SDK: What a Software Development Kit Is

A software development kit or SDK (Software Development Kit) is a set of software tools usually provided by the manufacturer of a hardware platform, an operating system, or a programming language. This has become a fundamental tool for mobile application development. For entrepreneurs, understanding and leveraging SDKs can be a crucial differentiating factor for product and service development. Today we explain what it consists of.

What an SDK is

SDKs allow software developers to create applications for that platform, system, or language. That is, it's like a toolbox included for assembling specific furniture. Each SDK is different, which underscores the importance of the documentation provided by the creators to ensure its correct use.

A Software Development Kit includes a compiler, debugger, network protocols, and typically several application programming interfaces (APIs). But in addition, to be truly complete, it should also include the following elements:

• Documentation, tutorials, and guides that provide guidance on its correct use.
• Libraries. These are collections of code written in a specific programming language.
• Code examples, which developers often use to understand specific concepts or features. These show how to use the various components of the SDK, libraries, and APIs.
• Deployment tools that allow development teams to deploy applications on the specific platform.
• Development environments. This brings together the necessary tools that developers need to write and test software and debug code.

In short, a robust SDK is one that includes every element a developer might need when creating new applications for a specific product or platform.

Advantages of using an SDK

Using an SDK not only simplifies the development process but also offers a series of strategic benefits:

• Efficient development. By providing pre-designed components and libraries that can be included in applications, development is much more efficient. This translates into significant time savings.
• Cross-platform compatibility. With the use of an SDK, developers can create applications for different platforms without the need to rewrite code.
• Faster implementation. SDKs also allow for faster implementation by providing the necessary tools for developers to create and integrate applications. These are also often compatible with numerous platforms, making it easier for developers to quickly implement them on various devices or operating systems.
• Cost savings. By reducing the time and resources needed to develop applications, SDKs also save money when creating new applications. They also reduce the costs associated with the implementation and maintenance of applications.
• Simplified integration. SDKs provide pre-designed modules, components, packages, and tools that simplify development, testing, and integration with other systems and services.
• Consistency. SDKs allow for the creation of a coherent structure in application development, ensuring that all applications have a consistent look and feel, improving the user experience.

But what can all this be used for? In what cases are they used? The truth is that SDKs are versatile and very useful tools, but the most common uses are:

• Mobile application development. Developers can create mobile applications more agilely thanks to SDKs that include components for debugging, monitoring, and optimizing application performance. Furthermore, as we have seen, they also facilitate their implementation on different platforms such as Android or iOS.
• Cloud computing. Through the APIs and libraries that SDKs provide, it is possible to connect to cloud storage services or cloud computing services.
• Web development. SDKs also provide the necessary tools for web development with languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. In addition, they can also include backend resources, databases, and other elements that greatly facilitate the work.
• Video game development. They provide the necessary tools for creating graphics, simulations, and audio processing, essential for video game development. Among the most popular are Unity Engine and Unreal Engine.
• Internet of Things. There are also those who use SDKs to create IoT applications. In addition, this tool can manage firmware and software updates for these devices more efficiently.

Iberbox and its SDK

Iberbox, a company accelerated in La Lonja de la Innovación, differentiates itself from other document managers and cloud storage providers precisely because of its SDK. The Iberbox Software Development Kit is a black box module that includes the cryptographic layer that protects the information it processes and is the core from which all its applications are nourished. Furthermore, it has been developed in a way that allows its use from the client's main languages and platforms, i.e., web, mobile, and desktop.

Iberbox has leveraged the advantages offered by this tool to distinguish itself from the competition by developing a fully integrable, simple, intuitive, and documented SDK so that any developer can use it correctly.