Preface

The Software Developer Kit Introduction gives an overview of the Solaris^(TM) 2.4 Software Developer Kit (SDK). It also:

Tells you how the SDK fits into a Solaris development environment.
Lists the new SDK features in this release of Solaris.
Describes each component of the SDK.
Lists and gives a brief description of SDK on-line documentation.
Tells you how to obtain technical support and technical training.

Who Should Use This Book

If you are a software developer who is creating applications for Solaris 2.4, you should read this book. Typical software developers are independent software vendors (ISVs) or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who want their applications to run in a Solaris environment.

Before You Read this Book

Before you install the SDK, you must have one of the following versions of Solaris 2.4 installed on your x86 or SPARC platform:

x86 Enterprise Server
x86 Workgroup Server
x86 DeskTop
SPARC DeskTop
SPARC Workgroup Server
SPARC Enterprise Server

You should also have the AnswerBook.^{^(R)} product (the on-line version of the documentation) installed. The AnswerBook product is provided with any version of Solaris 2.4. Once you have a version of Solaris 2.4 installed, read the manuals that are provided in the SDK box. These include:

Software Developer Kit Introduction (this manual)
Software Developer Kit Open Issues and Late-Breaking News
Driver Developer Kit Installation Guide

You can then install the SDK using the Software Developer Kit Installation Guide.

What Typographic Changes and Symbols Mean

The following table describes the type changes and symbols used in this book.

Table P-1

Typeface or Symbol

Meaning

Example

AaBbCc123

The names of commands, files, and directories; on-screen computer output

Edit your.login file. Use ls -a to list all files. system% You have mail.

AaBbCc123

What you type, contrasted with on-screen computer output


 system%su  
 Password:

AaBbCc123

Command-line placeholder: replace with a real name or value

To delete a file, type rm filename.

Table P-1

Typeface or Symbol	Meaning	Example
*AaBbCc123*	Book titles, new words or terms, or words to be emphasized	Read Chapter 6 in *User's Guide`.` These are called class* options. You must be root to do this.
Code samples are included in boxes and may display the following:
`%`	UNIX C shell prompt	`system%`
`$`	UNIX Bourne and Korn shell prompt	`system$`
`#`	Superuser prompt, all shells	`system#`