What is the Difference Between Classic SAP ABAP and SAP ABAP Cloud or SAP BTP ABAP?

SAP is evolving, and with that evolution comes the distinction between Classic SAP ABAP and SAP ABAP Cloud or SAP BTP ABAP. Understanding the key differences between these two versions is crucial for businesses and developers alike. As more organizations transition to the cloud, ABAP has adapted, providing an extended functionality that meets the needs of modern, scalable, and cloud-based applications. In this article, we’ll examine the differences between Classic ABAP and ABAP Cloud in-depth.

1. What is Classic SAP ABAP?

Classic SAP ABAP, or Advanced Business Application Programming, is SAP’s proprietary programming language that has been in use for decades. It serves as the backbone for many core applications within the SAP ERP system and SAP ECC. Traditionally, ABAP has been used to develop on-premise solutions, providing organizations with the ability to build highly customized business processes and reports.

Key Features of Classic SAP ABAP:

• On-premise deployment: Classic SAP ABAP applications typically run in on-premise environments, giving businesses full control over their infrastructure.
• Flexibility: SAP ABAP allows for the deep customization of SAP systems, including the ability to modify standard SAP applications.
• Extensive use: Most traditional SAP implementations rely on SAP ABAP for their backend processes.
• Procedural and object-oriented programming: SAP ABAP offers a mix of programming paradigms, making it versatile for a variety of business needs.

Classic ABAP is known for being a stable and mature language used by enterprises worldwide to handle large-scale business processes. It operates within SAP NetWeaver, which serves as its application server, enabling the development of modules such as SAP SD (Sales and Distribution), SAP MM (Material Management), and FI/CO (Finance and Controlling).

2. What is SAP ABAP Cloud or SAP BTP ABAP?

As SAP transitions to the cloud, SAP BTP ABAP has emerged as an extension of the traditional SAP ABAP environment. SAP BTP ABAP is designed to work with SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), providing organizations with the ability to leverage cloud capabilities while still utilizing the powerful SAP ABAP language for business logic.

Key Features of SAP ABAP Cloud or SAP BTP ABAP:

• Cloud-native deployment: SAP ABAP Cloud is fully integrated with the cloud environment, specifically within SAP S/4HANA Cloud and SAP BTP.
• Scalability: Designed for scalable cloud applications, SAP ABAP Cloud allows organizations to easily expand their operations without the need for significant hardware investments.
• Efficiency: Cloud resources are used efficiently, with automatic scaling and provisioning, allowing businesses to focus on innovation.
• Modern development tools: SAP BTP ABAP is developed using modern tools such as SAP Web IDE or Eclipse-based ABAP Development Tools (ADT), enabling better collaboration and faster deployment cycles.
• Security and compliance: Being part of the cloud ecosystem, ABAP Cloud ensures up-to-date security standards and compliance with global regulations.

3. Core Differences Between Classic ABAP and ABAP Cloud

While both Classic SAP ABAP and SAP ABAP Cloud are built around the same core SAP ABAP language, there are significant differences in terms of their functionality, deployment, and tools. Let’s dive deeper into these distinctions:

a. Deployment and Environment

• Classic SAP ABAP: Primarily developed for on-premise systems, Classic SAP ABAP is often deployed on SAP NetWeaver and integrated with SAP ECC.
• SAP ABAP Cloud: SAP ABAP Cloud, on the other hand, is designed for cloud-based environments such as SAP BTP and SAP S/4HANA Cloud, making it ideal for businesses moving to the cloud.

b. Customization and Extensions

• Classic ABAP: One of Classic ABAP’s strengths is the ability to make extensive customizations, including modifications to the core SAP system. However, this flexibility can lead to complications during system upgrades.
• ABAP Cloud: SAP ABAP Cloud focuses on clean core principles. Modifications to the core SAP applications are discouraged in favour of side-by-side extensions via the SAP Extension Suite. This approach ensures seamless upgrades and system stability.

c. Development Tools

• Classic SAP ABAP: Traditionally, developers used SAP GUI or SE80 for development in Classic SAP ABAP. These tools, while reliable, can feel outdated compared to modern IDEs.
• SAP ABAP Cloud: Developers working in SAP ABAP Cloud use modern development environments like Eclipse with ADT or SAP Business Application Studio (BAS), offering a more intuitive and efficient interface for coding and collaboration.

d. Integration and Connectivity

• Classic SAP ABAP: Integration with other systems often relies on traditional methods like RFCs (Remote Function Calls) and IDocs. While these methods are still powerful, they may not be as suited for modern cloud-based ecosystems.
• SAP ABAP Cloud: In contrast, ABAP Cloud integrates more naturally with cloud-native services through the use of REST APIs, OData services, and SAP BTP tools. This allows for better connectivity with other cloud applications and third-party services.

e. Upgrades and Maintenance

• Classic SAP ABAP: Upgrading Classic ABAP systems can be time-consuming, especially if there are extensive customizations. Each upgrade cycle might involve testing, adjusting code, and ensuring compatibility with the latest SAP versions.
• SAP BTP ABAP: One of the main Benefits of ABAP Cloud is the ease of upgrades. Since customizations are kept separate from the core system, updates happen automatically without the need for extensive downtime or adjustments.

f. Performance and Scalability

• Classic ABAP: Performance and scalability are dependent on the underlying hardware and infrastructure. Businesses need to ensure they have sufficient resources for handling increased loads.
• ABAP Cloud: Being part of the cloud environment, ABAP Cloud offers elastic scalability, which means that resources can be automatically adjusted based on demand, ensuring optimal performance at all times.

4. The Future of ABAP Development: Cloud vs. On-Premise

The future of ABAP is undoubtedly leaning towards cloud development. As more businesses move to SAP S/4HANA Cloud and the SAP Business Technology Platform, the demand for cloud-native applications will continue to rise. ABAP Cloud allows businesses to transition smoothly into the cloud while preserving the robust business logic that ABAP provides.

Advantages of ABAP Cloud for Modern Businesses:

• Flexibility and scalability: Cloud-native applications are more adaptable to business growth and change.
• Lower total cost of ownership: Moving to the cloud reduces the need for heavy investments in on-premise hardware.
• Automatic updates: ABAP Cloud ensures that systems are always up-to-date with the latest security patches and feature enhancements.

Despite these advantages, Classic ABAP will still be relevant for many businesses that continue to rely on on-premise systems. However, new developments and innovations will likely focus on cloud-first approaches, making ABAP Cloud the go-to choice for future applications.

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between Classic ABAP and ABAP Cloud is essential for developers and businesses planning their SAP strategy. While Classic ABAP remains powerful for on-premise applications, ABAP Cloud brings the benefits of scalability, modern development tools, and cloud-native features that are crucial for businesses transitioning to SAP S/4HANA Cloud and SAP BTP.