Common Mistakes Developers Make While Integrating SDKs

When you're integrating an SDK into your project, you might think it’s going to be a breeze, but chances are you'll hit some bumps along the way. You could find yourself wrestling with outdated or incomplete documentation, version mismatches, or even dependency conflicts that turn what should be a simple task into a full-blown debugging session. Even the best SDKs have quirks, and if you're not careful, a few overlooked details can snowball into bigger issues. The key is to stay patient, keep an eye on updates, and be ready to dive into the nitty-gritty so you can smooth out those challenges with a little savvy and flair.

Common developer mistakes while integrating SDKs:

1 - Skipping the Docs

It's not uncommon for developers to jump straight into code without a clear understanding of the capabilities, limitations, and requirements of the SDKs they're using. While most SDKs get shipped with quick-start installation files, they also include boilerplate code snippets, sample code, release notes, usage steps, and developer guides to ensure proper usage. Giving a good read to the docs can save you from integration errors, security issues, and unexpected failures. 

Also Read: SDKs vs. APIs: What’s the Difference and When to Use Each?

2 - Improper SDK Initialization

SDKs that typically interact with other web apps or services need to be initialized at the early stages of the app lifecycle. Failing to do so also forces apps to throw expected errors, causing integration issues. Perhaps you're eager to implement features, and the initialization step slips your mind. Later, when parts of the SDK don't work well, you spend hours debugging, only to realize you missed a single line of code at the very start.

While this issue is less frequent when you’re working with just one or a few SDKs at a time, apps using multiple SDKs simultaneously are more likely to face such issues. Or, if multiple developers are working on the same app (that’s usually the case), there’s a good chance for this to happen.

How to Manage it

• Create a standard section or part in your code for initializing all SDKs. This can also be a dedicated function or file.
• Use comments or notes in your app’s requirement document to remind yourself or your team about the correct initialization process for SDKs.

Also Read: Why Unstable SDKs Cause More Bugs Than You Think

3 - Ignoring Async Operations and Threading 

SDKs often use a mix of synchronous and async code operations for their functions. Not accounting for such code logic and usage patterns while integrating them can result in clogged main threads, deadlocks, unexpected errors, or inadvertent UI freezes.

How to Manage It

• Know whether the SDK uses callbacks, promises, observers, etc for a better understanding of its concurrency models.
• By offloading background processes to the worker threads, ensure that the main thread isn’t getting blocked or facing race conditions. This can help avoid unexpected app behavior or ANR (Application Not Responding) errors. 
• Make sure to handle callbacks properly to prevent memory leaks or orphaned processes.

4 - Overlooking Library and Dependency Conflicts

Integration errors can also arise due to version issues, code conflicts, or bugs in the SDK's building blocks (APIs, compilers, functions, libraries, and more). When developers overlook this aspect of the SDK, it can backfire and lead to:

• Build failures
• Erratic app behavior during runtime
• Time-consuming and complex conflict resolution processes

How to Manage it

• Using build tools like Gradle (Android, Java, and Kotlin), CocoaPods (Swift for iOS), or npm (JavaScript Node) can help manage dependencies systematically.
• Review and update dependencies regularly to maintain compatibility and avoid code conflicts.
• Use dependency management strategies to ensure that only one version of each library is included within the SDK.

5 - Performance and Security Considerations 

Not considering how an SDK affects app performance can lead to issues like slow load times, high latency, and increased resource consumption. Besides this, security gaps or unknown vulnerabilities are often overlooked by new developers. 

How to Manage it (Performance)

• Use profiling tools (Android Profiler, JProfiler, VisualVM, JetBrains IntelliJ Profiler) to identify performance issues, memory leaks, and system bottlenecks.
• Configure SDKs to operate asynchronously, especially during idle times.
• Using lazy initialization techniques, initialize heavy SDKs or specific SDK methods only when needed, not at startup.

How to Manage it (Security)

• Since most SDKs would be handling sensitive app or user data, API keys, passwords, and access tokens, make sure they are managed safely and aren’t hardcoded anywhere.
• Use code obfuscation tools and other relevant mechanisms to make reverse engineering more difficult.
• Store sensitive data outside the source code.

Read More: How to Test Third-party SDKs for Performance & Security Risks

6 - Relying on Factory Settings and Configurations

Since SDKs are built to cater to broader audiences, the factory settings and generic configurations may not align well with the developer’s specific use cases, security protocols, and business logic. The same goes for the pre-implemented error-handling mechanisms. An oversight or negligence in configuring the SDK as per specific needs may lead to issues that are harder to diagnose, fix, and manage in the later stages of development. 

For instance, you might integrate an SDK with default settings that logs errors silently or don't enforce strict security protocols out-of-the-box, leaving your app exposed to vulnerabilities.

How to Manage it

• While integrating SDKs, it's best to go through all the configurable options within the SDK and tweak them as per your app specs.
• Instead of relying on generic error messages or silent failures, see if it's possible to implement custom error handlers that provide detailed logs and user-friendly messages. For some, this might feel like an overkill, but actually, it’s a great way to quickly fix issues that may arise later.
• Activate or modify security features within the SDK to align with your app’s security protocols. This could include setting stricter authentication methods, enabling encryption, or adjusting permission settings.

7 - Inadequate Testing

Inadequate testing of the SDK features after integrating them with apps is another common mistake that novice developers often make. This can lead to issues incompatibility issues and unexpected app crashes later down the road. For example, an SDK might work flawlessly on newer devices but cause problems on older models or different OS versions.

How to Manage it

• Make sure that your apps have undergone unit and integration testing with features that circle around the SDK. Plus, ensure that the edge cases are covered too.
• Test your app with the integrated SDK on a range of devices, screen sizes, and OS to identify and fix compatibility issues.
• Test how the SDK behaves under different network conditions, user inputs, and multitasking situations when integrated with your app.
• Use automation frameworks and tools to automate the testing process. This can ensure that new updates or changes don't introduce regressions or new issues related to the SDK.

8 - Overcomplicating Integration with Unnecessary Abstractions

Some developers may include additional layers of abstraction when integrating an SDK (that may not be an absolute requirement), making the application code even more complex and difficult to maintain.

How to Manage it

• Use additional abstractions only when there's a clear benefit, such as reducing code duplication or isolating SDK dependencies.
• If you create custom layers, ensure they are well-documented for future understanding and easy maintenance.
• Assess your code regularly to identify and remove redundant or obsolete abstractions. This can help keep the source code lean and less prone to malfunctions, bugs, or errors.

9 - Over-reliance on Third-party SDKs

Depending heavily on third-party SDKs without considering their longevity and future scenarios is another risk that developers might overlook. This could lead to problems, such as:

• Loss of functionality (if the features stop working entirely or are deprecated).
• Urgent refactoring needs causing resource strains and increased code complexity.

How to Manage it

• Before locking in with a specific SDK, always consider the reputation, support, and stability of the provider.
• Stay informed about the SDK’s future plans and roadmap.
• Be prepared to replace or remove the SDK if necessary.