Embracing the New Age of ABAP

ABAP, the trusted backbone of SAP systems, has evolved significantly in recent years. New syntax, powerful tools, and a focus on cloud integration have transformed how we write ABAP code. Let’s dive into the exciting “new ABAP” world and discover how these advancements can enhance your development.

Key Pillars of New ABAP

Streamlined Syntax

• Gone are the days of overly verbose ABAP declarations. Inline declarations, table expressions, and other new syntax constructs bring a sense of elegance and readability to your code, making coding more intuitive and less prone to errors.

Object-Oriented Power

• ABAP has wholeheartedly embraced object-oriented programming. Classes, interfaces, and inheritance are now integral tools for ABAP developers, and building well-structured, modular, and reusable code is significantly easier than ever before.

CDS Views and Database Efficiency

• Core Data Services (CDS) Views simplify how you interact with your database. They let you define powerful data models in a declarative fashion. You can now perform complex joins and aggregations with a few lines of elegant CDS syntax.

RESTful ABAP Programming (RAP)

• Integrating ABAP into modern applications becomes seamless with the RESTful ABAP Programming (RAP) model. With RAP, you can expose your business logic as REST APIs and build responsive web applications using OData services.

ABAP on the Cloud

• The ABAP Cloud environment is designed specifically for SAP’s cloud solutions like S/4HANA cloud. It comes with its own set of extensions and tools, helping you develop cloud-native applications.

Getting Started with New ABAP

If you’re an experienced ABAPer, don’t worry – your existing knowledge still holds tremendous value. Embrace the changes with these helpful resources:

• SAP Open Courses: Free online training courses offered by SAP are an excellent place to start.
• ABAP Documentation: The official SAP documentation has been updated extensively to cover the new ABAP syntax and frameworks.
• Online Communities: SAP Community forums and blogs are teeming with knowledge shared by experts and fellow ABAP programmers.

Benefits of Embracing the New

The changes in ABAP offer a host of advantages:

• Faster Development: The streamlined syntax and powerful constructs let you develop more quickly.
• Cleaner Code: OOP, CDS, and other advancements promote better code organization and maintainability.
• Cloud-Readiness: New ABAP is tailor-made for the cloud, allowing you to build scalable and flexible solutions.
• Modern Skillset: Staying up-to-date with new ABAP strengthens your skills and adaptability as a developer.

A Word to Newcomers

If you’re a beginner considering a career in SAP, know that the new ABAP offers a less steep learning curve than the “classic” ABAP. The modern concepts map more closely to other programming languages, easing the transition for those with prior programming experience.

The Future is Bright

ABAP is far from being a legacy language. It’s constantly evolving to be robust, efficient, and adaptable. By understanding new ABAP principles, you’re not just making yourself a better ABAP developer but positioning yourself to excel in the future of SAP development.