A software development kit (SDK) is a set of development tools provided by a hardware or software vendor to allow their products to be used with those from other developers.[1]
History
From 1989 to the mid 1990s, Apple Computer was known for releasing SDK CD-ROMs to developers with comical pop culture references.[2][3] Apple has since moved their developer documentation online to the Apple Developer portal. In June 2025, Apple revised the various version numbers of its SDK and operating systems to unify them under "26", instituting an easier-to-remember major version number reflecting the subsequent year (after future releases).[4]
Gallery
Apple SDK icons for development of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and more recently, visionOS:
iPhone SDK
(2008)
(2008)
iPhone SDK 3
(2009)
(2009)
iOS SDK 6
(2012)
(2012)
iOS SDK 7
(2013)
(2013)
iOS SDK 8
(2014)
(2014)
SDK 11
(2017)
(2017)
SDK 12
(2018)
(2018)
SDK 13
(2019)
(2019)
SDK 14
(2020)
(2020)
SDK 15
(2021)
(2021)
SDK 16
(2022)
(2022)
SDK 17
(2023)
(2023)
SDK 18
(2024)
(2024)
SDK 26
(2025)
(2025)
References
- ↑ Software Developers Kit at the Free On-Line Dictionary Of Computing. 1995-03-01.
- ↑ Old Apple Developer Discs, Nisus. Accessed 2021-06-26.
- ↑ Apple Developer CD Codenames: Puns, fun and satire by David K. Every, MacKiDo. 1999-02-22.
- ↑ Apple renames its operating systems by Dominic Preston, The Verge. 2026-06-09.
See also
External links
- Bring Your Ideas to Life at Apple Developer
- iOS SDK at Logopedia
- Software Development Kit at the Pippin @World & Atmark Wiki
- Software development kit at Wikipedia
