Those who attended Geotab Connect this past February would have noticed the excitement surrounding Geotab’s Software Development Kit (SDK). While Geotab has ample SDK documentation, it is mainly geared towards those who have experience in technology and application development. Therefore, it is essential that users who are not equipped with these skills are provided with an equivalent level of understanding.
What exactly is an SDK?
A Software Development Kit is a set of software development tools that allows for the creation of applications. It can be thought of as a platform that helps people extend the functionality of MyGeotab. The MyGeotab SDK contains many Application Program Interfaces (APIs). The APIs are used to interact with the raw data seen in the MyGeotab application such as Devices, Trips, GPS data, Engine Data, and much more. They allow you to add, update and remove data from the system using a source other than the MyGeotab application and are securely exposed via HTTPS – the web standard that is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web. Using this web standard means that the SDK can be utilized through a wide variety of systems.
The MyGeotab application is built using the SDK to ensure that there is a robust, usable and scalable platform. The SDK is designed for resellers, customers, and integrators who use MyGeotab and wish to simplify or automate processes in order to add value, increase efficiency, or add unique functionality to support their businesses. It can be used to create phone and tablet apps, integrate third-party software, create MyGeotab addins, automate tasks or create complex custom reports.
The SDK contains an array of tools to help developers quickly understand and get started. These tools are all available online at http://sdk.geotab.com and include, but are not limited, to the following:
- Documentation that outlines how to get started and how the SDK works
- A reference of the available SDK methods and objects
- Samples of projects and ready-to-use utilities built within the SDK
- Detailed information on devices and how/when they log data
- Support via our developer forums
How is Geotab’s SDK used?
How you use the SDK is defined by what your business needs are. There are many ways to tap into the rich data provided by the SDK.
Included in the SDK samples are tools to automate processes like adding new devices to a database, importing zones, or adding users. These tools are ready to be used “out of the box”, and can help automate everyday processes. Also available are code samples that illustrate how to perform common tasks such as showing the current location and driving status for all vehicles, getting the odometer and VIN for all vehicles in a group, or retrieving Zone Stop exceptions in the last year. These samples are a great starting point and can be modified to suit your specific needs. Click here to see an example of how to import devices*.
The SDK also offers methods to get a constant stream of raw data called a “data feed”. Anything that gets added to the system can be retrieved by your application. This is especially useful if you want near real time updates of GPS data, trips, engine data, and more, to evaluate on the fly or add to your own system. This process is well documented in the SDK with code examples that make it easy to get started using a data feed. Click here to see an example of a data feed*.
The MyGeotab application was designed in a way that allows every page you see to be integrated into your own web application. Within the left navigation buttons and the top header there is a content section, which has a unique URL. By using this URL you can effectively embed the inner page into an existing web application. For example, if you wanted to show the MyGeotab device list in your existing application you can simply embed that inner page as desired, leveraging the hard work of Geotab developers to quickly get the same functionality. Click here to see an example of this functionality*.
When creating “Addins” for MyGeotab, these HTML and JavaScript pages are embedded in the MyGeotab application and contain custom features and functionality that can be tailored to your needs. Through your addin you are provided with easy access to the MyGeotab API. Data can also be imported into the addin by using APIs from other sources, such as a mapping provider, accounting software or your own API. A few ideas for addins include a heat map of where people drive during work hours, a custom report with interactive charts, or vehicle health and engine code monitoring. Addins to MyGeotab can be thought of as what apps are to a cell phone or a tablet; the possibilities are endless.
These are just a few examples of what is possible using the MyGeotab SDK. If you are interested in a more technical explanation of the SDK you can visit http://sdk.geotab.com for more details.
Source: Maria S Geotab
