SAP Build is primarily positioned as a low-code development platform, empowering users to create applications and automate processes with minimal coding. However, it also provides extensive support for developers who prefer or require traditional coding methods using specific programming languages and frameworks.
Understanding SAP Build's Technical Foundation
At its core, SAP Build combines visual, drag-and-drop interfaces (the low-code aspect) with the flexibility to integrate custom code. This hybrid approach allows for rapid development while still enabling complex logic and integrations when needed.
The platform's ability to support traditional coding is based on its compatibility with several key languages and development frameworks prevalent in the SAP ecosystem and beyond.
Supported Coding Languages
For developers looking to write custom code within SAP Build, the platform supports several popular and powerful languages:
- Java: A widely used, object-oriented programming language.
- JavaScript: Essential for front-end web development and increasingly used on the server-side.
- ABAP: SAP's proprietary programming language, crucial for developing within the SAP environment.
- UI5: SAP's HTML5-based UI development toolkit for building enterprise-ready web applications.
Supported Coding Frameworks
In addition to languages, SAP Build provides support for specific development frameworks that streamline the creation of user interfaces and applications:
- UI5: As both a language/toolkit and a framework, UI5 is foundational for building modern SAP UIs.
- Fiori Elements: A framework based on UI5 that allows for the creation of SAP Fiori applications using predefined templates and annotations, significantly reducing front-end coding.
- Mobile: Support for building mobile applications, often leveraging underlying mobile development technologies compatible with SAP.
- HANA Cloud Toolkit: Provides tools and libraries for developing applications that interact with SAP HANA Cloud databases.
This combination of low-code capabilities and support for established coding languages and frameworks provides a versatile environment for building extensions, workflows, and applications on the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP).
Summary of SAP Build's Technical Elements
The core technical components mentioned for SAP Build include:
| Aspect | Technologies Supported |
|---|---|
| Development Approach | Low-Code |
| Coding Languages | Java, JavaScript, ABAP, UI5 |
| Coding Frameworks | UI5, Fiori Elements, Mobile, HANA Cloud Toolkit |
By supporting these technologies, SAP Build caters to a broad range of developer skill sets and project requirements, enabling efficient development within the SAP ecosystem.
