SDK: What You Should Know About It and How It Helps Developers
SDK vs. API
In short, the API is responsible for interaction between programs, while the SDK contains everything needed to develop features and integrations specific to a certain platform.
What's the purpose of SDK
SDK is used to make development easier and faster. Instead of writing the code from scratch every time, developers can connect ready-made modules from the SDK and immediately use the functions they need.
Many companies create their own SDKs so that third-party developers can embed company's services into their applications. For example, there are SDKs for maps and geolocation, payment processing, social media login, online chat, analytics, and other functions.
SDK is particularly important in mobile development. SDKs are very often used when creating applications for iOS and Android: these are available both from the platforms themselves (like Android SDK) and from third-party services. Each SDK takes into account the specifics of its platform, therefore developers don't need to delve deeply into implementation details: everything is already prepared.
Typically, an SDK is needed when there is a requirement to add something that is not available "out of the box" in the application. Here are a few examples:
- social media login (for instance, authentication via Google);
- maps and geolocation;
- analytics (collecting data on user actions within the app);
- online chat with customer support;
- push notifications;
- integrated payments or advertising and other useful features.
SDKs are particularly useful in mobile marketing. With their help, tools for data collection (what actions users take, where they came from, how often they use the app) and communication channels — such as push notifications or pop-up messages — can be added to the app.
- track where the user came from (which ad or campaign);
- understand how they interact with the app;
- send personalized offers;
- conduct A/B tests, compare different interface options;
- transmit data to a marketing platform for further processing.
Without SDKs, all of this has to be developed from scratch, which is time-consuming, costly, and complicated. SDKs allow such functions to be added more quickly and easily, and the marketing team receives the necessary data and tools for further growth.
Altcraft mSDK — mobile SDK for push notifications
Once installed, the SDK automatically starts interacting with the Altcraft Platform server. The SDK automates much of the work, though initial integration requires basic configuration.
Subscriber registration. The SDK obtains a device token (FCM for Android or APNs for iOS) and sends it to Altcraft. The platform creates a subscriber profile based on this data and starts sending notifications.
Displaying rich notifications. Altcraft mSDK supports rich push notifications with images, buttons, and actions. Users can click a link, launch the app, or open a specific screen in the app: all of this is configured through the platform.
Token updates. The SDK monitors changes to the push token. If the system updates the device token, the SDK sends the new token to Altcraft. As a result, the subscriber list remains operational, and messages are not lost.
Delivery and click analytics. The SDK tracks whether the notification was delivered and whether the user clicked on it. These events are sent to Altcraft and displayed in reports: marketers can analyze how many people received the message, how many reacted to it, and what actions they took.
Resending data. In case of connection failures, the SDK saves the data and attempts to resend it later. Resending occurs both automatically with a delay and when background tasks are triggered. It also starts upon receiving a push notification or launching the app. As a result, important information is not lost even if the Internet connection is unstable.
Advantages of SDK
Flexibility and extensibility. SDKs often provide the ability to customize tools for specific project needs. A wide range of modules and settings offers freedom in creating applications that meet requirements with precision.
Simplification of integration. SDKs significantly ease the addition of third-party services and technologies into applications. For example, functions such as payment processing, map integration, or analytics can be rapidly implemented without the need to create them from zero.
Performance optimization. Many SDKs include optimized solutions for tasks like data processing and network requests, enhancing application performance, speeding up their operation, and reducing resource load.
Code reusability. SDKs often contain libraries and components that can be used across multiple projects. This minimizes workload and improves code readability.
Security. SDKs often come with built-in security mechanisms, such as data encryption. Thanks to these, developers no longer need to create solutions for data protection.
Community and updates. Many SDKs are supported by active developer communities that help resolve emerging issues.
Cost reduction. SDK implementation significantly cuts down on development costs since many tasks have already been solved with ready-made tools. This makes the project more budget-friendly and accelerates the development process.
Conclusion
In simple terms, SDK is like a construction set for programmers: it contains everything necessary to quickly assemble the desired function or application instead of creating every detail from scratch.
Through SDKs, companies provide developers with convenient integration tools that help developers and marketers implement new ideas more quickly. Ultimately, the Software Development Kit makes development more accessible and efficient: the focus shifts from routine technical tasks to achieving business goals. SDKs speed up work and open new opportunities for growth and user interaction, and that’s exactly why they are so highly valued in mobile development and marketing.
