What is the ABAP on Cloud?

ABAP on Cloud is a service that enables ABAP development on SAP's cloud platform, the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP). Unlike traditional on-premise ABAP development environments, it offers the flexibility, scalability, and innovative features of the cloud. This platform allows developers with existing ABAP knowledge to build modern applications using cloud technologies.

Core Features and Components of ABAP on Cloud

ABAP on Cloud is a new ABAP development model designed for building cloud-based applications, services, and extensions. This model consists of the following core components:

Cloud-Optimized ABAP Language: A streamlined subset of the ABAP language tailored to meet the requirements of cloud environments.

ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model (RAP): An architecture used to develop OData services optimized for SAP HANA. It is used to build Fiori applications and web APIs.

Core Data Services (CDS): A modeling technique used to define and consume data models.

Eclipse-Based Development Tools (ADT): A modern development environment used for ABAP on Cloud development.

Published APIs and Extension Points: SAP-tested, secure, and update-compatible APIs. These help keep the system core clean and maintain upgradeability.

Why Use ABAP on Cloud?

There are several reasons for choosing ABAP on Cloud:

Keep the Core Clean: Performing developments on a separate platform from the SAP S/4HANA core system ensures the system is future-proof and easier to adapt to upgrades.

Flexibility and Scalability: Its cloud-based architecture enables rapid adaptation to changing business requirements and scalability according to user needs.

Modern Development Environment: Compatible with Eclipse-based development tools and modern software development techniques.

Ease of Integration: Provides seamless integration with other SAP solutions and third-party services.

Reduced Infrastructure Costs: Eliminates the need for on-premise hardware management and maintenance, thereby lowering infrastructure expenses.

Accelerated Development and Deployment: Offers enhanced developer collaboration, faster testing, and modern deployment processes.

Artificial Intelligence Capabilities: Provides AI-powered tools to improve code quality, accelerate code transitions, and generate code, business objects, and unit tests using productive AI capabilities.

Differences Between ABAP on Cloud and Classic ABAP

ABAP on Cloud differs from the classic ABAP development model in several key aspects:

Use of Published APIs Only: In the ABAP on Cloud environment, only SAP-published APIs can be used for security, upgradability, and support reasons. For example, while direct table access (such as BUT000) is possible in classic ABAP, in ABAP on Cloud this must be done through published CDS views (such as I_BUSINESSPARTNER).

Limited Extension Points: Development options and extension points are more restricted compared to classic ABAP.

No Use of SAP GUI: SAP GUI transactions and screens cannot be used.

Strict Syntax: ABAP Cloud enforces a stricter ABAP syntax.

Use Cases

ABAP on Cloud can be used for the following scenarios:

SAP S/4HANA Extensions: Developing side-by-side or on-stack extensions for SAP S/4HANA.

Standalone Cloud Applications: Building independent cloud applications on SAP BTP.

Modernization of Existing ABAP Assets: Migrating and modernizing existing ABAP-based applications to the cloud.

Developing SaaS Solutions: Creating multi-tenant SaaS add-on products and innovative solutions.

Transactional and Analytical Applications: Developing transactional applications by creating business objects and exposing them as services, and building services and user interfaces for data analysis.