Software Development Kits (SDKs) are the foundation of modern application development, providing essential tools, libraries, and documentation to help developers build, test, and optimize software efficiently. Whether you’re developing for web, mobile, cloud, AI, gaming, or IoT, having the right SDKs can speed up development, enhance security, and improve performance. With technology constantly evolving, new SDKs are emerging to support cross-platform development, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain integration, and virtual reality (VR).
To help developers navigate this vast ecosystem, we’ve compiled a list of 90+ essential SDKs for 2024, categorized into different functional groups. These SDKs cover mobile development, cloud computing, game development, AI/ML, augmented reality (AR), and more, ensuring that developers have the right tools for their projects.
Best Mobile App Development SDKs
Mobile applications continue to dominate the software industry, and developers rely on SDKs to build fast, responsive, and feature-rich mobile apps. Whether you’re developing for iOS, Android, or cross-platform solutions, these SDKs provide powerful frameworks, APIs, and tools to help streamline mobile app development.
1. Android SDK
The official Android SDK provides tools, libraries, and emulators for developing Android applications, supporting Java, Kotlin, and C++.
2. iOS SDK (Xcode)
Apple’s iOS SDK includes APIs and development tools within Xcode, enabling developers to build apps for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
3. Flutter SDK
Flutter is a cross-platform UI toolkit powered by Dart, allowing developers to create beautiful, high-performance apps for Android, iOS, web, and desktop.
4. React Native SDK
A popular JavaScript-based SDK, React Native enables developers to create native-like mobile apps using a single codebase for Android and iOS.
5. Xamarin SDK
Backed by Microsoft, Xamarin allows developers to use C# and .NET to create cross-platform mobile applications with native UI components.
6. Apache Cordova SDK
Cordova enables developers to build hybrid mobile apps using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, integrating native device capabilities through plugins.
7. Swift SDK
For iOS developers, the Swift SDK offers tools and frameworks to create efficient, safe, and expressive applications on Apple platforms.
8. Kotlin Multiplatform SDK
Kotlin Multiplatform allows developers to write shared code for Android, iOS, and web apps, reducing duplication and increasing efficiency.
9. PhoneGap SDK
A mobile development framework that enables building hybrid apps using web technologies, with access to native device features.
10. Ionic SDK
Ionic is a UI framework for hybrid mobile development, offering pre-built UI components for Android, iOS, and web applications.
Essential Cloud Computing SDKs
Cloud computing is essential for scalability, storage, and real-time processing in modern applications. Cloud SDKs provide developers with APIs and tools to interact with cloud services, manage infrastructure, and deploy serverless applications. Whether you’re working with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, these SDKs make cloud development more efficient and seamless.
11. AWS SDK for JavaScript
Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides an SDK for JavaScript, allowing developers to integrate AWS services like S3, Lambda, and DynamoDB into their applications.
12. Google Cloud SDK
The Google Cloud SDK includes command-line tools and libraries for interacting with Google Cloud services, such as BigQuery, Compute Engine, and Firebase.
13. Azure SDK for .NET
Microsoft’s Azure SDK for .NET enables developers to build cloud-based applications with services like Azure Functions, AI, and Cosmos DB.
14. IBM Cloud SDK
The IBM Cloud SDK provides APIs for integrating Watson AI, Kubernetes, and hybrid cloud solutions into enterprise applications.
15. OpenStack SDK
An open-source cloud computing platform, OpenStack offers an SDK for developers to manage cloud resources, networking, and storage programmatically.
16. Firebase SDK
Firebase offers a backend-as-a-service (BaaS) solution, enabling developers to use real-time databases, cloud messaging, and authentication in mobile and web apps.
17. DigitalOcean API SDK
Developers can use the DigitalOcean SDK to automate droplet management, networking, and database services in cloud-hosted applications.
18. Linode SDK
Linode’s SDK provides RESTful APIs for developers to manage compute instances, object storage, and networking services.
19. Alibaba Cloud SDK
The Alibaba Cloud SDK allows developers to integrate services like ECS (Elastic Compute Service), CDN, and AI-driven analytics into their applications.
20. Vultr Cloud SDK
Vultr offers an SDK for developers to interact with virtual machines, object storage, and DNS management in the cloud.
Best Game Development SDKs
The gaming industry is rapidly evolving, and modern game development SDKs help developers create stunning visuals, physics-based interactions, and immersive experiences. Whether you’re building mobile games, AAA titles, or VR-based experiences, these SDKs provide game engines, rendering tools, and AI-driven features to bring your ideas to life. With support for cross-platform game development, these tools ensure high performance and seamless deployment across multiple devices.
21. Unity SDK
Unity is one of the most widely used game development engines, providing tools for 2D, 3D, AR, and VR game development with a C# scripting environment.
22. Unreal Engine SDK
Powered by Epic Games, Unreal Engine offers high-fidelity graphics, real-time rendering, and cinematic effects, making it ideal for AAA game development.
23. Godot SDK
An open-source game engine, Godot provides a lightweight, flexible environment with support for GDScript, C#, and visual scripting.
24. CryEngine SDK
CryEngine is known for its photo-realistic rendering capabilities, providing dynamic lighting, AI tools, and real-time physics engines for game development.
25. Cocos2d-x SDK
A lightweight, open-source framework, Cocos2d-x is ideal for 2D game development, offering support for C++, Lua, and JavaScript.
26. Amazon Lumberyard SDK
Developed by Amazon, Lumberyard is a free game engine that integrates seamlessly with AWS for cloud-based multiplayer gaming experiences.
27. PlayCanvas SDK
A WebGL-based game development SDK, PlayCanvas allows developers to create browser-based 3D games and interactive experiences using JavaScript.
28. Phaser SDK
Phaser is a popular JavaScript framework for developing HTML5-based 2D games, supporting both mobile and web platforms.
29. AppGameKit SDK
AppGameKit is designed for beginners and indie developers, providing an easy-to-use game development environment with cross-platform compatibility.
30. Defold SDK
A lightweight, Lua-based game engine, Defold is optimized for performance and rapid game prototyping, ideal for indie and mobile game developers.
Essential AI and Machine Learning SDKs
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) SDKs enable developers to integrate deep learning models, automate data processing, and build AI-powered applications. These SDKs offer pre-trained models, natural language processing (NLP), image recognition, and predictive analytics, making AI adoption easier for developers in various industries, including healthcare, finance, automation, and robotics.
31. TensorFlow SDK
An open-source deep learning framework, TensorFlow provides tools for training AI models, neural networks, and real-time analytics.
32. PyTorch SDK
Developed by Meta, PyTorch is a flexible and efficient machine learning framework, widely used for AI research and production applications.
33. Microsoft Cognitive Services SDK
This SDK offers pre-built AI models for vision, speech, and language processing, helping developers integrate AI-driven functionalities into their applications.
34. IBM Watson AI SDK
IBM Watson provides powerful AI-driven APIs, including text-to-speech, image recognition, and AI-powered chatbots for businesses and developers.
35. Google Cloud AI SDK
Google Cloud AI offers AutoML, NLP, and AI model deployment services, making it a comprehensive AI development toolkit.
36. OpenAI GPT SDK
OpenAI’s GPT SDK allows developers to integrate natural language processing (NLP), chatbot functionality, and AI text generation into applications.
37. Amazon AI SDK
Amazon AI SDK offers AWS machine learning services, including image recognition, voice analysis, and personalized recommendation systems.
38. Nvidia CUDA SDK
For AI and deep learning model acceleration, Nvidia CUDA provides GPU-optimized computing tools that enhance AI model training speeds.
39. ML.NET SDK
Developed by Microsoft, ML.NET enables .NET developers to integrate machine learning models directly into their C# and F# applications.
40. Hugging Face Transformers SDK
Hugging Face provides pre-trained AI models for NLP, sentiment analysis, and language generation, making AI integration more accessible.
Best Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) SDKs
With the growing demand for immersive experiences in gaming, e-commerce, and education, AR and VR SDKs help developers build interactive, real-time 3D applications. These SDKs provide computer vision, object recognition, and 3D rendering tools, enabling developers to create cutting-edge AR and VR applications for mobile, desktop, and wearable devices.
41. ARKit SDK
Apple’s ARKit SDK provides advanced AR capabilities, allowing developers to create immersive AR applications for iPhone and iPad.
42. ARCore SDK
Google’s ARCore SDK enables real-world interaction through AI-powered AR tracking, depth sensing, and image recognition for Android devices.
43. Vuforia SDK
Vuforia is a leading AR SDK, offering object recognition, 3D mapping, and cloud-based AR experiences.
44. Oculus SDK
Developed by Meta (formerly Facebook), the Oculus SDK provides developers with tools to create VR applications for Oculus headsets.
45. Microsoft Mixed Reality Toolkit (MRTK)
MRTK is designed for HoloLens and Windows Mixed Reality, providing hand tracking, spatial mapping, and immersive interaction capabilities.
46. Magic Leap SDK
Magic Leap’s AR development kit offers gesture-based controls, real-time mapping, and 3D spatial awareness for AR devices.
47. OpenXR SDK
OpenXR is a cross-platform standard for VR and AR development, providing unified APIs for multiple VR/AR headsets.
48. Wikitude SDK
Wikitude enables AR experiences for mobile apps, offering image recognition, 3D tracking, and geolocation-based AR interactions.
49. Unity AR Foundation SDK
Unity’s AR Foundation SDK supports both ARKit and ARCore, allowing developers to build cross-platform AR applications.
50. SteamVR SDK
SteamVR provides a powerful toolkit for VR game development, offering motion tracking, real-time 3D rendering, and headset compatibility.
Best Cybersecurity and Authentication SDKs
Security is a top priority in software development, and cybersecurity SDKs help developers protect applications, authenticate users, and prevent cyber threats. These SDKs provide tools for encryption, multi-factor authentication (MFA), secure API access, and threat detection, ensuring that applications remain safe and compliant with industry security standards.
51. OAuth 2.0 SDK
OAuth 2.0 is a widely used authorization framework that allows secure access to third-party APIs without exposing user credentials.
52. OpenID Connect SDK
OpenID Connect provides authentication and identity verification, ensuring secure logins and user data protection in cloud applications.
53. Okta Authentication SDK
Okta’s authentication SDK allows developers to integrate multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and user identity management into their applications.
54. Auth0 SDK
Auth0 simplifies user authentication by offering pre-built login UIs, social authentication, and enterprise identity solutions.
55. AWS Cognito SDK
AWS Cognito provides a scalable authentication system, enabling user identity management and secure app login solutions.
56. Google Identity Platform SDK
Google’s authentication SDK provides OAuth, federated login, and biometric authentication for Android, web, and mobile applications.
57. Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) SDK
Azure AD SDK allows developers to integrate enterprise-grade identity management, secure authentication, and user role management.
58. Twilio Verify SDK
Twilio Verify provides two-factor authentication (2FA) via SMS, email, and voice, enhancing app security.
59. Bouncy Castle Crypto SDK
An open-source cryptographic library, Bouncy Castle offers encryption algorithms, digital signatures, and secure communication protocols.
60. Virgil Security SDK
Virgil Security SDK enables end-to-end encryption, key management, and zero-trust authentication for secure applications.
Best Internet of Things (IoT) Development SDKs
IoT is transforming industries like healthcare, smart homes, and industrial automation, enabling devices to communicate and process data in real-time. IoT SDKs provide essential tools for device connectivity, edge computing, and cloud integration, allowing developers to build intelligent, connected applications.
61. AWS IoT SDK
AWS IoT enables secure device communication, real-time data streaming, and cloud-based analytics for IoT applications.
62. Google Cloud IoT SDK
Google Cloud IoT provides secure device connectivity, ML-based analytics, and predictive maintenance tools.
63. Azure IoT SDK
Microsoft’s Azure IoT SDK allows developers to build cloud-connected devices, manage telemetry data, and automate IoT workflows.
64. IBM Watson IoT SDK
IBM’s AI-powered IoT SDK provides predictive analytics, real-time monitoring, and automated decision-making capabilities.
65. Arduino SDK
The Arduino SDK enables developers to program microcontrollers and IoT sensors, making it ideal for DIY and industrial IoT projects.
66. Eclipse IoT SDK
An open-source IoT framework, Eclipse IoT provides device connectivity, MQTT messaging, and cloud data integration.
67. Particle IoT SDK
Particle offers an all-in-one IoT development platform, allowing for real-time sensor data collection and cloud communication.
68. Samsung ARTIK SDK
Samsung ARTIK enables secure IoT application development, with built-in encryption and cloud integration.
69. Balena SDK
Balena is a cloud-based IoT deployment platform, offering tools for managing connected devices at scale.
70. OpenThread SDK
Backed by Google, OpenThread is a secure IoT networking protocol, enabling low-power wireless communication between devices.
Best Blockchain and Web3 SDKs
Blockchain technology is revolutionizing finance, supply chains, and decentralized applications (dApps). Web3 and blockchain SDKs provide tools for smart contract development, cryptocurrency integration, and secure decentralized transactions, enabling developers to create trustless and transparent applications.
71. Ethereum Web3.js SDK
Web3.js enables developers to interact with Ethereum smart contracts, facilitating token transactions and blockchain integrations.
72. Hyperledger Fabric SDK
Hyperledger Fabric is an enterprise blockchain framework, offering private blockchain networks and permissioned transactions.
73. Solana Web3 SDK
Solana’s Web3 SDK provides high-speed blockchain transaction capabilities for decentralized applications.
74. Binance Smart Chain SDK
Developers use this SDK to build smart contracts and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications on Binance’s blockchain.
75. Algorand SDK
Algorand provides a secure and scalable blockchain infrastructure, optimized for financial transactions and dApp development.
76. Polygon SDK
Polygon enables developers to create Ethereum-compatible dApps with lower fees and faster transaction speeds.
77. Cosmos SDK
Cosmos provides a modular blockchain development framework, allowing developers to create custom interoperable blockchains.
78. Chainlink SDK
Chainlink enables smart contract developers to connect with off-chain data sources and APIs, providing secure oracles for decentralized applications.
79. Tron Web3 SDK
Tron’s SDK provides developers with tools to build dApps, NFT platforms, and decentralized finance solutions.
80. IPFS SDK (InterPlanetary File System)
IPFS is a decentralized file storage system, allowing developers to store and retrieve data securely across a distributed network.
Best Software Testing and Debugging SDKs
Testing is an essential part of software development, ensuring applications function correctly, securely, and efficiently. The best testing SDKs provide tools for unit testing, UI testing, load testing, and debugging, helping developers catch bugs early and improve application reliability.
81. Selenium SDK
Selenium is a widely-used automation framework for browser-based application testing, supporting multiple languages.
82. Appium SDK
Appium allows developers to automate mobile app testing across iOS and Android platforms.
83. JUnit SDK
JUnit is a Java-based unit testing framework, essential for test-driven development (TDD) and automation testing.
84. XCTest SDK
Apple’s XCTest SDK provides tools for UI and unit testing of iOS applications within Xcode.
85. MochaJS SDK
MochaJS is a JavaScript testing framework used for unit testing and asynchronous code validation.
86. Cypress SDK
Cypress is a modern end-to-end testing framework, optimized for real-time browser testing.
87. Jest SDK
Jest is a fast and reliable JavaScript testing framework, ideal for testing React, Vue, and Angular applications.
88. Postman SDK
Postman allows developers to test and automate API workflows, ensuring secure and reliable API functionality.
89. SonarQube SDK
SonarQube provides static code analysis, helping developers identify security vulnerabilities and code inefficiencies.
90. Robot Framework SDK
Robot Framework is an open-source automation tool for testing web applications, APIs, and network protocols.
Best Software Development Kits (SDKs) for DevOps and Automation
In the fast-paced world of software development, DevOps and automation tools are crucial for continuous integration, deployment, monitoring, and infrastructure management. The right DevOps SDKs help developers automate repetitive tasks, improve deployment efficiency, and enhance collaboration between development and operations teams. These SDKs provide powerful APIs, scripting tools, and cloud-based automation frameworks, making it easier to manage, deploy, and monitor applications at scale.
91. Terraform SDK
Terraform is an infrastructure-as-code (IaC) tool that allows developers to define, provision, and manage cloud infrastructure using declarative configuration files.
92. Ansible SDK
Ansible provides automation for configuration management, application deployment, and cloud orchestration, ensuring efficient DevOps workflows.
93. Kubernetes API SDK
Kubernetes SDK offers container orchestration and cluster management, enabling developers to automate deployment and scaling of microservices-based applications.
94. Docker SDK
Docker’s API SDK allows developers to automate container management, build lightweight applications, and scale deployments in cloud environments.
95. Jenkins Pipeline SDK
Jenkins provides automated CI/CD pipelines, allowing developers to build, test, and deploy applications efficiently across different environments.
96. GitHub Actions SDK
GitHub Actions automates workflow processes, testing, and deployments, integrating with CI/CD pipelines for seamless software delivery.
97. GitLab CI/CD SDK
GitLab’s CI/CD SDK enables automated testing, security scanning, and continuous deployment, helping teams streamline development processes.
98. AWS DevOps SDK
AWS DevOps SDK provides tools for automating CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure management, and cloud resource monitoring.
99. Azure DevOps SDK
Microsoft’s Azure DevOps SDK helps developers automate builds, manage source control, and monitor application performance in cloud environments.
100. Puppet SDK
Puppet enables infrastructure automation, configuration management, and cloud-native orchestration, making it easier for DevOps teams to maintain scalable infrastructure.
Software Development Kits (SDKs) are essential for building powerful, efficient, and scalable applications across different industries. Whether you’re developing mobile apps, cloud services, AI models, blockchain solutions, or IoT applications, the right SDKs can speed up development, enhance security, and improve performance.
The 90+ essential SDKs listed in this article provide cutting-edge tools for developers, ensuring that software innovation continues to evolve in 2024 and beyond. By leveraging the best SDKs for your specific needs, you can accelerate your development process, improve application functionality, and stay ahead in a competitive digital landscape.
