After working with multiple clients & on numerous assignments, the one thing I realized is that an ABAPper is no different than any other regular developer working on any XYZ technology.
Neither do I intend to belittle other technologies nor do I make SAP superior to others, but, I just feel an ABAPper has to be exclusive.
It has never been a mammoth task to learn ABAP; any person who has basic understanding of programming can write ABAP codes with minimal assistance, unless you are one of those few fortunate who get super-complex business specific requirements to work on, which, comes once in a blue moon.
So how should the ABAPper satiate the hunger for more!!
The latest trend is to move into the emerging technologies of SAP or learn newer objects of SAP: workflows, webdynpro, netweaver, & the list goes on.
One has started to forget one of the old methods followed by many ABAPpers & this too was quite satisfying: Learn the Business!!
Traditionally, ABAPpers went deep into the concepts of the requirement to gain an in-depth knowledge of what is required by the customer & why is the development so important.
They chose a particular module of interest (SD, MM, SRM, etc) and excelled in it along with ABAP. This moved them to the so-called Techno-Functional roles where they were capable of understanding the requirements very clearly directly by the user, eliminating the translator (Functional). However a Functional person is definitely important if you may not have learnt all the configurations required for a module to be perfectly in place.
I've met both kinds of people; the difference? The ones with loads of experience are the ones who started with ABAP & then moved on slowly to Functional roles & then ultimately to consulting (no doubt they mastered their module of choice). Whereas if I compare ABAP techies who have around the same experience as mine, they advice to move to the new world: Webdynpro & the like.
To be a jack of all may be helpful, but, it is always necessary to master one.
To follow which path is an individual's choice; SAP seems so vast, the curve of the learning horizon keeps moving ahead as you get nearer to it.
I think I have made my choice of the direction; until, I don't come across a new one.
