Smooth transition to ABAP for Cloud Development(Cheat sheet)

ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) has been the backbone of SAP development for decades, powering ERP and business application solutions for enterprises worldwide. However, with the growing demand for cloud-native applications and digital transformation, SAP has been pushing ABAP for Cloud to allow developers to create scalable, flexible, and efficient solutions in the cloud. Transitioning from traditional ABAP to ABAP for Cloud development requires an understanding of new frameworks, tools, and methodologies.

This cheat sheet provides intermediate to advanced developers with a roadmap to make the transition to ABAP for Cloud Development as smooth as possible. It covers key concepts, tools, best practices, and examples to help developers leverage ABAP for modern cloud environments.

Key Differences Between Traditional ABAP and ABAP for Cloud

Before diving into the specifics, it's essential to understand the core differences between traditional ABAP and ABAP for Cloud:

Architecture:

• Traditional ABAP was primarily used for on-premise SAP systems like SAP ECC (ERP Central Component) and SAP S/4HANA.
• ABAP for Cloud, on the other hand, is built around the cloud-native architecture, supporting cloud platforms like SAP BTP (Business Technology Platform), SAP S/4HANA Cloud, and SAP Fiori.

Development Environment:

• Traditional ABAP development typically occurs in SAP GUI or ABAP Workbench.
• ABAP for Cloud development involves using SAP Business Application Studio (BAS) or SAP Web IDE, which are cloud-based and support modern, lightweight development techniques.

Deployment:

• Traditional ABAP deployment was focused on on-premise SAP systems, requiring manual system updates and transport requests.
• ABAP for Cloud uses SAP BTP for cloud deployments, ensuring a seamless connection to SAP's cloud-based services, APIs, and platforms.

Setting Up the Development Environment

1. SAP Business Application Studio (BAS)

SAP BAS is the primary cloud-based development environment for ABAP for Cloud. It provides a modern IDE that integrates well with cloud technologies and frameworks like Fiori and SAP S/4HANA Cloud.

Setup Steps:

• Access SAP BTP and create a SAP Business Application Studio workspace.
• Install the necessary extensions for ABAP, UI5, and SAP Fiori to enable a full-stack development environment.
• Ensure you have access to the Cloud Connector for seamless integration with your on-premise systems.

2. SAP Fiori Elements

Fiori is an essential part of cloud development in SAP, and it allows developers to create user interfaces with minimal coding. Fiori elements provide templates for common app types, such as list reports and object pages.

Setup:

• Use SAP Business Application Studio to create and deploy Fiori applications, integrating ABAP logic with cloud-based UIs.
• Leverage SAP Fiori Design Guidelines for consistent UI/UX design.

Key Concepts in ABAP for Cloud

1. Cloud Development Best Practices

When transitioning to ABAP for Cloud, follow these best practices:

• Modularize your code: Use ABAP Managed Database Procedures (AMDP) and Cloud-optimized data models to modularize your backend logic, improving scalability and performance.
• Use CDS Views: Core Data Services (CDS) views are integral to ABAP for Cloud development, enabling you to create semantically rich data models that can be consumed by both the backend and frontend.
• Prioritize Performance: Cloud systems are designed for scale. Optimize your queries, minimize data transfer between systems, and use background processing for long-running tasks.

2. Consuming and Exposing APIs

In cloud environments, RESTful APIs are vital for integration with external services and applications.

Example: Consuming an External API in ABAP:

DATA: lv_url TYPE string VALUE 'https://api.example.com/data'.
DATA: lo_http_client TYPE REF TO if_http_client.

cl_http_client=>create_by_url( iv_url = lv_url
                               iv_proxy = '' 
                               iv_ssl = 'X' 
                               iv_user = '' 
                               iv_password = '' 
                               iv_http_verb = if_http_client=>co_request_method_get 
                               iv_accept = 'application/json' 
                               iv_content_type = 'application/json' 
                               IMPORTING ev_client = lo_http_client ).

lo_http_client->send( ).

" Get the response body
DATA: lv_response TYPE string.
lv_response = lo_http_client->response->get_cdata( ).

This code demonstrates how to use ABAP to make a GET request to an external API, leveraging cloud-based services.

3. Managing Data in the Cloud

ABAP for Cloud developers must get comfortable with Cloud Foundry, SAP HANA Cloud, and SAP S/4HANA Cloud data storage mechanisms.

• Use SAP HANA Cloud as the database for scalable, high-performance applications.
• Create CDS Views to represent your data models.

Example of a simple CDS view:

@AbapCatalog.sqlViewName: 'ZCUSTOMERS_VIEW'
@AccessControl.authorizationCheck: #CHECK
define view ZCustomers as select from ZCustomersTable
{
  key CustomerID,
  CustomerName,
  CustomerEmail
}

Key Tools and Frameworks for ABAP Cloud Development

1. SAP Fiori and UI5

SAP Fiori and UI5 are critical for developing the frontend of ABAP for Cloud applications. Developers need to be familiar with SAP Fiori Elements, SAP UI5, and SAP Fiori Apps Library.

Example: Fiori Element App Development:

• Create a List Report or Object Page in the SAP Business Application Studio using Fiori templates.
• Bind the UI elements to your backend CDS Views using annotations.

2. Cloud Connector and Connectivity

The SAP Cloud Connector is used to securely connect on-premise systems to your cloud applications, allowing seamless data exchange between cloud and on-premise applications.

Key Setup:

• Install and configure SAP Cloud Connector on the system you wish to connect to.
• Set up secure connections to integrate on-premise ABAP systems with the cloud.

Transitioning from ABAP on-premise to ABAP for Cloud

1. Understanding the Cloud Ecosystem

When transitioning from traditional ABAP to ABAP for Cloud, it’s important to understand the cloud ecosystem and its services. This includes:

• SAP BTP for cloud services
• SAP Fiori for UI development
• SAP Cloud SDK for simplifying integration with SAP Cloud services

2. Adapting ABAP Code for the Cloud

• In on-premise ABAP, developers use tools like ABAP Workbench and SE80. For the cloud, the tools change to SAP Business Application Studio and SAP Web IDE.
• Adapt ABAP reports to Fiori-based applications.
• Transition on-premise BAPIs and RFCs to RESTful web services.

3. Handling Security and Authentication

In the cloud, security is paramount. Utilize OAuth for secure API access and JWT (JSON Web Tokens) for user authentication.

Example of OAuth in ABAP for Cloud:

DATA(lo_oauth) = cl_oauth2_client=>create(
                     iv_client_id = 'your-client-id'
                     iv_client_secret = 'your-client-secret' ).

lo_oauth->get_access_token( iv_grant_type = 'client_credentials' ).

" Use the access token for API calls

Conclusion

The transition from traditional ABAP to ABAP for Cloud may seem daunting, but with the right tools, practices, and understanding of cloud architecture, it can be a smooth and rewarding experience. By leveraging SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), SAP HANA Cloud, SAP Fiori, and ABAP Cloud SDK, developers can build scalable, efficient, and modern applications that meet the demands of today’s cloud-native business environments.

ABAP for Cloud allows businesses to harness the full potential of the cloud while maintaining the rich functionality that ABAP has always provided. By embracing these new frameworks and paradigms, ABAP developers can future-proof their careers in the evolving world of cloud development.