In the near future when ABAP for SAP HANA gets launched, customers and developers can expect a much faster processing language that is more flexible and much easier to use. ABAP for SAP HANA is using the Eclipse platform like the HANA Modeler and will show a hierarchical display of the programs, dictionary, function modules etc. where the developer can right click and create a new program or function module. The tables and views can be created from the data modeler. In ABAP for SAP HANA, we can write most of the code in the form of Procedures in the Modeler and call it inside the function modules.
ABAP applications can profit from HANA right now but we need HANA optimized frameworks and techniques to build applications that use the full power of In-Memory technology. I think with ABAP and HANA we have the chance to build business applications that will give us an advantage in competition.
I have listed a few points below which makes me feel that ABAP for SAP HANA is not good for an ABAPer:
- The skills that an ABAPer has developed in coding by working in ABAP projects will not be very useful to him if ABAP for SAP HANA replaces the current ABAP as he will need to train himself for the same.
- If most of the coding can be done in HANA modeler, then it is not advantageous for an ABAPer as in HANA Modeler you can write the code using most of the programming languages. for eg. CREATE PROCEDURE >procedure name< LANGUAGE <langauge name<;
- ABAP for SAP HANA has been made easy where there are no transactions to remember (I think so may not be true), with Screen persona you can design a webdynpro page as easy as a power point presentation and with RDL where you can literally write in English instead of writing in programming language, most probably functional consultants will be able to carry out the developments with ease and this can put the ABAPer's role in the project at stake!
We still do not know how the current SAP ECC will run on HANA and hence cannot say how functional requirements will be full filled by the new SAP ECC and How it integrates with ABAP for SAP HANA.
These predictions may not be true and may be there is still a strong role for an ABAPer in the future when ABAP for SAP HANA gets launched but these questions do raise in an ABAPer's mind and an ABAPer may need to look for other options and may need to equip himself with other skills.
