What Is an SDK?

What Is an SDK?

An SDK (Software Development Kit) is a bundle of tools, code and instructions that a company provides to make it easier for developers to build on top of their platform or service.

It matters because an SDK saves a great deal of time. Instead of working out how to integrate with a service from scratch, developers use the ready-made building blocks the SDK provides.

An Everyday Analogy

An SDK is like a flat-pack furniture kit. You get the parts, the tools and the instructions in one box, so assembling something that works is far quicker than starting with raw timber.

  • A ready-made toolkit for a platform.
  • Includes code, tools and documentation.
  • Speeds up integrations with a service.
  • Provided by the platform owner (e.g. a payment provider).

Why It Matters to You

Using a good SDK is usually faster, safer and cheaper than reinventing the wheel.

  • Quicker integration with key services.
  • Fewer bugs because the building blocks are tested.
  • Keeps integrations up to date with the provider.
  • Lets us focus effort on your unique features.

If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.

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