Differences between JDK and Java SDK

Question

Is there any substantial difference between those two terms?. I understand that JDK stands for Java Development Kit that is a subset of SDK (Software Development Kit). But s

Answer 1

Best example for this Question, SDK - Software Development Kit - Ex: Netbeans JDK - Java Development Kit.(This is Java compiler). Without JDK, we unable to run java programs in SDK.

Answer 2

Yes, there is a difference between the SDK and the JDK. Most of people forget that Java Platform is not only used to develop programs in Java language. The JVM supports some other languages also. Thus, making it clear, the SDK is the generic bundle of software that supports software creation in a variety of languages like Clojure, Groovy, Scala, JRuby, and others. The JDK is the specific bundle to develop software in Java language, containing all Java standard API to do so. (I hope I've explaned it well, since I actually do not speak english)

Answer 3

My initial guess would be that the Java SDK is for building the JVM while the JDK is for building apps for the JVM.

Edit: Although this looks to be incorrect at the moment. Sun are in the process of opensourcing the JVM (perhaps they've even finished, now) so I wouldn't be too surprised if my answer does become correct... But at the moment, the SDK and JDK are the same thing.

Answer 4

I think jdk has certain features which can be used along with particular framework. Well call it SDK as a whole.

Like Android or Blackberry both use java along with their framework.

Answer 5

There are two products JavaSE and JavaEE. EE is the web application/enterprise edition that allows the development and running of web application. SE is the plain Java product that has no EE specifics in it, but is a subset of EE. The SE comes in two types a JDK and a JRE.

There is one big difference that may not be obvious, and I am not sure if it applies to all Operating Systems but under Windows the JRE does not have the server HotSpot JVM, only the client one, the JDK has both, and as far as I know all other OS's have both for the JDK and the JRE. The real difference is the the JDK contains the Java compiler, that is the JDK allows you to compile and run Java from source code where as the JRE only allows the running of Java byte code, that is Source that has already been compiled. And yes newer versions bundle a number of extra components, such as NetBeans editor environment and Java in memory Database (derby/cloudscape), but these are optional.

Answer 6

In my point of view there is no difference between JDK and SDK in java. We can find all development tools as well as facilities in both of them. it is just an alias provided by sun.