Compiler availability

[Former Member]

Hi ABAPers,

Hope you guys doing good. Well, I used to program in various languages like C, C++, C# and Python before I migrated to ABAP development. I am unable to find compiler or any thrid party IDE for ABAP programming. Any such thing available for ABAP? I would also like to know more about ABAP Objects , it would be great if you guys can share links about ABAP Objects.

Edited by: SaadASharif on Jan 22, 2012 7:42 AM

Moderator Message: Good discussion to have over a cup of coffee

Edited by: Suhas Saha on Jan 24, 2012 4:32 PM

[Sandra_Rossi]

Hi,

The ABAP compiler is only supplied/embedded within SAP systems. ABAP is not an open language, it's proprietary. If you want to play with ABAP at home, install one of the trial versions provided here: http://sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/nw-downloads.

Sandra

[Former Member]

As well as Sandra's recommendation check out this blog by Olga Dolinskaja [ABAP in Eclipse|http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/weblogs?blog=/pub/wlg/27597] [original link is broken];. Although this product is only in the evaluation phase it's worth noting.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Former Member]

Thank you, that was indeed very helpful. However, I was planning to code in COBOL as I came to know it is quite similar to ABAP.. Will that help in anyway? I am too much into coding.. from theory of computation (Automata Theories, Turing Machine) to Algorithms and data structures.. to compiler design.. so, how far this knowledge will be helpful to code in ABAP? I did some coding like report creation in se36 and also used se80 and se11 for tables..

[former_member214857]

Hello Saad

Actualy Cobol is in the ABAP tree. In ABAP several languages influenced its syntax like Cobol, Clipper and other languages.

However you can only develop in ABAP language using tools provided by SAP. The best framework you can use is SE80.

Best Regards

[stephenjohannes]

ABAP is more like what happens when you combine C, C++ and COBOL. In terms of skills if you understand C/C++ then picking up the language will be a cake walk. Your primary frustation is that the language makes a lot of decisions for you(like java) so you have less control as a programmer and are basically shielded from the OS/memory management areas.

There a lot of ABAP coders who would think you are talking a foreign language if you even tried to explain Automata Theories, Turing Machine to them. Algorithm optimization would also be a foreign concept to a large population of ABAP coders.

I started out learning everything but ABAP and it was very easy to make the transition to the language. Now keep in mind as everyone says you need an ABAP Application Server(the NW AS ABAP trial systems should be just fine) in order to really learn/use the language.

I would strongly encourage checking out books like ABAP Basics or Next Generation ABAP Development if you are interested in learning more.

Take care,

Stephen

[Former Member]

Thanks Carlos and Stephen. For the programmers who have used editors like vi even visual studio looks clumsy and too much of "mouse control" :). Anyways, is there any plan for ABAP in Visual Studio? Also, I was wondering does SAP has something similar to Microsoft Virtual labs for newcomers.

Thanks Stephen for recommending those books. Would definitely add them to my mini library.

[former_member192854]

ABAP is moving to Eclipse (someday), in a Server side setting.

[Lukas_Weigelt]

Wasn't it even scheduled for 2012? It was my understanding it's already in test phase.

Isn't it still Client sided with eclipse followed by 'pessimistic' synchronisation with the application server?

[former_member192854]

As far as I understood, I heard that server connection while using the Eclipse ABAP editor was mandatory (Tech Ed 2011):

Eclipse-based Toolset

Highlights

Based on Eclipse latest release

Integrating with ABAPu2019s server-based development model

Integrated debugging and profiling based on ABAP traces

Integrating ABAP info system with Eclipseu2019s native Search Dialogs

Integration with task management and workflow systems