In
2023, ABAP – SAP’s proprietary programming language celebrated 40
years anniversary. Nowadays there it
is its latest evolution – ABAP Cloud. But what exactly it is?
The
ABAP Cloud is the latest evolution of the ABAP programming language. It is
modernized version of traditional language designed for cloud-native
development in SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) and as well as for hybrid
setups where both on-premises (e.g. SAP S/4HANA editions) and cloud SAP systems
coexist (side by side or extensions). It is the SAP's effort to bring their
classic ABAP programming language and development tools into the cloud era.
It
is not a new product but an evolution of the ABAP development model, enabling
cloud-based solutions and extensions while adhering to modern development
principles.
Features
of the ABAP Cloud
·
Clean
Core Principle: It
enforces strict development guidelines that prevent modifications to standard
SAP code, encouraging the use of extension points and APIs instead. This makes
upgrades and maintenance easier.
·
Cloud-Optimized/Native
support: It provides
built-in support for cloud services, RESTful APIs, and modern web technologies
while maintaining compatibility with traditional ABAP syntax. Focuses on principles
of cloud computing, such as scalability, security, and high availability.
·
Restricted
ABAP: Operates within
a "restricted ABAP environment," which ensures that development
aligns with cloud principles by enforcing the use of modern and safe ABAP
practices. It prevents the use of older, system-dependent, or unsafe
techniques. See ABAP
Strict and ABAP
language versions blog posts.
·
Development
Model: It supports
both on-stack (in the core system) and side-by-side (on SAP BPT) scenarios,
allowing developers to create cloud-ready extensions and applications.
·
Core
Elements:
·
ABAP
Cloud incorporates essential components like:
o
Core
Data Services (CDS) for data modeling and embedded analytics.
o
ABAP
RESTful Application Programming (RAP) Model for business logic and service
development. Programming model specifically designed for building modern,
cloud-native business applications.
o
SAP
Fiori and OData Integration: It is optimized for building SAP Fiori
applications and RESTful services using OData. This aligns with SAP's UX
strategy and the shift toward API-first development.
o
Cloud-optimized
ABAP language syntax and tools.
·
Tools: Developers use ABAP Development
Tools (ADT) in Eclipse as the integrated development environment (IDE).
·
Extensibility: Enables building of side-by-side
extensions for SAP applications, such as SAP S/4HANA Cloud, without modifying
the core application. This approach ensures that updates and upgrades to core
systems are seamless.
Use
cases of the ABAP Cloud
·
Modernizing
legacy ABAP Code: Transitioning
older ABAP developments to a cloud-ready format while adhering to best
practices and SAP's guidelines.
·
Custom
apps: Building
entirely new applications to meet specific business needs, leveraging SAP BTP
services.
·
Extensions: Extending the capabilities of SAP
S/4HANA Cloud or on-premise systems without modifying the standard SAP
codebase.
Steampunk
vs. ABAP Cloud
It’s
essential not to confuse ABAP Cloud with Steampunk (or Steampunk Embedded). The
ABAP Cloud was initially introduced in steampunk or back then called “SAP Cloud
Platform ABAP Environment” (approx. in 2018).
Then the steampunk is internal name for the ABAP environment in SAP BTP, which
offers a subset of classic ABAP functionality optimized for cloud development. Since
then, the ABAP Cloud became also available in all SAP S/4HANA editions means it
is present on the SAP S/4HANA stack.
Umbrella
term 'ABAP Cloud' doesn’t mean development in the SAP BTP ABAP Environment. Rather
it is more about cloud-ready development standards which also apply to
on-premise or on-stack extensions to keep the core clean.
What
to add? In a nutshell it is new cloud-ready ABAP development model. The ABAP Cloud
is an SAP’s next step on a journey from classic ABAP to ABAP Cloud
and perhaps, eventually to ABAP AI perhaps?
More
information:
ABAP
Cloud what does it comprise
ABAP
Cloud Technical use cases and recommended technologies
No comments:
Post a Comment