The DB2 Software Developer Kit (SDK) is an optional component provided with every DB2 Universal Database and DB2 Connect product, as well as the DB2 Personal Developer's Edition and the DB2 Universal Developer's Edition products. The SDK provides the programming interfaces, utilities, and documentation you need to develop DB2 applications, not only in Java but also C and C++, Perl and COBOL. For Windows development, the ODBC and OLE DB interfaces to the database integrate with the Microsoft development and deployment technologies. The Visual C++ add-ins simplify the task of building embedded SQL C and C++ modules for DB2 client access from Windows, or building stored procedures for DB2 on Windows.

SQL has been enhanced with procedural constructs for writing stored procedures, based on the latest SQL standard definition. The new SQL procedure language permits users to create stored procedures quickly and simply using an extended SQL language, as an alternative to Java or other programming languages. The DB2 Stored Procedure Builder provides a development environment for creating, installing, and testing stored procedures in either Java or the new SQL procedure language.