# SDK

Concept · [Technical basics](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/technical)

Also called: software development kit, SDKs, client library, dev kit

Software development kit. A package of code and tools a company provides so [developers](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/software-engineer) can use its product or [API](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/terms/api) from their own software with less work.

**For example:** Instead of writing raw [API requests](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/model-provider-request), a [developer](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/software-engineer) installs the payment company's SDK and takes a card payment in a few lines of code.

## Connects to (5)

- [API](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/terms/api): Application programming interface.
- [REST API](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/rest-api): A common style of API where each kind of data lives at its own web address and software reads or changes it with standard web requests…
- [Tech stack](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/tech-stack): The set of programming languages and tools a product is built with.
- [Code](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/code): Exact written instructions that tell a computer what to do, step by step.
- [Developer relations](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/developer-relations): A role, often at platform companies, that helps outside developers use the company's tools through docs, examples, talks and community…

Map view: https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/sdk