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

In a nutshell the difference is :

• You call the SDK functions.
• The framework calls your functions.

A SDK is like a toolbox with lots of tools and you choose which ones you use and how. You have control but also a lot of decisions to make. That's quite low level.

A framework makes a lot of decisions for you, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel; It's more a "fill in the blanks" approach. Less freedom but you save a lot of time and probably avoid some mistakes.

In the particular case of the .NET framework it also refers to the runtime files needed to run applications using it but it's not the way the word is used in a programming context...