Toolchain vs. Toolkit

Toolchainnoun

(computing) A set of tools for software development, often used in sequence so that the output of one tool comprises the input of the next.

Toolkitnoun

An assembly of tools.

Toolchain

In software, a toolchain is a set of programming tools that is used to perform a complex software development task or to create a software product, which is typically another computer program or a set of related programs. In general, the tools forming a toolchain are executed consecutively so the output or resulting environment state of each tool becomes the input or starting environment for the next one, but the term is also used when referring to a set of related tools that are not necessarily executed consecutively.A simple software development toolchain may consist of a compiler and linker (which transform the source code into an executable program), libraries (which provide interfaces to the operating system), and a debugger (which is used to test and debug created programs).

Toolkitnoun

(computing) A set of basic components for developing software.