A software development kit (SDK) is a set of tools and documentation to make it easier for software developers to use the open cloud. All of the Rackspace SDKs have been tested with our public cloud and are accompanied by documentation on how to use them.
Specifically, an SDK consists of the following components:
A set of language bindings that provide a language-level API for accessing cloud services (as opposed to forcing developers to use the REST/HTTP APIs directly) in a manner consistent with language standards
A Getting Started document that shows how to use the API to access the Rackspace public cloud
A detailed API reference document
Tested sample code that you can use as a "starter kit" for your own cloud applications
An SDK may also have optional components, such as integrated development environment (IDE) plugins or other tools. Each SDK is packaged for a single language and supports one or more of the Rackspace cloud services. At a minimum, the SDK will support Cloud Files™ and Cloud Servers™, and may also support additional cloud products.
Before you can use these SDKs, you need to have access to a Rackspace cloud account and have enabled API access. That is, you must have signed up for the Rackspace Cloud at http://www.rackspace.com/cloud and you must have an API key.
To find your API key:
Sign in to the My Cloud control panel.
Click on your user name in the upper-right side of the top navigation pane.
Select API Keys from the menu.
Follow the instructions on the page.
You will also need your Cloud Account Number from the same page. In the SDK documentation, this is often referred to as your Tenant Name or Tenant ID (technically, the ID is different from the name, but at Rackspace, they are the same thing). Together, these three components (your username, your API key, and your tenant ID/cloud account number) form the authentication credentials that are required to connect to the Rackspace cloud via one of these SDKs.
These are the SDKs that are currently available:
Other languages will be supported in the future.
The Rackspace SDKs are open-source projects and you are welcome to contribute to them.
For support or feedback, please email sdk-support@rackspace.com.
