CartoType SDKs consist of C++ header files and pre-built libraries, plus the source code for sample apps and data preparation tools. In fact, you get everything that you would get as a licensee, apart from the source of the main CartoType library. You should be able to build your own evaluation apps and try out the CartoType features that interest you the most. The easiest way is to start by building one of the demonstration programs, then modifying it as needed.
CartoType demonstration programs are simple map viewers built using a standard application framework (e.g., Microsoft Foundation Classes on Windows) linked statically to the CartoType library. They are not navigation applications, and have relatively limited features. They are intended as a fast route to understanding what CartoType can do. The full source code for the demonstration programs is supplied with the SDKs.