Introduction

Dear All,

It gives us in the team enormous pleasure to announce that:

ABAP Platform Trial 1909 SP07 is now available on Docker:

https://hub.docker.com/r/sapse/abap-platform-trial

As before, we are offering a free, downloadable ABAP Platform on SAP HANA 2.0 for trying out the ABAP language and toolset. It is extensively pre-configured with SAP Fiori launchpad, SAP Cloud Connector, pre-configured backend /frontend connections, roles, and sample applications.

This solution is intended for two groups of developers:

• Non-ABAP developers, who are interested in learning more about the ABAP language and development tools
• ABAP developers, who are interested in learning about new features (see below for some examples)

See also Karl Kessler‘s announcement blog post for information on our strategy:

Now available: ABAP Platform Trial

IMPORTANT: Before you pull the image, make sure:

• You understand the principles of docker container technology
• You know the entities docker image / docker container and their relationship
• You know the basic commands to work with images and containers

Highlights of the 1909 Edition

ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model (RAP)

ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model – The Big Picture

The ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model (short: RAP) offers developers an efficient way to build enterprise-ready, SAP HANA-optimized, OData-based Fiori UI services and Web APIs in the cloud as well as on-premise. It is the evolutionary successor to the ABAP Programming Model for SAP Fiori.

To make it easier for you to get started, we have also added the demo and training data model, the ABAP Flight Reference Scenario.

For more information, see:

• The blog post Getting Started with the ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model (RAP), by Carine Tchoutouo Djomo
• The SAP Help Portal: ABAP RESTful  Application Programming Model

Git-Enabled Change and Transport System (gCTS)

gCTS = CTS + git

A new way of transporting objects, gCTS enables you to use Git to store your ABAP development objects. gCTS makes use of special Git features, such as working on local copies of a central remote Git repository. Software development takes place in the usual editors like ABAP Development Tools (ADT). Changes to objects are still recorded in transport requests. Current states of objects can be pushed to remote Git repositories, either by releasing a transport request or while you’re working.

For more general information on gCTS, see this blog post: gCTS is here, by Karin Spiegel

For the official documentation overview, see: Git-Enabled Change and Transport System

The official documentation for configuration, Configuring Git-enabled Change and Transport System contains three steps. However, we have preconfigured the first two, so you only have to complete the third,  Configure Repositories.

Some certificates are already available. If you would like to connect to your own GitHub server or to a provider other than github.com, you have to add the appropriate certificates to the ABAP system in transaction STRUST. The configuration has been done for the default user ‘DEVELOPER’.

To get started with gCTS, simply open the gCTS app in the SAP Fiori Launchpad (FLP).

If you are a SAP customer, partner, or employee, the following SAP Note provides additional information: SAP Note: 2821718 . However, the essential configuration has already been done for everyone.

Custom Code Migration with the ABAP Test Cockpit (ATC)

We’ve pre-configured ABAP Platform Trial to run as a central check system for checking your custom code prior to migration – particularly useful for:

• SAP S/4HANA Readiness Checks
• SAP Cloud Readiness Check.

You can test this out of the box locally in SAP ADT, then configure the rest of your landscape to work with it.

For more general information on ATC, see these two excellent blogs, by Olga Dolinskaja:

• Remote Code Analysis in ATC
• ATC in ABAP Development Tools (ADT)

SAP Cloud Connector

SAP Cloud Connector provides a link between SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) applications and on-premise systems. It runs as on-premise agent in a secured network; acts as a reverse invoke proxy between the on-premise network and SAP BTP; and lets you use existing on-premise assets without exposing the entire internal landscape.

If you are interested in connecting your ABAP Platform Trial with a licensed version of SAP BTP, ABAP Environment (i.e.“Steampunk”), I have written a tutorial mission on this: Connect Your On-Premise System with SAP BTP, ABAP Environment

For more information, see:

• SAP Help Portal, SAP BTP Connectivity: SAP Cloud Connector
• SAP Community blog post (third-party content): SAP BTP Cloud Connector – A Brief Guide for Beginners

abapGit

Yes, abapGit is available out of the box.

Documentation is here: abapGit Documentation

If you are not yet familiar with abapGit, this post by Graham Robinson is a great introduction, with how-to videos:

abapGit So Easy

Other Highlights of ABAP Platform 1909: Overview

Blog post: ABAP Platform for SAP S/4HANA 1909, from October 2019, by Olga Dolinskaja

Official slide deck for ABAP Platform in SAP S/4HANA 1909 – Overview and Product Highlights.

Guides, Tutorials, FAQ, Troubleshooting

If you’re not sure where to start with your new system, we have written several tutorials.

FAQ and Troubleshooting also contains some info on Cookbook-style projects, by SAP Community members.

And finally…

Finally, I would just like to thank all the SAP Mentors and SAP Community members who expressed their support for ABAP Platform. You made a big difference.