          Let me
know if you have had any experiences with these SDKs and any tools that you have
found they contain that have proven useful to you in the field.