New developer licenses for NetWeaver on the horizon
With the announcement of Code Exchange at TechEd Vienna, we also mentioned in a by-sentence that there will be new developer licenses for NetWeaver available. Let me briefly explain the key changes and the benefits of the new licenses and why it will replace the test & evaluation licenses. Nov. 11, 2009
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SDN Code Exchange is coming
SAP announces SDN code exchange, a platform where developers can share source code and collaboratively work on projects. Oct. 27, 2009
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Humour@SAP XXXII: If SAP built the electric car...
The former SAP board member Shai Agassi left the company some time ago to found his startup "Better Place" in order to develop revolutionary concepts for electric cars. Some SAP-colleagues said jokingly that SAP does indeed have the knowhow to build electric cars. If SAP built an eletric car, it would be like this: Apr. 30, 2009
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Co-Innovation Lab Demo Day - Live from the Silicon Valley
What do you get when you team up mature technology companies with young startups? Something that parents experience with their babies, toddlers and teenagers: while the parents are lifted out of their comfort zone and finally learn everything about Spongebob, Mangas and Britney, the children get guidance and a toolset of values and proper behaviour for life. And also learn who Jerry Lewis and Doris Day were. Jun. 17, 2008
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Building a Wiki and your reputation
Why blogging is not always the best and easiest way for newbies to build up their reputation on SCN. Try the WIKI instead. Here is how and why... Apr. 28, 2008
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Developer Challenge 2008: One spot is for Subscribers
The Developer Challenge 2008 in Palo Alto, California has one spot available for SDN subscribers. Read here how you can apply for this energetic, interesting and definitely networking event. Mar. 31, 2008
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SDN Subscriptions - What you can do now what you couldn't before
TechEd Las Vegas is over, and as you can see, I haven't won a dime or at least a fortune that would let me retire early. That's why I am going to tell you what I did for my salary in Las Vegas... Oct. 11, 2007
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Humour@SAP XXXI: SAP Urban Culture ByDesign
Here at the TechEd in Las Vegas I keep bumping into SDN aficionados who recognized me from my mug shot on the SDN, and instead of going the other way or changing to the other side of the street, they right out flatter me about my humorous blogs - and how much they miss them. So I am not writing any humorous blogs any more...or so... Oct. 2, 2007
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SDN Subscription program - The motivation behind
A software subscription program is coming? And what's in there? And why? And where can I get? Interested? Then read this... Aug. 26, 2007
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Smart Information Transfer - How to visualize data
Visualizing information is an important aspect to faster understand data. Alas, this is often done incorrectly, in the worst cases leading to wrong interpretations of data and in even worse cases to the death of space shuttle astronauts... Apr. 10, 2007
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Virtual Worlds: Breakfast with Second Life's CTO Cory Ondrejka
This morning the Silicon Valley think tank Churchill Club had the CTO of the currently most popular virtual community Second Life Cory Ondrejka talking about this community.
Second Life, a virtual community that actually generates real money for their users... Mar. 13, 2007
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Smarter Information Transfer or Why I Don't Like PowerPoints
I had hard times of understanding slidedecks that my colleagues forwarded to inform me in my new job at SAP Labs in Palo Alto. I started having doubts about my intellectual capacity, that had worked satisfyingly enough while I had been working in the SAP headquarter. And then I understood...
This is the starting blog around the WIKI area Smarter Information Transfer that shall help us understand what can go wrong when we gather, prepare, analyze and exchange information. Work, that is done by all of use every day. Mar. 5, 2007
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BPX: Skills & Tools and an invitation to contribute
What are the skills and tools that a Business Process Expert needs? Something to touch and grab for those geeks and business professionals amongst you that think beyond their borders and look forward in their careers. Feb. 28, 2007
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Lunch with mayor Rudolph Giuliani
The former mayor of New York and presidential runner 2008 for the office of the US president, today visited Mountain View, California and discussed with the members of the Silicon Valley think tank Churchill Club his political and technological visions. I attended the lunch meeting and report about Giuliani's points of view, with my focus being on technology and seeing this debate from a European citizen's background. Feb. 12, 2007
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Pirates of the Community (+video)
Anarchy on the SDN & BPX: on the first day silence and astonished eyes from the community. Some people cautiously dare to post comments to an unnoticed posting, by inserting an email address and ask for material (we know that's forbidden). No reaction from the SDN/BPX team. Another hits the wall: nobody updates his blogger picture. And a regular doesn't get his usual "great blog, I absolutely love your thoughts" comments from Mark Finnern. What's going on on the SDN? Where are the people running the platform? Avian flu? Sudden heart stroke of all Community team members? Have aliens abducted the team? What is it? Jan. 31, 2007
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High Noon @ SAP Developer Challenge (+video)
40+ SAP top developers from all over the world met this weekend in Palo Alto in the Silicon Valley to compete in the Developer Challenge 2006, a coding & design competition. And the heat was on, as can be recounted from the DemoJam (including a peculiar video). Dec. 13, 2006
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BPX Part 1 - What is the problem today?
This is the first part of a series of blogs about BPX. This starting blog will discuss the current status, problems and challenges, as well as the stereotypes and clichés that we encounter between technology and business professionals. Having understood this, the blogs to follow will carve out the role of the BPX community, the skills needed and how you can get on a BPX career path.  Oct. 19, 2006
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TechEd '06 Amsterdam - Meet the Authors & win books
Next week at the TechEd Amsterdam you will have the opportunity to meet real celebrities: the authors of many books in your office library. Oct. 13, 2006
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BPX should participate: Visual Composer Modeling Contest
Participate in a modeling contest from the Visual Composer group. Build a survey application and win prizes... Sep. 5, 2006
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Humour@SAP XXX: The many faces of SAP
See the many faces and facets of SAP. A panoptikum of a successful software company - and a reason why our reputation for good looking user interfaces is not regarded as the highest in our customer base... Jun. 18, 2006
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What is a Business Process Expert, Really?
A short essay on what a BPX is. Or could be. Or never wants to be. Anyway, it could be you, without you knowing you are. Jun. 4, 2006
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Humour@SAP XXIX: Life after SAP
Many of you might wonder, what happens to SAP employees, when they actually leave SAP? Here are some nerve-wracking and unbelieveable stories of those who made it, or who think, that they made it... May. 21, 2006
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Adventures of our times: Visual Composer & BI Kit
A lot of rumors and screenshots have been around, a sneak preview version has been the talk of the town, but finally one of the last adventures of our time is coming into your hands: Visual Composer, a tool that drives programmers out of work, makes users happy and gives business process experts a big fat smile on the face... May. 13, 2006
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Humour@SAP XXVIII: Tax calculation
Rumors have it that people don't like to pay taxes. Every year the same dramatic pictures hit the news with people trying to submit their tax-documents in time. And yet, the governments around the globe turn out to be even more creative than the inventors from the Silicon Valley or other creative hotspots... Apr. 30, 2006
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Humour@SAP XXVII: Hasso's laws
Programming rules, Code of Business Conduct and worker's council regulations are for sissies. What really counts and keeps SAP going are Hasso's laws. Apr. 2, 2006
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Humour@SAP XXVI: Captain SAP is back
With the upcoming sequel to the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean", starring Johnny Depp as pirate captain Jack Sparrow, we finally can unveil a secret. Yes, it's true: this movie was inspired by the SAP story. You don't believe me? No really, I swear it, by the buglessness of our coding. Mar. 26, 2006
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SAP Developer Challenge, Day 2 - The earthquake zone
The second day of the SAP Developer Challenge 2005 passed and we have some messages from the guru-hackers. Dec. 3, 2005
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SAP Developer Challenge, Day 1 - Shai's best date
The SAP Developer Challenge 2006 in Palo Alto is supposed to gather SAP's best and brightest developers to create within a few days breath-taking new business applications. Today was the first of six days, and we have already a lot to tell, like something about Shai's best date... Dec. 2, 2005
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How SAP won a Macromedia MAX award
We won, we won, we won! Nobody would have thought that SAP will win a design award from the Macromedia Design gods. How we won, is told here... Oct. 24, 2005
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Humour@SAP: XXIV. Souvenir challenge
Long travels, sick humour and some money left. That makes the perfect competition for SAP's frequent travelers to hunt for souvenirs, but not just any souvenir... Oct. 9, 2005
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Humour@SAP: XXIII. Surviving SAP TechEd in Vienna
Vienna, a town full of music and culture? You better think twice, before you attend SAP TechEd Vienna in my hometown. And get ready for the Viennese type of humour, the so called Schmäh... Sep. 4, 2005
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Humour@SAP: XXII. World's largest coffee house: SAP Walldorf (Podcast)
Mix seven office buildings, with up to six floors, thousands of parkings, a collection of designer furniture, a couple of espresso machines and what do you get? World's largest coffee and tea house - better known as SAP in Walldorf.  Aug. 28, 2005
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Humour@SAP: XXI. Garage Affairs (Podcast)
A beautiful woman, a successful SAP programmer, a romantic place (the SAP garage), their eyes meet and Cupid shoots his arrow. A story about romance, true love and a bunch of nosy, but helpful SAP colleagues.  Aug. 21, 2005
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VC: the SAPPHIRE '05 Analytics dashboard
In case you missed the SAPPHIREs this year and or want to spend more time on watching the demo that Shai Agassi and Jeff Word showed on the keynote-stage, here is a recording of the Analytics dashboard, without presenters walking in the picture or sneezing attendees disturbing your concentration. Aug. 16, 2005
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Humour@SAP: XX. Super-Shai and other "noms de guerre"
What do Alexander the Great, The Godfather, Mad Dog Matt and Super-Shai have in common? Nothing, but it's still interesting to have them mentioned in the same sentence. Aug. 14, 2005
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Humour@SAP: XIX. SAP's Honourable Breakfast Club
Here is the story of a secret society at SAP and how I became a member... Aug. 7, 2005
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Humour@SAP: XVIII. In the pet store
We didn't have pure jokes up in this series. Let's start with it and throw in the first one... Jul. 31, 2005
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Humour@SAP: XVII. Hasso and the Company Car Policy
We'll combine today two of the strongest creators of anecdotes in the SAP world: Hasso Plattner and company cars.  Jul. 24, 2005
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Humour@SAP: XVI. Calling names
Did you know, that not so long ago, when you addressed a German SAP colleague only by his or her first name, you often went right into the not-worth-to-answer-list?
This changed, but only after fierce discussions in - guess, where? - the SAP internal gossip forum Infobörse... Jul. 9, 2005
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Humour@SAP: XV. Top 10 SAP success stories
This weblog is sent out from a dark dungeon and represents the first weblog posted on SDN below 100 feet. If anybody can read this, please tell them to let me out. After all I wrote a weblog with positive stories from SAP, as they had asked me to do... Jul. 3, 2005
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Humour@SAP: XIV. 1001 good reasons to buy SAP Software
The secret list of persuasion of why to buy SAP software. Uncovered for the first time and exclusively in this forum the latest reason #1001. Jun. 26, 2005
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Humour@SAP: XIII. A day in the life of one InfoDeveloper
The work of info developers is often under-estimated by software developers. Only customers and partners really know the value of their work. But sometimes there comes documentation that nobody really understands... Jun. 18, 2005
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Humour@SAP: XII. The Shai Agassi Diet or How SAP Analytics was started
All these announcements with new innovative products. Many people wonder, how does SAP do that? Is there some magic, some special potion included? Here is the tale of how it worked with SAP Analytics and spared some of us spending money for the gym... Jun. 12, 2005
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Humour@SAP: XI. The fairy tale of ESA - PABAP/4
What's the fairy tale version of ESA and SOA? Well, I have to start with that story from a time long long ago... Jun. 5, 2005
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Humour@SAP: IX. Surfing, Sun and Schwarzenegger - SAP Labs Palo Alto
Yes, it's true! California is rainy, cold and deep in the middle of Africa. SAP Labs Palo Alto is absolutely unattractive for wisecracks, smarties or M&Ms. It is therefore completely boring, how life in this SAP location is going on... May. 25, 2005
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Humour@SAP: VIII. Saving SAP's internal gossip forum from work-related topics
If you want to understand SAP culture and get an idea, what's moving or shaking the employees, forget about the official sap-websites. There is no other way than reading in the most important SAP internal newsgroup. Everything is being disccussed there, except anything that makes sense. But this newsgroup is very fragile and some people tried to make sense out there. This failed miserably, and we can be happy about that. Otherwise I'd have lost one of the best sources of SAP humour.... May. 15, 2005
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Humour@SAP: VII. High Noon or The Battle Mouse
This is the adventure of Sven Henry S., who faced a devilished turned system and came out of high noon, clicking faster than his shadow... May. 8, 2005
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Humour@SAP: VI. Managing Your Boss or The Spooky Golf Course
What do ABAP and a cell phone have in common? Normally nothing, but in this collection of anecdotes they demonstrate, how you can manage your boss... May. 1, 2005
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Humour@SAP: IV. Sports
The greek word anekdoton means: "not published in print, only passed by word of mouth". This already indicates that not everything mentioned in an anecdote is true. But either it has - like tales - a true core or it is a good invention. Apr. 18, 2005
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Humour@SAP: III. How SAP lost a battle in showing off - in vehicles
The obsession of SAP folks' with the latest models of different kind of vehicles results in traffic jams, more parking houses than office buildings at SAP's headquarter in Walldorf/Germany and jaw-dropping and tear-jerking discussions for those of us, who do not drive those german cars. A customer from the oil business showed, how you can silence them all (at least for so long, as you need to accelerate from 0 to 900 miles per hour). Apr. 10, 2005
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Humour@SAP: II. License Expiration Dec. 31st 9999
Sigmund Freud, the viennese psychoanalyst, said: "There are no jokes."
On April 1st, this is even more true. In old times there were jokes, but you probably noticed: for several years now there are no new jokes anymore, all are old and known. The only new joke that remains, is one about SAP. Let me tell you a couple of dozens of them... Apr. 1, 2005
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Humour@SAP: I. Meeting with Hasso
SAP is seen as a very successfull company and professional in dealing with customers and partners. Beside that boring fact there are also some humorous situations that are recounted and whispered from ear to ear and turned into legend. Let me start this series of Humour@SAP with a very well-known former board-member and founder: Hasso Plattner. Mar. 27, 2005
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Next Generation IDEs
Are you a pimp-up-my-application developer or more the freaks-out-when-seeing-code developer? Or are you simply annoyed with all those different tool-beasts out there, that should simplify your life in order to build integrated business applications, but don't, because the tools are not integrated? Then you might want to check out this very weblog and article... Mar. 15, 2005
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Additional CAF Training material online
Another 2 units for CAF are available, this time about Guided Procedures. Feb. 3, 2005
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CAF training material online
The first 7 units of training material for the Composite Application Framework are available.  Dec. 30, 2004
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xApps & Composite Application Framework: Book (in german)
After many discussions, awe and shock, sleepness nights, complaints from our spouses - we made it: the first book about xApps and the Composite Application Framework is available. Dec. 22, 2004
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Disposable Business Applications
Business applications are becoming more and more disposable, like disposable cameras. You shoot 30 pictures with them, develop the pictures and throw the camera in the garbage bin afterwards. You use the business application for a certain time and then its purpose is accomplished. Sep. 10, 2004
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CAF Summer Talks
We sent our SDN reporter to the SAP headquarters in Walldorf to get the latest news about Composite Application Framework (CAF) 1.0 for you. The crowd is waiting outside and journalists and camera teams from all over the world are eagerly waiting for the CAF development minister to speak to the interested community. Jun. 23, 2004
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BW Experts Understand It Faster - Composite Application Framework (CAF)
Have you ever had trouble understanding SAP's new technologies? Understanding what it means for you and your customers? Did you have the same feeling when you started working with BW? Admit it, you felt as much as an SAP-rookie as I and all other BW experts did, when they were voluntarily forced to stumble over BW the first time ;-)
With this knowledge about SAP BW you have an immense advantage in understanding a new SAP technology, as the concepts are thrillingly comparable. And what's the new technology called? CAF or - in order to get rid of another three letter acronym (TLA) - the Composite Application Framework. Apr. 1, 2004
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CAF V - Services or How to Shake a Martini
"Shaken, not stirred!" Take the Service Modeler and mix and shake Services, Business Objects and UIs. If you sing a song along with it or dance to it, it's your artistic freedom. The base functionality is provided for you and not part of your worst nightmares anymore. Mar. 30, 2004
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CAF IV - User Interface Patterns on a plate
Work on the UI (presentation) layer is probably the part with the highest fun-factor for a developer. Unfortunately it's also the layer which brings the most pain for a user, being the layer which he interacts with. And also the layer where everybody thinks they knows exactly what the UI should look like, or better: should not look like. Mar. 30, 2004
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CAF III - Business Object Modeler à la carte
Ever looked over the shoulders of a chef in a fancy restaurant? Trying to find out what kind of tools this chef uses and why the menus are always right to the point? Then you for sure are interested in what tools a developer will use in the future to build business applications right to the point. The CAF brings you the cooking tools for the chef-developer... Jan. 26, 2004
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CAF II - Which Tools Does SAP Provide?
Working within a framework without proper tools is like taking a hot pot from the stove without mitts: you burn yourself, you'll feel the pain for a long time, you lose time and it's no fun. That's why we have some tools for you to work with in SAP's Composite Application Framework... Jan. 13, 2004
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What is the Composite Application Framework?
In the future I will regularly post on this Weblog news, visions, tips&tricks... about SAP's Composite Application Framework. As a beginning, let me give you some visions and definitions of it. Jan. 5, 2004
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