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keren_rotenberg
Advisor
Advisor
About 6 months ago, we started rolling out SAP Business Application Studio (a.k.a. BAS), since then the question which comes up the most is: How is BAS different from SAP Web IDE Full-Stack?

I would like to start by sharing some of the motivations for developing a next generation IDE. The idea was to offer a better experience for full stack and cloud development via modern IDE with a consistent experience to leading IDEs (e.g. optimized code editors, debuggers, Git and more). In addition, provide a desktop-like experience in the cloud with terminal (CLI) access and local test run, providing more control over the environment. All of these motivations while keeping the great tools from SAP Web IDE Full-Stack.

To learn more about BAS – take a look at info blog post I , info blog post II and the community page.

In this blog I will share the main differences between the two IDEs:

Adopting Open Source & industry standards

BAS is based on open sources & leading industry standards e.g. Yeoman framework and Language Server Protocol (LSP) which makes it a modern environment for developers. It is based on the open source ‘Eclipse Theia’ which is a vendor neutral IDE embracing Microsoft VS Code user experience and APIs. This allows BAS to integrate community extensions like code editors, code assist and syntax for Java, debugger for Java , JavaScript, Node.js, JSON, XML and YAML.

It also provides developers the ability to quickly extend and enhance the IDE capabilities with a large amount of extensions available on the market (see this blog post for more information).

Although, Web IDE also uses some open source components, its extension framework and many of its integrated tools are SAP proprietary, which limits the number of extensions and reusability.

 

Modern Experience

As BAS embraces the Microsoft VS Code user experience, it has a similar look and feel and includes similar capabilities like terminal (CLI) access, command pallet, Git and more.  BAS provides a local like experience in the browser including local test run & debug (via the debug pane) for fast dev <> test cycles by running the application in the dev space.

SAP Web IDE Full-Stack has an SAP proprietary browser-based experience. It lacks the ability to control the development environment, use a Command line (CLI) or install additional tools and extensions. In SAP Web IDE Full-Stack, testing is done by previewing the app on the target runtime which results in a cumbersome and slower development cycle (each preview deploys the app to the cloud target run-time).

Another important point is that in BAS automates some of the actions for the developer like running an application, but the developer has full control and visibility so he can see the dependencies and bind whatever is required. In Web IDE, running an app seems in many cases is like “magic” since many of the processes happen behind the scenes.

 

Development Environment

BAS allows you to instantly spin-up pre-packaged isolated environments called dev spaces (which are like “virtual machines on the cloud”) where you can develop, build, test and run using pre-installed runtime and tools. The dev spaces are managed and hosted by SAP, simplifying and saving time in setting up the development environment and updating it.

Each dev space is suited for the development of target scenarios. This means that it is created with the tailored tools and runtimes for the relevant scenarios. As the product progresses, the intention is to add additional dev space types to address additional SAP development scenarios.

The dev spaces can be customized by adding SAP extensions while creating the dev space or afterwards. In addition, developers can easily install tools from an integrated Open VSX Registry , CLI tools, components from NPM.js , and adding their own extensions (e.g. bundling existing extensions into a new extension and share with your team). This provides developers more flexibility, freedom and control over their development environment like on their desktop but without the overhead of installing and maintaining. For more information see this blog post on dev spaces and this blog post on projects and workspaces.

BAS supports the major development scenarios supported by SAP Web IDE Full-Stack, here are some key examples:

SAP Web IDE Full-Stack provides generic workspaces, not scenario specific which could lead to overloaded workspaces. Extending workspaces is possible by developing SAP Web IDE Full-Stack proprietary extensions.

 

Support for personas

BAS provides the opportunity to better address the professional developer needs with a built in terminal access, local-like developer experience, extensible language support, industry standard IDE and other capabilities described in the product walkthrough blog post.

It provides web & mobile developers a suited environment to develop web and mobile apps using SAP Fiori, SAPUI5 and SAP Mobile tools.  Furthermore, additional personas can be supported with a suited experience per persona using the dev space concept. Like SAP Web IDE, BAS supports the ability to develop end-2-end scenarios without the need to use CLI by providing wizards, graphical tools and productivity tools.

SAP Web IDE Full-Stack’s support for cloud and full stack developers is limited, as no terminal access, local-like development is possible. Web & mobile developers can use Web IDE Full-Stack to develop applications using Fiori, SAPUI5 and SAP Mobile Development Kit. The experience in Web IE is similar for all personas.

 

Availability:

Both development environments are managed (hosted on the cloud), you can access them from any computer, at any time.

BAS is available on SAP’s Multi-cloud environment – on AWS, Azure, and Alibaba in various regions (choose the list view to see the details).

SAP Web IDE Full-Stack is only available on the SAP BTP, Neo environment in the following regions (choose the list view to see the details).

 

Development and deployment targets

BAS supports developing applications and deploying to:

  • SAP BTP, Cloud Foundry environment

  • On premise ABAP

  • SAP BTP, ABAP environment

  • SAP S/4HANA Cloud

  • SAP HANA Cloud


 

SAP Web IDE Full-Stack supports developing applications and deploying to:

  • SAP BTP, Cloud Foundry environment

  • On-premise ABAP

  • SAP BTP, Neo environment

  • SAP HANA Cloud


 

To summarize see table below:

 


I hope this blog post helps clarify how BAS is different from SAP Web IDE Full-Stack. If you would like to experience the differences, see this blog post to try out BAS on the trial environment .

 


*  This is the current state of planning and may be changed by SAP at any time.
17 Comments
jorapoga
Participant
0 Kudos
Thanks! Very informative. It helps me to understand the changes with the SAP HANA's tools to developers.
Former Member
0 Kudos

Hi Keren,

i'm probably asking a silly question, but what makes the Full Stack Full? i'm only interested in the database explorer piece and neo has been discontinued for the trial accounts but whether i use the subscription or the service link in the trial account i end up landing here:

webidecp-<hashed>.dispatcher.<geo>.hana.ondemand.com

and my browser tab says "Full-Stack"

sorry that i could not upload the screenshots for some reason and maybe it's just a transition to discontinuing Web IDE altogether.

Thank you,

greg

 

 

 

VijayRao
Participant
0 Kudos
Thanks. Is there any plan to retire WebIDE in the near future? Or will it exist side by side to BAS? In some articles, SAP is calling BAS as a successor to WebIDE. Is there any timeline until when WebIDE will be supported?
keren_rotenberg
Advisor
Advisor
0 Kudos

Hi Greg,

In trial it is SAP Web IDE for SAP HANA Development which is a temporary solution, offered on the trial environment only. It was enabled for developing HANA applications until the SAP HANA development tools are supported in SAP Business Application Studio. This version will be discontinued end of March 2021 since the SAP HANA development tools are supported in SAP Business Application Studio. For more information see SAP Web IDE Trial update blog post .

In production, the product is SAP Web IDE Full-Stack.

Thanks,

Keren 

 

keren_rotenberg
Advisor
Advisor
Hi Rao,

There are currently no plans to retire SAP Web IDE Full-Stack for productive accounts or stop the support for it. The roadmap, including new capabilities is focused on BAS.

Yes, they will exist side by side.

We recommend to move to BAS unless your target runtime is SAP BTP Neo environment. In this case, SAP Web IDE Full-Stack should be used since BAS does not support development of apps for SAP BTP Neo environment .

 

Thanks,

Keren
keren_rotenberg
Advisor
Advisor
0 Kudos

Hi Greg,


We recommend to migrate to BAS. It is available in the trial and will continue to be in the trial after April. Both BAS and Web IDE Full-Stack are available for productive usage for licensed customers.

Since you are interested in DB, I recommend to take a look at the HANA section in this blog https://blogs.sap.com/2021/01/26/sap-business-application-studio-info-blog-ii/


Thank you,
Keren 
Greg-55
Explorer
0 Kudos
Hi Keren,

What is the solution for those on NEO who utilize the Web IDE for on-premise applications and want to utilize the BAS because of it's strengths over the Web IDE. Can it connect in a similar way via the Cloud Connector? What if the only service needed in CF is  the BAS? Does SAP provide a productive CF for those who already have NEO and don't necessarily have a reason to migrate other services to CF?

Regards,

Greg

 
BartDeJonge
Explorer
0 Kudos
Hi Keren,

Being a newbee in BAS I'm looking for (easy) ways to do the following:

  • Create a SAP Fiori Library (= create a reusable UI5 Library);

  • New Extension Project (= create an extension project based on an existing UI5 application);

  • Add Reference to Library (= be able to use a reusable UI5 Library in an UI5 app);


In the Web IDE there are 'native' built-in options for these 3 options.

I think it would be very nice to have templates (or template steps) for this in BAS.

Is this foreseen in any way (soon)?

Or are there (already) other ways to achieve this?

Thanks in advance,

Bart.
keren_rotenberg
Advisor
Advisor
0 Kudos
Hi Greg,

 

Yes you can use BAS for on-premise application similar to Web IDE via the Cloud Connector. Once you purchase BAS you will receive a productive CF account.

If use Neo as a runtime, you should continue using SAP Web IDE Full-Stack for development since BAS does not support Neo.

Thanks,

Keren
OliverGraeff
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert
0 Kudos
Hello Bart,

regarding your second bullet: SAPUI5 Flexibility offers capabilities for developers, key users and end users to adapt SAPUI5 applications. This includes the creation of adaptation projects in SAP Business Application Studio. Adaptation projects are the new/improved extension projects. FYI see this blog post as well.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,
Oliver
BartDeJonge
Explorer
0 Kudos
Hi Oliver,

Thanks for pointing my attention to Adaptation projects.

I will definitely have a look at the successor of Extension projects.

Regards,

Bart.
DanielSilva1
Advisor
Advisor
0 Kudos
Hi, Keren.

Are there plans to have BAS supporting apps development and deployment to SAP BTP, Neo?

Thanks!
keren_rotenberg
Advisor
Advisor
0 Kudos
Hi Daniel,

There are no plans currently for BAS to support SAP BTP, Neo.

For SAP BTP, Neo, you can use SAP Web IDE Full-Stack.

Thanks,

Keren
DanielSilva1
Advisor
Advisor
Thanks a lot, Keren!

Last question: is this the only feature that Web IDE Full-Stack has and that BAS doesn't?

Regards,

Daniel
LinChung
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert
0 Kudos
Hi Keren,

 

Based on my understanding, to deploy applications we need runtime & bandwidth. BAS is only a platform for development, where if customer want s to build and deploy in SCP, they need to get runtime & bandwidth.

Are my understanding correct?

Thanks

Regards,

Lin Chung
0 Kudos
Hi Keren,

Does SAP Web IDE Full Stack supports "SAP BTP, Cloud Foundry environment"??

Also does BAS supports all type of standard fiori extensions in on-premise environment?

Thanks!

 

Regards,

Aarti Dhamat
tursko
Participant
Is the Extensibility Pane missing from BAS?