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Honest response, LF API vs LF SDK

SDK Laserfiche API Version 11 Self-Hosted Administration
Updated June 20, 2024
asked on June 18, 2024

Hello Everyone, 

I'm looking for an honest answer here about the Laserfiche SDK. Since I now have the LF API setup and working with my on-prem system, I'm having a hard time figuring out why I need the SDK. When looking at the examples of what the SDK gives us in terms of custom integration, everything looks like I could do the same things with the API. 
What am I missing? I think the API gives us even more flexibility because I can call those services from any app. 
Does anyone have some input on this subject? 

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Replies

replied on June 18, 2024

Hi Lucas!

 

The honest answer to your question is...it depends on your use-case.  The SDK has been around a lot longer than our API offerings, so many customers have already used it to build their custom integrations.  It does offer a powerful set of tools to interact with Laserfiche repositories, especially if you have some specific requirements that the API doesn't currently support.  You can see a high-level overview of the SDK vs API here on our developer site and even more details at our support site.  The SDK has its purpose for certain customers, but if your requirements are met by our API, then that's the right answer for you!  We certainly recommend using the API if you are able to for all the reasons you're probably already aware of, and we will continue to improve our API offerings over time.  So if you're using our API now and liking it (thank you if you are!), then I wouldn't worry too much about the differences with the SDK.

 

Good luck!

Andrew

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replied on June 20, 2024

As Andrew noted, the SDK pre-dates the API by at least a decade and includes the same Laserfiche libraries we use to build our own products. This means there are virtually no functional limitations to what you can do with it. The SDK also has the LFDS LMO library, which does not currently have an API equivalent.

The API is a newer, more modern, and typically more flexible approach. Seconding that the current general guidance is: "If the Laserfiche API does what you need, use it! If not, use the SDK."

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replied on June 20, 2024

Thank you, Andrew and Samuel. You both confirmed what I was thinking. 

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