Introduction
SAP Cloud Application Programming Model is a modern, open-source development framework for building enterprise applications in the cloud. It provides developers with an easy way to create and deploy robust applications that can be used across multiple SAP products, including ERP, CRM, and HANA.
In this blog, we will explore some of the advantages of using the SAP Cloud Application Programming Model for developing business applications in the cloud.
SAP-CAPM helps your Business.
SAP has provided libraries of JAVA and Node.js to implement simple business logic, using these libraries the developer can implement middleware that will directly integrate with the CDS views to define entities and services, which assures easy development and maintenance. Since CDS is an easy way of exposing the data from HANA tables, development time for CAPM is considerably reduced.
Faster Application Development: SAP CAPM provides prebuilt templates and tools which help businesses bring new products and services to the market enabling faster development and staying competitive in a rapidly changing business landscape. The classical method of app development has lesser reusability of developed applications and blocks when compared to CAPM which can be easily integrated into multiple applications.
Enhanced Security: SAP CAPM provides built-in security features such as role-based access control, data encryption, and secure communication protocols. It helps to protect the business’s sensitive data and ensures compliance with data privacy regulations.
Improved scalability: SAP CAPM is designed to support the development of scalable applications that can handle large volumes of data and users. This can help businesses grow and expand their operations without worrying about infrastructure constraints. Since the CAPM projects are deployed in the cloud, they can be spanned to a larger scale.
SAP-CAPM Architecture
SAP CAPM is a framework of languages (Java and Node.js), libraries (CDS-Core Data Services, Developments Kits), and tools (Visual Studio, Business Application Studio). It is an opinionated and open framework to build the application efficiently. It is an emerging technology in the SAP cloud for creating scalable multi-target applications which could easily translate and run on different platforms.
Technology independent
The developer can choose any technology with no locked-in, mandatory path with this programming model. To build the UI we can use SAP Fiori elements.
Non-Intrusive
The programming model is non-intrusive, and is completely free of assumptions. The main goal is to reduce the code complexity, which would be the same regardless of your chosen architecture or methodology.
Cross-Platform
The CAPM project is a multi-Target application because it runs at different times. The persistence layer runs in the HANA DB run time, the server layer runs in the Node.js run time and the UI/UX layer runs in the browser run time. It is distributed application to integrate your SAP data into various cloud applications.
Benefits of Cloud Application Programming Model
SAP CAPM provides several benefits for business scenarios that can be developed and deployed in the cloud environment. The key features are shown below:
- Flexibility: When we develop the application using the CAP which uses SQLite database for development, without changing much code we could move the application to production in HANA DB.
- Domain Specific: The CAPM will have a primary focus on the domain instead of imperative coding from the developer’s point of view.
- Efficiency & Productivity: The CAPM will reduce the complexity for the developer when compared to traditional app development and allows for an increase in the efficiency of the application and productivity will also be improved due to reduced loading time.
- Enhanced: The CAPM projects can be enhanced easily and deployed in the SAP Cloud Foundry. The cloud foundry provides flexibility for running and maintaining our applications.
- Improved Security: Cloud Application Programming Models provide built-in security features, such as encryption, secure communication protocols, and access control. This protects applications and data from security threats. When compared to the ideal technologies that are available, CAPM provides high levels of data security.
Cloud Application Programming Model Setup
The CAPM project configuration can be checked with the below cds command.
npx check-sap-cloud-readiness -codejam-cap
Adding the CAPM project For HANA DB
The CAPM projects are developed and can be moved to HANA Database without making many changes in the coding, which are listed below.
- Use the cds command: cds add hana, to add the features of HANA DB.
- Now we have to change the path db in the yaml file from #gen/db to db.
- In the package.json file we have to change the configuration of dev dependencies which has sqlite configuration to cds configuration which is shown below.
In the package.json add the below cds command.
Conclusion:
The Cloud Application Programming Model will be suitable for enterprise scenarios, and it can be easily consumed by UI applications via OData Service and annotations. And this development method can be easily adapted by the developer who has no prior experience with native HANA applications. Overall, the SAP Cloud Application Programming Model is a powerful tool that can help businesses to build modern, cloud-native applications that meet their specific needs. Since it is in the emerging phase, we could expect a lot more innovations coming into CAPM which will ease the app development in the cloud. It will also remove unnecessary overheads we come across in creating multi-target applications, to support business scenarios. For more details book your call today.