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RAP and CAP

Even in the dawning age of AI, programming is still a popular activity. From RAP (RESTful Application Programming), to CAP (Cloud Application Programming), there should be something for every SAP customer out there. But it won't come cheap.
Peter M. Färbinger, E3 Magazine
March 12, 2024
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RAP is modern and popular. On this page, the supermarket Billa advertises with RAP. Billa stands for "Billigladen" in German, which means discount store. Billa is the Austrian equivalent of Aldi, Hofer, Edeka, Migros, Coop or Rewe.

RAP is modern and popular. On this page, the supermarket Billa advertises with RAP. Billa is the Austrian equivalent of Aldi, Hofer, Edeka, Migros, Coop or Rewe.

So, let's “rap” about a few programming models of our liking to get an idea of what the SAP community can expect from an R/3 Abap approach. CAP (Cloud Application Programming) is of course different from RAP (RESTful Application Programming Model) and is more of a Java Script runtime environment than SAP Abap.

Open Source


CAP combines both familiar SAP technologies and open source products, primarily Node.js, a cross-platform open source JavaScript runtime environment that can execute JavaScript code outside of a Web browser. It can be used, for example, to run a Web server.

Also on board are Core Data Services (CDS), a universal modeling language for services and domain models that is part of SAP CAP by default. CDS has been the infrastructure for SAP data modeling since Hana. From a technical point of view, it is crucial that CDS defines the data models directly in the Hana memory and not on the ERP application server. JavaScript is commonly used, but many other open source languages can be used. 

Not a cheap framework


The SAP Cloud Application Programming Model is not a cheap framework. It simplifies the creation of cloud applications for programmers. The framework provides relevant libraries and languages, not just Node.js. But why CAP? SAP partner Snap Consulting has the answer: the future belongs exclusively to the SAP cloud. In the future, new or further developments in the SAP context will only be carried out using cloud technologies, making the SAP BTP (Business Application Platform) and CAP the new natural habitat for SAP users. A brave new world. Is the whole world in the cloud? Let's rap!

RESTful


SAP RAP, or RESTful Application Programming, is the preferred model for experienced programmers to use with ABAP (SAP’s programming language) in the cloud. RAP is suitable for both on-prem solutions and cloud services. It is primarily suited for interfaces in the Abap application layer, and the underlying database is Hana. CAP is cloud only with open source and SAP stacks on Java or Node.js. RAP, on the other hand, is the solution for Abap in the cloud, with a UI provided via Cloud Foundry or NEO and is colloquially referred to as Steampunk.

Thus, Embedded Steampunk is Abap Cloud. An advantage of Embedded Steampunk is the close connection to S/4 compared to looser extensions like Steampunk on the SAP Business Technology Platform. The Abap Cloud is a generic term that combines Embedded Steampunk in the public cloud and in the private cloud (on-prem). SAP plans to use the Abap Cloud to provide the most efficient Abap tools of the past decade, such as CDS, Eclipse, released APIs, and RAP. Now it's clear why the cheap store is rapping. 

Steampunk as a synonym for future S/4 add-ons and enhancements will accompany and challenge the SAP community for many years to come.

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Peter M. Färbinger, E3 Magazine

Peter M. Färbinger, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief E3 Magazine DE, US and ES (e3mag.com), B4Bmedia.net AG, Freilassing (DE), E-Mail: pmf@b4bmedia.net and Tel. +49(0)8654/77130-21


1 comment

  • Die Schlussfolgerung verstehe ich nicht:
    “[..]Weiterentwicklungen im SAP-Kontext sollen zukĂĽnftig nur mittels Cloud-Techniken durchgefĂĽhrt werden, womit [..] CAP zum neuen natĂĽrlichen Lebensraum werden”
    Das wĂĽrde voraussetzen, dass CAP (und SAP BTP) die einzige Lösung wäre, um RestFul APIs zu implementieren oder zu benutzen. Aber RestFul APIs sind ein Industriestandard – jeder verwendet Webservices. Es gibt sogar Firmen die Amazon-WebServices heiĂźen, weil man sie komplett per RestFul benutzt.

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Working on the SAP basis is crucial for successful S/4 conversion. 

This gives the Competence Center strategic importance for existing SAP customers. Regardless of the S/4 Hana operating model, topics such as Automation, Monitoring, Security, Application Lifecycle Management and Data Management the basis for S/4 operations.

For the second time, E3 magazine is organizing a summit for the SAP community in Salzburg to provide comprehensive information on all aspects of S/4 Hana groundwork.

Venue

More information will follow shortly.

Event date

Wednesday, May 21, and
Thursday, May 22, 2025

Early Bird Ticket

Available until Friday, January 24, 2025
EUR 390 excl. VAT

Regular ticket

EUR 590 excl. VAT

Venue

Hotel Hilton Heidelberg
KurfĂĽrstenanlage 1
D-69115 Heidelberg

Event date

Wednesday, March 5, and
Thursday, March 6, 2025

Tickets

Regular ticket
EUR 590 excl. VAT
Early Bird Ticket

Available until December 20, 2024

EUR 390 excl. VAT
The event is organized by the E3 magazine of the publishing house B4Bmedia.net AG. The presentations will be accompanied by an exhibition of selected SAP partners. The ticket price includes attendance at all presentations of the Steampunk and BTP Summit 2025, a visit to the exhibition area, participation in the evening event and catering during the official program. The lecture program and the list of exhibitors and sponsors (SAP partners) will be published on this website in due course.