Tools needed for CDS programming a brief

You're right to ask about tooling! While CDS itself is a language, you need the right environment to work with it effectively in SAP. Here's a breakdown of essential tools for CDS programming:

1. ABAP Development Tools (ADT) in Eclipse:

• Purpose: This is your primary IDE. It provides the editor for writing CDS code, syntax highlighting, code completion, debugging capabilities, and integration with the ABAP backend.
• How to Get: ADT is a plugin for the Eclipse IDE. You can download Eclipse and then install the ADT plugin from the Eclipse Marketplace.

2. SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP (AS ABAP):

• Purpose: This is the backend system where your CDS code runs. It provides the database, the ABAP runtime environment, and other infrastructure components.
• How to Get: Access to an AS ABAP system is typically provided by your organization. You might have a development system, a test system, and a production system.

3. (Optional) ABAP in Eclipse:

• Purpose: While CDS handles data definitions, you'll often need ABAP to implement business logic, create services, etc. This plugin lets you write and debug ABAP code within Eclipse.
• How to Get: Similar to ADT, this is also an Eclipse plugin available from the Marketplace.

4. (For UI Development) SAPUI5:

• Purpose: If you're building applications that consume your CDS views, SAPUI5 is the recommended UI framework. It allows you to create modern, responsive web applications.
• How to Get: SAPUI5 libraries are included in your AS ABAP system. You can also download them from the SAPUI5 website.

5. (For Data Services) SAP Gateway:

• Purpose: To expose your CDS views as OData services, you'll use SAP Gateway. This allows other applications to consume your data.
• How to Get: SAP Gateway is a component of your AS ABAP system.

Important Considerations:

• System Access: Most of these tools require access to an SAP system provided by your company or educational institution.
• Versions: Ensure your AS ABAP system and your ADT version are compatible to avoid issues.
• Learning Resources: SAP provides extensive documentation and tutorials for these tools.

With these tools, you'll have a complete environment for developing, deploying, and managing your CDS views and related applications.