Windows SDK vs PSDK: what’s the difference?

The Windows SDK has replaced the PSDK. The PSDK is no more. Here are the details.

 

What’s the Windows SDK?

The Windows SDK provides support for development using both the Win32/64 and the .NET Framework programming models, for both 32- and 64-bit platforms. The Windows SDK is the name used for Windows Vista and later OS SDKs that include all content found in recent PSDKs plus content for the .NET Framework.

 

What’s the PSDK?

The Platform SDK or PSDK is the name used for the main operating system SDK prior to Windows Vista shipment. PSDKs do not include any content for the .NET Framework programming model. The Windows SDK has replaced the PSDK; there will be no new PSDKs. Some PSDKs can still be downloaded from Microsoft Download center; others can be ordered on CD/DVD from https://www.qmedia.ca/launch/psdk.htm. (The cost is about $9 for delivery in the US; about $16 for international delivery.)

 

Is there any reason to use the old PSDKs?

You might want to use an older SDK for a particular reason. For example, the Windows Server 2003 PSDK released in February 2003 was the last SDK to provide full support of VC 6.

 

Does the Windows SDK support development only for Vista?

The Windows SDK Update for Windows Vista supports more than just Vista: Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition (32-bit x86); Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 editions; Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1; Windows Server 2003 x64 editions; all versions of Windows Vista; and Windows XP Service Pack 2. The “Supported Operating Systems” statement on an SDK download page indicates what the latest content is and what OSes you can build on and for.