Developer/SDK FAQs

FAQ

• What platforms and programming languages does the SDK support?

  The SDK is available natively in iOS, Android, and Windows. Here’s the list of languages and development environments we support or are planning in the near future: 

  • iOS
    • Swift
    • Objective C
    • C# (e.g. Xamarin)
    • JavaScript (coming soon)
    • React (through open source 3rd party)
  • Android
  • Android
  • Java
  • C# (e.g. Xamarin)
  • JavaScript (coming soon)
  • Windows
  • Java
  • C# (e.g. Xamarin)
  • JavaScript (coming soon) 

• I had activated before, do I need to activate and pay again?

  No. You are all set. You have full access to CaptureSDK.

• Can I try the SDK before I register as a developer?

  Yes. Our SDK is publicly accessible through CocoaPods, Maven, and Nuget based on the platform. We also have sample apps posted on GitHub you can check out. The sample apps contain Developer ID and AppKeys made for the samples. You will need to create your own AppKey with your Socket Mobile Developer ID when publishing your App.

• How much effort should I expect to integrate the SDK?

  It depends on your understanding of the process, Bluetooth pairing, and level of expertise. But on average, a simple integration (to be able to read/scan data in your application) should take less than a week including basic testing. If you are not a stranger to SDK integration, you can get it up and running within a few hours.

• Why is an AppKey required to use the SDK?

  The AppKey is a unique identifier for each app. It allows Socket Mobile to manage the distribution of the SDK binaries via public distribution methods, using CocoaPods, Maven and NuGet.

• Is there a limit to how many AppKeys can be created per account?

  No. There is NO limit on the number of keys per account.

• Is there anything I can read about the SDK (software development kit) prior to signing up?

  Yes, all of our sample applications are available on GitHub (github.com/socketmobile) and the documentation is available at docs.socketmobile.com.

• How is a scanner registered if I am using the SDK (Software Development Kit)?

  Socket Mobile has setup a registration web service; instructions for using this can be found in the contents of your SDK. You will need to send your Developer ID, the Bluetooth® device address of the scanner, and some basic platform information to the service. Sample software source code for doing this is available. 

• Do the AppKeys have an expiration date?

  No. AppKeys NEVER expire.

• How does a scanner get registered if my App uses the keyboard wedge?

  There is an XML file you can put on the device that contains your developer Application ID Key. The keyboard wedge will then use your Application ID Key when the scanner is first seen.  This will be used by the keyboard wedge to register on your behalf. 

• If I already used the SDK (Software Development Kit) to develop an iOS (Apple Operating System) Application for the Socket Mobile scanner 7Xi and 7XiRx, will it automatically also work with the 7Ci scanner?

  The 7Ci scanner requires SocketScan 10 SDK 10.0.8 or later. If you used a previous version of the SDK to develop your iOS App, you will need to get an updated SDK and rebuild your App. You also will need to notify us when your new version is ready, so we can submit information about your updated App to Apple.

• Do I need to submit my iOS application to Socket Mobile or Apple?

  If you want to put your app on the Apple^® App Store, you must first send Socket Mobile information about your app, which we will submit to Apple. Afterwards, you can submit to the App Store.

  1. Send your app information to Socket Mobile
  2. Socket Mobile submits your app to MFi
  3. Apple MFi approves your app
  4. Submit to App Store with PPIDs

  Please login to our Developer portal and register your app.

  After Socket Mobile notifies you of MFi approval, submit your app to the App Store with Socket Mobile’s Product Plan ID (PPID) numbers in your Review Notes:
  "102806-0002, 102806-0003"

  Note: We recommend that you include both PPID numbers even if you currently use only one type of barcode scanner.

• Is there a separate SDK (Software Development Kit) for each platform I want to support?

  No, there is only one SDK registration required and similar API sets. But, separate download packages are required for each platform (iOS, Android, Windows). 

• Is internet connectivity required to validate an AppKey?

  No, the AppKey is validated by the SDK library running on the end device. No internet connection is required.

• Do I need to pay to use the SDK in my App?

  The SDK can be accessed free of charge through popular public repository services such as CocoaPods or GitHub. We also have quite a few samples apps available on GitHub. However, in order to publish the app or properly identify your application, you need to be registered as a Socket Mobile developer to create your own AppKey. A one-time registration fee (currently $19.99) will apply.