ABAP Cloud Developer Trial 2023 Available Now

[julieplummer20]

ABAP Cloud Developer Trial 2023 initial shipment now available on Docker (and CAL)!

Hi All, Please find the latest version of ABAP Cloud Developer Trial - 2023, initial shipment - on Docker here:

https://hub.docker.com/r/sapse/abap-cloud-developer-trial/tags 

Again, please go straight to the Tags tab, since the Overview Pull command does not work.

If you want to get stuck in immediately, the Pull command is as follows:

docker pull sapse/abap-cloud-developer-trial:2023

This Docker image comes with a detailed Readme file.

Enjoy!

ABAP Cloud Developer Trial is a free, downloadable ABAP Platform on SAP HANA 2.0 for trying out the ABAP language and toolset. It is extensively pre-configured with SAP Fiori launchpad, SAP Cloud Connector, pre-configured backend /frontend connections, roles, and sample applications.

This solution is intended for two groups of developers:

• Non-ABAP developers, who are interested in learning more about the ABAP language and development tools
• ABAP developers, who are interested in learning about new features (see below for some examples)

Note: Also available on SAP Cloud Appliance Library (CAL):

As a bonus, we are also simultaneously releasing this developer trial version as an appliance template:

https://cal.sap.com/catalog#/applianceTemplates/4d7b4410-ee54-4691-9901-4828d05dfc29

It's the same product, but as a hosted appliance, not a Docker image.

IMPORTANT:

All: Before you pull the image

Make sure that you:

• understand the principles of docker container technology
• know the entities docker image / docker container and their relationship
• know the basic commands to work with images and containers

All: Troubleshooting/ Support

Since ABAP Cloud Developer Trial is a free offering for education and demo purposes only, we offer it with SAP Community support. That means that no primary support is available for this product. 

To get Community Support, please create a new question in the SAP Community - ABAP Development forum and add the user tag "#abap_trial". I will try to monitor these questions, but other experienced ABAP users / mentors also see them and often provide support.

(NOTE: Now that comments are no longer threaded, it is almost impossible to keep track of / answer your troubleshooting / error questions, so posting a question is more efficient than posting a comment.)

ABAP License

The ABAP license supplied with the Docker image lasts only three months. Therefore, you should download and import the demo license as follows:

1. Logon to your ABAP system with the user SAP*, client 000, same password as for DEVELOPER (DEVELOPER , client 001, is locked).
2. Start transaction SLICENSE; copy the hardware key.
3. Get the license from minisap , choosing the system A4H.
4. Back in your ABAP System, start SLICENSE again, then choose Install.
5. Log off, then log on with the user DEVELOPER, client 001.
6. The old ("INITIAL") license(s) should be deleted automatically. If not, start SLICENSE again; remove the old invalid licenses. (sap* is not allowed to delete licenses).

Highlights of the 2023 Edition

ABAP Cloud Development, including ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model (RAP)

ABAP Cloud is SAP’s new development model for cloud-ready and upgrade-stable extensions targeting clean core for customer systems. ABAP Cloud comprises public SAP APIs and extension points, the cloud-optimized ABAP language, ABAP development tools for Eclipse, ABAP Core Data Services (CDS), and ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model (RAP).

There have been too many innovations to ABAP Cloud for 2023 to list here, including:

- RAP, ABAP CDS, SAP HANA

- Fiori Elements

- Transport Organizer

- Quality and Troubleshooting

For more information, I strongly recommend ABAP Platform in SAP S/4HANA 2023 - Overview and Product Highlights.

abapGit

Documentation is here: abapGit Documentation
If you are not yet familiar with abapGit, this post by graham.robinson is a great introduction, with how-to videos:
abapGit So Easy

Cloud Connector

SAP Cloud Connector provides a link between SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) applications and on-premise systems. It runs as on-premise agent in a secured network; acts as a reverse invoke proxy between the on-premise network and SAP BTP; and lets you use existing on-premise assets without exposing the entire internal landscape. 

If you are interested in connecting your ABAP Platform Trial with a licensed version of SAP BTP, ABAP Environment (i.e.“Steampunk”), I have written a tutorial mission on this: Connect Your On-Premise System with SAP BTP, ABAP Environment
For more information, see:

• SAP Help Portal, SAP BTP Connectivity: SAP Cloud Connector
• SAP Community blog post (third-party content): SAP BTP Cloud Connector – A Brief Guide for Beginners

Custom Code Migration with the ABAP Test Cockpit (ATC)

We've pre-configured ABAP Platform Trial to run as a central check system for checking your custom code prior to migration - particularly useful for:

• SAP S/4HANA Readiness Checks
• SAP Cloud Readiness Check

You can test this out of the box locally in SAP ADT, then configure the rest of your landscape to work with it.
For more general information on ATC, see these two excellent blogs, by Olga Dolinskaja:

• Remote Code Analysis in ATC
• ATC in ABAP Development Tools (ADT)

Git-Enabled Change and Transport System (gCTS)

gCTS = CTS + git

gCTS enables you to use Git to store your ABAP development objects. 
For the official documentation overview, see: 

Git-Enabled Change and Transport System (BC-CTS-GIT) | SAP Help Portal

The official documentation for configuration is in two parts:

1. Configuring Git-Enabled Change and Transport System
   Here, we have preconfigured the first two parts, so you only have to complete parts 3-5:  
   
2.  
3. Configuring Git Repositories

Some certificates are already available. If you would like to connect to your own GitHub server or to a provider other than github.com, you have to add the appropriate certificates to the ABAP system in transaction STRUST. The configuration has been done for the default user ‘DEVELOPER’.
To get started with gCTS, simply open the gCTS app in the SAP Fiori Launchpad (FLP).
If you are a SAP customer, partner, or employee, the following SAP Note provides additional information: SAP Note: 2821718 . However, the essential configuration has already been done for everyone.

Other Highlights of ABAP Platform 2023: Overview

Blog post: ABAP Platform for SAP S/4HANA 2023 - SAP Community by my colleague Olga Dolinskaja, including the Overview Presentation

Guides, Tutorials, FAQ, Troubleshooting

If you’re not sure where to start with your new system, we have written several tutorials:

SAP Tutorial Navigator: ABAP On-Premise Tutorials

Alternatively, if you want a structured course,  I can recommend:

Acquiring Core ABAP Skills

I have started putting together FAQs specifically for ABAP Platform Trial / ABAP Cloud Developer Trial on Docker. If you would like to contribute to this, please let me know:

ABAP Trial Platform on Docker: Tips and Tricks