There is a common misconception from the public, fueled in part by TV and movies, that programming always involves teams of coders frantically writing hundreds of thousands of lines for every new project. The reality is that the tech industry often hinges on what has already been achieved, and today we’re looking at those prebuilt resources coders use to make progress possible.
Turnkey Software
Starting from the largest form of prebuilt assets, turnkey software packages are those sets that come entirely ready to use. When companies have solutions available to them that cover all their needs immediately, such as the all-inclusive Creative Cloud for design work, there’s no reason to put more resources elsewhere.
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For industries that naturally have a rapid startup rate, such as with online gambling, much of the process is sometimes expected to complete in a few short weeks. This is why turnkey gambling software is in great demand for iGaming and gambling businesses. The software is able to cover everything from site hosting to regulation and even multiform payments, all from a single source. It allows brands to focus on refining their unique features and reach new markets, rather than getting bogged down in development and testing.
APIs
An API, or application programming interface in full, is a smaller and more focused form of software than a full turnkey setup. An API is a singular program that performs a specific function when attached to other systems, such as websites or other solutions. They vary wildly in use from item to item, and it is said that these days, any function you are looking for can be found in API form.
The most common ones that are publically visible are applications like the Google Maps plugin featured on many websites worldwide, but others like online payment APIs are equally common behind the scenes. One core feature is that APIs often provide a base feature that developers can then build on to make it more personalized and customized to their needs.
Code Repositories
We’re now moving onto one of the most essential resources for developers globally. Chances are, if a developer has a specific issue getting something to work in their project, another developer somewhere else has already come across and found a solution to it. Public code repositories such as the ones on the exceptionally popular GitHub are packed with these specific solutions.
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These code snippets could range from the skeleton of full software solutions to a handful of lines, but all are on hand for anyone to make use of. Veteran developers will tell you that starting on a new project often feels more like assembling pieces of a construction kit, with unique features and tweaks only being added later on. It’s fair to say that without these libraries available, global development progress would slow to a crawl.
The old wisdom is that you shouldn’t reinvent the wheel, and this is a fundamental concept in development. If you’re looking to start a project, perhaps first look at what is already on hand to help you on your way.