use older devices with new sdk

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robmc@derivative.ca
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Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2021 10:35 am

use older devices with new sdk

Post by robmc@derivative.ca »

Our software uses the 3.4 version of the SDK which mentions it requires driver version 17.5 (which is 10.5 ??), but we've got a few users who can't update their drivers past 10.4 because it no longer supports their Space Pilot device.

Is there a way for the SDK to access devices running earlier drivers or is that not possible? And if not, should we downgrade our SDK to allow support for those devices that can't go beyond 10.4. From reading the release notes, there doesn't seem to be anything critical between SDK 3.3 and 3.4 that we actually need and would be worth losing device support for.

This also makes me hesitant to upgrade to the new 4.x SDK if that means we're going to potentially cut off support for more users. Do we have to include have multiple versions of the SDK if we want to continue support devices that otherwise all still work in windows 10?
jwick
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Re: use older devices with new sdk

Post by jwick »

Device support is more tied to the driver release than the SDK.
But, newer SDKs may rely on features only implemented (and delivered) with a new driver.

The "old SDK" (pre-4.0) has been around forever and has remained relatively unchanged in the core functionality that you probably use. There are no plans to remove the supporting libraries and DLLs that are shipped with the driver.
There are some newer features in it that require 17.5/10.5, but using them is optional. If you don't try to use them, it should not care.

If not already planned, it would be very nice to add command and icon export for your application. This is also in the 3.4 SDK.
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