Windows Software Development Kit - why?

[Dave Novo 51]

When installing Delphi 10.4.2 or Delphi 11 it prompts me to install the Windows Software Development Kit. With lots of options (see below). What do I need that for? Are any of the things in the Development Kit necessary for Delphi to run properly? Or are these ancillary tools and/or libraries that are completely optional?

 

Edited January 27, 2022 by Dave Novo
clarified affected Delphi versions

[David Schwartz 426]

I think it's optional unless there's some dependency that requires it. Which version of Delphi is this?

[Dave Novo 51]

This comes up as part of the install of both Delphi 10.4.2 and Delphi 11.

[Der schöne Günther 316]

On my last Delphi 11.0 installation, I completely cancelled the SDK installation. Delphi works fine. Maybe it's required for C++ Builder.

[Uwe Raabe 2057]

The docs are pretty clear: https://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/Alexandria/en/Installation_Notes#Windows_10_SDK

Quote

Windows 10 SDK

If you choose to install C++ or Delphi support for RAD Studio, the RAD Studio installer eventually opens the Windows 10 SDK installer, which is required for Desktop Bridge support.

You need to install the Windows 10 SDK to have the complete Windows API header files.

If you do not want to install the Windows 10 SDK, close the Windows 10 SDK installer when it opens.

 

[Cristian Peța 103]

That means that without Windows SDK, Delphi is working but you can't build MSIX packages. Or there are also other downsides?

[Uwe Raabe 2057]

Well, I also have no more info as the docs provide. In my personal experience I didn't notice any quirks when skipping the SDK installation.

[Anders Melander 1782]

5 minutes ago, Cristian Peța said:

are also other downsides?

If you're exclusively a high level application developer then you probably don't need the SDK, but if you plan to do anything close to the OS then you should install and familiarize yourself with the development tools that comes with the OS. Imagine if your Lamborghini mechanic didn't have the official Lamborghini tools... Would you let him/her mess with your Countach?

[Fr0sT.Brutal 900]

13 minutes ago, Anders Melander said:

Imagine if your Lamborghini mechanic didn't have the official Lamborghini tools... Would you let him/her mess with your Countach?

Official Lamborghini screwdriver and Official Lamborghini wrench? XD

[Sherlock 663]

2 hours ago, Fr0sT.Brutal said:

Official Lamborghini screwdriver and Official Lamborghini wrench? XD

Ummmm... Yeah: https://images.app.goo.gl/2Xcd1gMuLncGModL6

 

[Fr0sT.Brutal 900]

10 minutes ago, Sherlock said:

Ummmm... Yeah: https://images.app.goo.gl/2Xcd1gMuLncGModL6

 

Made in Taiwan 😄

[Dave Novo 51]

Thanks for all the help. Out of curiosity, aside from the SDK docs, which are easily available on the internet and we use all the time, are there any particular tools from the Windows SDK that you recommend? We use Innosetup for creating installers and it seems to have what we need. Although maybe it uses the MSIX from the SDK installed with Delphi behind the scenes, I have never checked that deeply.

[Remy Lebeau 1392]

2 hours ago, Fr0sT.Brutal said:

Made in Taiwan 😄

[uligerhardt 18]

7 hours ago, Anders Melander said:

If you're exclusively a high level application developer then you probably don't need the SDK, but if you plan to do anything close to the OS then you should install and familiarize yourself with the development tools that comes with the OS. Imagine if your Lamborghini mechanic didn't have the official Lamborghini tools... Would you let him/her mess with your Countach?

At least I'd be careful with letting an official Ferrari mechanic touch my Enzo 😉 

Ferrari Enzo zerstört: Mechaniker zerlegt bei Spritztour Millionen-Rarität | STERN.de

[Anders Melander 1782]

6 hours ago, Dave Novo said:

are there any particular tools from the Windows SDK that you recommend?

That really depends on what you're doing. If you at least start by finding out what's in the SDK (you can probably do that online) then you will know it's there when the need arises.

[Fr0sT.Brutal 900]

15 hours ago, Remy Lebeau said: