ABAP programming is a must for companies that use SAP – whether for adapting existing applications or developing new functions. But what makes ABAP so relevant, even in the age of new technologies? This article provides you with a compact overview of the key aspects and current trends relating to SAP ABAP.
SAP ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) is the core programming language with which companies can flexibly adapt and expand their SAP systems. Standard solutions provide a solid basis, but specific business processes often require individual modifications. ABAP can be used to develop customized applications, extensions and interfaces that are precisely tailored to a company’s needs.
ABAP was developed by SAP in 1983 as a proprietary programming language. Originally designed for the creation of reports, ABAP has evolved into a versatile language for the development of complex business applications. With the implementation of ABAP Objects, object-oriented programming was made possible, which supports the development of modular and maintainable applications.
SAP ABAP is similar to the COBOL programming language, which is based on natural language in particular. As a so-called 4GL language (Fourth Generation Language), ABAP aims to create code efficiently and with a minimum number of lines. The programming language is optimized for processing large amounts of data and offers integrated mechanisms for database access and transaction processing.
The ABAP Dictionary is the core of data management in an SAP system. If you have ever worked with ABAP, you know that tables are much more than simple storage locations for data. They are the backbone of every application. The dictionary is the control center in which all relevant data structures are defined. It ensures that developers do not have to deal with the complexity of different databases – SAP takes care of synchronizing and managing the tables itself. If you work carefully here, you will save yourself a lot of trouble later on. Changes to the structures only have to be made once, and all associated programs adapt automatically.
SAP programming used to be purely procedural – and that had advantages and disadvantages. The code was often unstructured and difficult to maintain, especially when applications continued to grow over the years. The implementation of ABAP Objects brought a new way of thinking to development. Developers could now divide programs into small, reusable modules. Classes and methods have replaced the large, confusing blocks of code of the past.
For example, instead of writing the same routines for processing customer orders over and over again, a central class can be created that contains all the necessary methods. If a new function is required, the entire system does not have to be adapted – an extension of the class is sufficient. This not only makes the code clearer, but also future-proof.
An ABAP developer spends a large part of their time in the development environment. In the past, this was exclusively the classic SAP GUI; today, modern tools such as the ABAP Development Tools (ADT) in Eclipse are used. Debugging has always been a challenge – one error in a program can paralyze entire business processes. Developers are therefore dependent on powerful tools. Breakpoints, watchpoints and runtime analyses can be used to quickly find out where the problem lies. Those who take a closer look at troubleshooting often recognize patterns: the cause is often not in the code itself, but in incorrect data or an inadequate authorization check.
Once the code is ready, the next critical step begins: deployment. Changes are not simply transferred “live” to the production system. Instead, they go through a series of tests and approvals. SAP Transport Management ensures that new developments are safely transferred from development to the production system. Errors in the transport chain can have fatal consequences – which is why many companies rely on additional automation tools to safeguard the process.
REALTECH SmartChange automates SAP software deployment in complex SAP landscapes. It ensures simple, fast and risk-free import of SAP transports from the development system to the respective target systems.
NetWeaver AS ABAP is the central runtime environment for SAP applications and forms the infrastructure on which ABAP programs are executed. It manages communication between databases and applications and offers integration options for various SAP modules in order to perform complex logic operations. AS ABAP enables access to the ABAP environment via transactions that allow easy navigation within the SAP system.
The ABAP Development Tools (ADT), integrated into the Eclipse IDE, provide developers with a user-friendly environment for managing ABAP applications. With ADT, developers benefit from a wide range of functions that enable a modern development experience:
Fact sheet
Learn how to transfer SAP transports securely, efficiently and effortlessly from the development systems to the target systems.
The SAP landscape is undergoing dynamic change, particularly due to the integration of cloud technologies and the introduction of the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP).
SAP BTP provides a unified environment for the development, integration and extension of applications. Current extensions integrate powerful development tools and generative AI functions that facilitate the development of extensions for SAP S/4HANA and other enterprise applications.
The SAP-BTP-ABAP environment enables the modernization of existing applications and the development of new extensions. Prefabricated tools and frameworks play a central role in the SAP-BTP-ABAP environment, accelerating and simplifying development.
The migration to SAP S/4HANA and the increased use of cloud solutions have a significant impact on ABAP development. Developers must now consider cloud architectures and ensure that their applications are scalable and cloud-compatible. The introduction of SAP Build makes it possible to develop extensions directly in SAP S/4HANA Cloud, which simplifies the customization and extension of applications.
With a focus on cloud-based solutions, SAP programming is constantly evolving to meet the growing demands of modern IT landscapes. SAP is continuously investing in the further development of ABAP within SAP BTP to support companies in the migration of traditional solutions to the cloud. ABAP remains a stable bridge between proven on-premise systems and innovative cloud technologies.
The innovations in the SAP landscape are also changing the function of SAP Basis, which is now not only responsible for managing the systems, but also plays an important role in the integration of modern cloud technologies.
Yes, ABAP remains relevant, especially with SAP S/4HANA and cloud development. Thanks to RAP and the ABAP environment in SAP BTP, the programming language adapts to modern requirements and remains central for individual SAP enhancements.
ABAP OO (object-oriented programming) is an extension of the traditional programming language that enables developers to use the principles of object-oriented programming (OOP). ABAP OO aims to structure programs better, increase modularity, facilitate the reusability of code and make complex applications easier to manage.
SAP ABAP programming begins in the ABAP Workbench. Code and data types are separated, with global types being defined in the data dictionary. The code is saved in the SAP database. Changes are then transferred to a test environment via transport requests, tested, released and imported into the production system. Transports are often planned at night or on non-working days to avoid interruptions to operations.
