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Windows Software Development Kit: Everything You Need to Know
Not a developer? You probably don’t need it
4 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
Developing apps is often seen as an intricate task. And in the absence of the right tools, things are all the more complex. That’s where the Windows Software Development kit comes into the picture!
It is the preferred option for designing software solutions for the OS. Though regular Windows users don’t need the SDK, it’s recommended to identify the purpose before you take any steps. The SDK does offer a wide array of advantages and is closely linked to Visual Studio.
Benefits of using Windows SDK:
What is the Windows Software Development Kit (SDK)?
Windows SDK or Software Development Kit is a wide set of tools that help create applications for the Windows operating system.
The software development tools are available for free and can be downloaded from the official website. Besides, to further simplify and streamline things, Microsoft has releasedsample codes for Windows apps on GitHub.
But each SDK version can take up a few GBs of space. When runninglow on disk space, the SDK will be the first thing a regular user would uninstall. So, do you need the Windows Software Development Kit?
Unless you are a developer or run apps that depend on the SDK for core functioning, it’s not a critical requirement. And if you don’t remember manually installing the Windows suite of software development, it was most likely downloaded by Visual Studio.
How do I install Window SDK?
You can download the Windows Software Development Kit from Microsoft’s website. And while both the dedicated installer and ISO are available, the former makes more sense due to the simpler installation.
And after downloading the SDK, you are just a few steps away fromcreating a Microsoft Store app. Why not give it a try?
How do I remove Window SDK?
You can uninstall Windows Software Development Kit from thePrograms and Featuresutility or from Settings like youuninstall any app. Besides, many prefer areliable third-party uninstall tool, given its ability to clear leftover files.
Development tools included in the Windows SDK
Also, during the installation, you can get the latest version of the.NET Framework Software Development Kit.
Windows Software Development Kit is a great collection of tools and finds an extensive implementation in programming activities. And if you are a seasoned developer, learnhow to set up a Dev Driveand get better performance and security!
Also, to get ready-to-code developer workstations, you can alwaysuse Microsoft Dev Box.
For any queries or to share what prompted you to download the Windows SDK, drop a comment below.
More about the topics:windows 10,Windows 11
Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim has always been fond of technology, be it scrolling through the settings on his iPhone, Android device, or Windows PC. He’s specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
Long-time Windows user, Kazim is ready to provide a solution for your every software & hardware error on Windows 11, Windows 10 and any previous iteration. He’s also one of our experts in Networking & Security.
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Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim is specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
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