So, what’s one thing that the iOS platform, the Java programming language, and the .NET all offer developers?
SDKs, of course.
So, this practice of offering a developer toolkit has been around for a while given that each platform in question has its own technologies, processes, and nuances to keep in mind. Clearly, no two platforms are the same, so building applications for such platforms wouldn’t be either.
Speaking of which, there are a number of Web3 SDKs available for developers too, even if the technologies involving blockchain development are a long way from being considered mature.
But before we broach this topic, let’s get down to basics and learn all that we can about SDKs.
SDKs Explained
Otherwise known as software development kits, these toolboxes have been built from scratch for developers who wish to build applications for said platform.
For the most part, an SDK will contain a compiler, debugger, and necessary APIs but there are other components that might be included namely: libraries, dev-related documentation, IDEs or code editors, testing tools, and necessary code samples that can help budding developers understand the coding tasks necessary to build proper applications.
So, instead of building applications from scratch, developers, with a well-designed SDK, can speed up their development process and add much more functionality to their applications than would be possible otherwise.
Clearly, the importance of SDKs cannot be overstated here since they really provide developers with a deeper understanding of how the platform works.
But in order for SDKs to be effective, there are certain things that must be kept in mind:
- Should be easy to use and understand by application developers.
- Offer sufficient functionality that makes it useful in application development.
- Provides comprehensive documentation on the workings of code.
On the other hand, if SDKs have licensing issues, do not support the desired programming languages, offer different permissions in third-party libraries, or worse still, fail to maintain the SDK for all functionality offered, then offering such a toolbox will add no value to the development experience.
Speaking of which, let’s address how potentially beneficial it is for organizations to build and offer SDKs to developers next.
3 Benefits of SDKs
Just because a developer can write all the code for an application, that doesn’t mean that this is necessary. There are a number of standard tasks that are considered repetitive and boring but can be avoided if developers used the right SDK for the job.
Moreover, with the added capabilities that SDKs offer, one can really take their application to the next level.
At first glance, these look like important benefits associated with using an SDK. Here are 3 other benefits of using SDKs in development:
Rapid Integration & Deployment
With most capabilities and code available in the SDK, developers do not have much work apart from integrating the right functionality and making the right modifications for the results that are right for their project. Error-checking capabilities offered by SDKs can help maintain app stability.
Without a doubt, an SDK contributes to error-free rapid integration and deployment as a result.
Time and Cost Efficiency
If developers can do away with repetitive tasks while being able to add new features, thanks to pre-built features that come with SDKs, a good amount of time and money can be saved. Developers can focus more on fine-tuning the application rather than testing and refactoring the code.
On the whole, the faster the application is built, the sooner it can be released for use by the public and which makes a positive impact on ROI.
Control & Customization
SDKs give developers adequate control and customization over what they’re building. Especially when it comes to staying in control of elements in the application that interact with other programs.
Whether this pertains to the look and feel of the application or its functionality, an SDK can help developers make necessary changes in a way like no one else can. It’s the developer who retains control over the application and no one else.
Now, keeping these benefits in mind, the Lumos Metaverse has begun to work on SDKs for this purpose, since it not only offers these benefits but also solves long-standing problems that have plagued budding Web3 developers for a while.
The Multi-Wallet Login Widget SDK - At First Glance
One of the most common problems that Web3 developers face when building dApps for Lumos-sponsored hackathons: offering the multi-login wallet capability. In other words, providing users with wallets other than Metamask with the ability to use their apps.
In fact, with no pre-built code available to offer this capability, most Web3 developers have to code in this component right from scratch. This takes away coding time and efforts that should be ideally devoted to building unique features related to their dApp.
So, building this multi-wallet login SDK was a no-brainer, as developers can easily plug and play this standard component with their dApp!
As for its obvious benefits, users who use dApps that use this standard component will be able to log in with both Coinbase and Metamask wallets. In future iterations of this SDK, more wallet options will be added for user authentication.
What should also be obvious is that Lumos Metaverse intends to offer the benefits discussed in the previous section about SDKs in general.
How to Add the Multi-Wallet Login Widget to Your dApp
Now, if you want to add this multi-wallet login widget to your dApp, you can run the following command in the terminal or command line:
You can find the SDK code at this GitHub link. Now, proceed to add the code below in your React app, as shown below:
So, what does this code do?
Upon running the code, we obtain the following button:
Once we select the button, we get two wallet authentication options, as shown below:
Voila! We’re done! You can continue to work on your dApp without worrying about user authentication.
Now, if you’d like to report a bug, suggest other wallets for addition, or would like to just share your thoughts, connect with us at the Lumos Metaverse Discord Server.
That said, we’re building a developer-centric metaverse for you to learn more about Web3 Development and build your skills.