Frameworks vs. SDKs

Question

What is the difference between a framework and an SDK? Take, for example, the MS platform SDK and the .NET framework. Both have API\'s, both hide their inner workings, and bot

Answer 1

An SDK is expected to offer tools to program against a certain system resource or feature. A Framework not necessarily (although .NET offers a whole set of tools such as the compilers, etc - but these are mandatory for it to work anyways).

So, you could develop a Framework consisting solely of libraries, but if you call it SDK you will be expected to offer something to support development.