What will you learn in this Lesson?
In particular, we will discuss the following topics :
- Why build extensions?
- Attempting an initial definition.
- What types of extensions are distinguished?
Why build extensions?
They are built to:
- Implement differentiating processes, steps or functions.
- Enhance processes with missing, needed functionality.
- Bring together different back ends, services and applications.
Attempting an initial Definition.
- Extension is software engineering principle that allows for enhancements, without impairing existing system functions.
- Extensions can be an addition of new functionality, or through modification of existing functionality.
- Extensibility is a measure of ability to extend and effort required to implement extension.
- It extends the scope of standard SAP software.
What types of extensions are distinguished?
We distinguish the following types:
- In-App Extensibility
- Classic extensibility.
- Key-user, in-app extensions with key user tools (SaaS).
- Developer (On-Stack) Extension
- Classic extensibility.
- Developer, built application or enhancements with tight integration in SAP S/4HANA. This happens only via stable APIs to keep the core clean.
- Side-By-Side Extensibility (SaaS)
- Extension and integration with custom or standard business applications of the SAP Business Technology Platform. This happens either via stable APIs or through business events from an SAP product, for example SAP S/4HANA.
- In the following we will look at different aspects. We are focusing on the SAP S/4HANA extension.