Link and correlation between BOI's and API's, differences in functionality and testing tools

[alejandro_bindi]

Hi all,

We are developing in a S/4 Public Cloud environment (using embedded steampunk or ABAP cloud).

As part of the developments ahead, we need to "rebuild" classic developments, which use commonly known BAPIs such as BAPI_GOODSMVT_CREATE, which are not allowed in Public cloud, based on clean core principles.

As we move forward in research of the new ways, we found out (based on the Material Document example):

- There's a Material Document Business Object: Material Document

- There's a Material Document Business Object Interface (BOI), which is intended to be used for LOCAL (embedded) RAP developments as the ones we need: MaterialDocument / I_MATERIALDOCUMENTTP

- There's a Material Document API, which is intended to be used for SIDE-BY-SIDE (from BTP) or consumed from OUTSIDE S/4 (not the majority of our current scenarios): API_MATERIAL_DOCUMENT_SRV

We also found out, while both are present and documented on Business Accelerator Hub, the API one is far more documented and friendly for a functional analyst, including even a Try-Out section to test it with data. Which is very useful as it is needed to elaborate functional specs including test cases.

This poses a problem since what we will end up using from ABAP code (by EML) is the BOI, not the API. Some people already posted in regards to this, having problems because they are not in sync in functionality or capabilities: https://community.sap.com/t5/technology-q-a/functional-differences-between-boi-s-and-api-s/qaq-p/138... https://community.sap.com/t5/technology-q-a/how-to-call-public-cloud-sap-api-from-embedded-steampunk...

In analogy to the classic approach, the analyst was able to test the BAPIs from SE37 with data, and even save test cases to be used by reference for the developer.

Since we have no similar tool for BOIs, how we can assure and correlate the API and the BOI? Is there a 1:1 equivalence listing? Are there any plans for a BOI testing tool similar to the one provided for APIs?

Thank you!