SAP ABAP has evolved over the years with different versions, each bringing new features and improvements. Here’s a summary of the key ABAP versions:
1. Early Versions (Before SAP NetWeaver)
- ABAP/4 (Advanced Business Application Programming, 4th Generation)
- Introduced in the 1980s as a procedural programming language for SAP R/2 and later SAP R/3.
2. SAP NetWeaver-Based ABAP Versions
ABAP 6.10 – 6.40 (SAP R/3 & SAP NetWeaver 2004)
- Introduced Object-Oriented ABAP (ABAP Objects).
- Support for Web Dynpro ABAP for UI development.
ABAP 7.0 – 7.31 (SAP NetWeaver 7.0 – 7.3)
- Enhancements in performance and modularization.
- New debugging and monitoring tools.
ABAP 7.40 (SAP NetWeaver 7.4, 2013)
- Optimized for SAP HANA with Core Data Services (CDS).
- New ABAP syntax improvements like inline declarations (
DATA(),NEW).
ABAP 7.50 (SAP NetWeaver 7.5, 2015)
- Enhanced object-oriented programming.
- SQL expressions and table expressions for performance improvement.
3. ABAP for SAP S/4HANA
ABAP 7.51 – 7.54 (SAP S/4HANA 1610 – 1909)
- Advanced integration with SAP HANA.
- SAP Fiori-based UI development.
ABAP 7.55 – 7.57 (SAP S/4HANA 2020 – 2022)
- ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model (RAP).
- Enhancements in ABAP Development Tools (ADT) in Eclipse.
4. Latest Version
ABAP Platform 2023 (SAP S/4HANA 2023)
- Released in October 2023.
- Further improvements to ABAP Cloud Development Model.
- Deep integration with SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP).