SAP BTP SDK for iOS - FAQ

Robin van het Hof

March 31, 2021

Created by

March 21, 2017

Beginner

15 min.

Frequently Asked Questions on the SAP BTP SDK for iOS

You will learn

The new SAP BTP SDK for iOS enables a vast community of designers, developers, partners and customers to more quickly build their own enterprise-class mobile apps with an intuitive, consumer-grade user experience, leveraging the Fiori for iOS design language. The goal is to accelerate development, easily reuse existing capabilities, and quickly tie in services of SAP’s and Apple’s respective platforms and devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Step 1: What is the SAP BTP SDK for iOS?

The SDK is a collection of Apple iOS Frameworks built with Swift, to enable developers to build, extend and run a new class of native iOS enterprise mobile apps, all powered by the SAP BTP and its services.

Step 2: What is included in the SDK?

The SDK includes several key building blocks, including UI elements for the new Fiori for iOS design language like reusable controls, UI patterns, templates, access to backend services, easier access to iOS capabilities and device services, etc. The SAP Fiori Design Guidelines can be found here: https://experience.sap.com/fiori-design-ios/.

Step 3: What are the key use cases for the SAP BTP SDK for iOS?

Main use cases for developers is to create innovative mobile apps for S/4HANA, SAP on-premise extensions, SAP BTP Line of Business (LoB) extensions and building custom SAP BTP apps for iOS.

Step 4: How does the new SAP BTP SDK for iOS differ from the current mobile SDK for iOS?

The new SDK has been created completely new in Apple’s modern Swift language and provides a very modular set of Frameworks that allow developers to pick and choose required functionality. It also includes UI components that support developers building enterprise apps for iOS. The SDK enables connection to newly designed mobile services on SAP BTP.

Step 5: How does the SDK support developers to apply the new SAP Fiori design guidelines for iOS?

The SDK includes UI components that comply with the SAP Fiori for iOS design language. Using these components when building an app makes it easy for developers to build native apps for iOS.

Step 6: Is SAP BTP required to develop with the SDK?

The SDK leverages the SAP BTP services to support developers integrating and managing the mobile apps for iOS. To make the most out of the SAP BTP SDK, you need an underlying SAP BTP account. SAP BTP is an open platform that allows connecting to any SAP or non-SAP system, e.g. you can connect securely to on-premise SAP Business Suite resources via the SAP BTP Connector.

Step 7: What is the timeline for the SAP BTP SDK for iOS release to developers?

The SDK has been released on March 30, 2017.

Step 8: Is the SAP BTP SDK for iOS be available as a free download for development & testing?

The SDK is available through the standard SAP software delivery channels. A trial version is available for developers to try out the SDK in combination with the SAP BTP trial landscape.

Step 9: Does the SAP BTP SDK for iOS support complete flexibility for native apps?

The SDK supports the entire feature set that is expected from an Enterprise Mobile App. For example Authentication & Authorization, Secure Storage, Backend Connectivity Configuration and integration with iOS specific features.

Step 10: What about SAP support for Android and Microsoft?

We will continue to support other mobile platform providers, including Google and Microsoft. The partnership with Apple is focused to drive new, innovative and exciting enterprise apps for iOS but will continue to give our customers choices.

Step 11: What will happen to the Hybrid App Toolkit, Kapsel & Cordova?

These are not affected by the release of the SAP BTP SDK for iOS.

Step 12: When will the SAP Academy for iOS be available?

More information on the SAP Academy for iOS can be found at https://help.sap.com/doc/221f8f84afef43d29ad37ef2af0c4adf/HP_2.0/en-US/5002e3507a261014a0edb97cc7f84cc3.html