SAP launched an online collaborative environment for
developers at its TechEd 2003 conference in Las Vegas. It also
demonstrated a tool to help non-technical users model applications
and generate the Java code to create them.
But delegates said they were worried that the tool, code-named
GUI Machine, might lead to underperforming applications and cause
compatibility problems with existing programs.
According to SAP executives, the tool lets business analysts use
a click-and-drag approach to model the workflow of an application
and build a composite program based on existing software
components. The tool then knits the components together with Java
code created by the GUI Machine.
Business analysts will initially need to work closely with
technically skilled developers to ensure that the code is optimised
for the best performance, said delegates.
Equally important, according to delegates, is that the code be
tested against existing SAP applications, particularly those whose
code has been modified.
But delegates said that before the product would be widely
adopted at SAP installations, the company would have to give SAP
experts access to the Java code so it can be modified for
performance and compatibility purposes.
SAP's Developer Network will be a central meeting place for
technical staff, independent developers, partners and customers. It
will offer users a central location for technical support. And SAP
users with Online Service System customer support accounts will be
able to access their support services and information through the
new website with single sign-on.
Mark Hallwrites for
Computerworld