January 19, 2005

APIs and SDKs: Breaking Into and Succeeding in a Specialty Market
Presenter: Ed Marshall

APIs and SDKs sound like just another set of ingredients in high-tech alphabet soup, but they are much more. The acronyms stand for Application Programming Interfaces and Software Developer Kits. Developers use them to create new applications, often to be used by other developers, to develop yet other applications.

In this program, Ed will present the following:

• A definition of APIs and SDKs: what they are, who uses them, and why
• Examples of the typical documentation (printed and online) produced for APIs and SDKs
• Pros and cons for writers working in this area
• Suggestions for useful skill sets needed to document APIs and SDKs, and how you might get them
• A brief introduction of tools commonly used to document APIs and SDKs (other than RoboHelp)

Ed Marshall is an information developer at Compuware Corporation. He has over 16 years experience in technical writing, producing printed and online documentation for operating systems, programming languages, and various APIs and SDKs. He has presented talks at the STC International Conferences on Archiving Projects, Using File Management Systems Effectively, and Peer Editing or Editing for the Sole Writer. Ed can be reached at .

5:45 - 9:00 PM - Dinner meeting
(6:45 - Dinner, 7:30 - Presentation)

Sheraton Lexington Inn, 727 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA 02173
781-862-8700
Map and Directions

Payment received by January 15:
     $20 for STC-Boston and Northern New England (NNE) chapter members
     $5 for full-time registered students* who are STC-Boston or NNE chapter members
     $30 for STC or non-STC members
     $20 for full-time registered students* who are not STC-Boston chapter members

Payment received after January 15 (space permitting):
     $25 for STC-Boston and NNE chapter members, and full-time registered students
     $35 for STC and non-STC members

* Student ID from an accredited college is required and must be shown at the registration desk prior to admittance.

Cancellations must be made by January 15 to receive a refund.

Registration and Payment Instructions

Contact Cindy Cookson, Accountant for the Boston Chapter, by e-mail () or phone at 978-409-6112.