One of the best things about developing an app today is the fact that you don’t have to develop everything from scratch. There are frameworks and ready-made programming languages that you can use to bypass some of the necessary steps along the way.
On top of that, you have third-party services, SDKs, and open (and premium) APIs to work with, especially when you want to add specific features such as barcode scanning and vision AI. Before you start using third-party SDKs, here are some of the tips and tricks you need to know first.
Go With Specific Features
The first thing you want to do when thinking about using external SDKs is choosing the right ones to use. There are three elements you want to stress when choosing SDKs: versatility, reliability, and long-term support. Remember that the third-party services will greatly affect your app and the user experience you deliver, so you want to make sure that these three basics are covered.
Some SDKs and third-party APIs are notoriously reliable. If you are looking for a Java scanner API, for instance, you want to use a service like Scandit for your app. The scanning API is famous for its accuracy in scanning barcodes. It is also available for a wide range of frameworks, including React Native; versatility will not be an issue. Last but not least, Scandit offers long-term support for its SDK.
You also want to go with specific features. Rather than trying to find an SDK that handles multiple functions, it is much better to find several that offer specific functions. You know that you have a team of developers focusing on that function, ensuring quality and making reliability a non-existent issue.
Integrate And Test
Another thing you want to check before integrating an SDK (or several of them) is compatibility. Sometimes, you have to test the SDK as a part of your app before you can be fully certain that it is compatible with the rest of your UX.
Testing is an even bigger part when there are multiple SDKs involved. You will find some SDKs to be incompatible with each other – or simply too difficult to integrate. Worry not, because you have an extensive library to choose from.
As an added measure, check for bugs and anomalies once the app is launched. Make sure you use the latest version of the SDK for maximum compatibility and reliability.
Ease Of Updates
Speaking of using the latest version, updates is another factor you want to check before finalizing your decision. You want an SDK that gets updated in a non-destructive way; this means the new version will not break the rest of your app.
The approach makes updating your own app easy. You can stick to making small adjustments to the app. You can also make your app more secure in the long run with regular updates from the developers of the SDKs and third-party services.
Consider these tips the next time you choose an SDK or third-party service for your app. Maintaining good UX and keeping your app up to date will not be difficult when the right SDKs are integrated.
