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Individual Developer Licenses
Jan Penninkhof Active Contributor Bronze: 250-499 points SAP Mentor
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Company: Phoqus B.V.
Posted on Nov. 02, 2009 07:24 AM in Open Source, SAP NetWeaver Platform, Code Exchange
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imageAs long as I am developing custom software based on SAP, I have always had the need (or maybe desire ;) to play around with some new functions or try something out that I didn’t want to do in a regular SAP enviroment, either because it would jeopardise operation or just didn’t have anything to do with the current project or business.
Previously SAP had several types of licenses available that could meet this demand:

  • SDN Trial licenses
  • SAP Discovery server
  • Netweaver Developer subscription

However, there was always a catch:

  • No recent ABAP stack
  • License expirations and the hassle of re-licensing
  • High costs that would need management buy-in and business-cases
  • Geographic availability

Introduction of Individual Developer Licenses

There is good news! SAP has promised to come up with Individual Developer License that could put an end to many of the limitations of the previous licenses. These Individual Developer Licenses were planned to be available in either November or December this year.

During the Teched I learned about some excellent benefits:

  • Available world-wide
  • Contains a recent ABAP stack as well as a Java stack
  • License does not expire
  • Available for free

As with the previous license there are some caveats as well, but I can understand where they come from and aren’t as limiting as the previous issues. Rui Nogueira told me that they didn’t call it an “Individual Developer’s” license for nothing. They don’t want companies to run productive applications on it and also wouldn’t like to see ISVs to develop products on it. Not only would it cause legal issues in the area of liability, but there are other and better licenses available to fulfil that need. For my personal hacking and experimenting with SAP’s latest development environment, this license is a perfect fit though.

Wish-list

Although I might be too too late with my wish-list regarding this license, it may not hurt either:

  • Availability of both an ABAP and Java stack with CE. Inclusion of PI and BW would be a nice bonus.
  • Updated to the latest versions: 7.2 Java and 7.0.2 ABAP.
  • Links to SDN Code Exchange (maybe just Subclipse for Java, and a derivative of SAPLink for the ABAP development)
Update (14-1-2010): SAP has now officially announced the individual developer licenses. The official launch date is in Q1/2010. On top of that, they have also announced another license: the "NetWeaver License for Non Partners", which is very similar to the Developer license (now: developer pack), except that companies can be licensees. It is excellent for smaller non-partner companies that would like to commercially develop solutions that plug-in to SAP. The NetWeaver License for Non Partners will be launched at the end of Q1/2010.
More information on both new licenses can be found on:
Update (22-1-2010): SAP has released the individual developer license. If you download the developer releases, you will be prompted to accept the license. Please find the links to the developer releases below:

Jan Penninkhof  Active Contributor Bronze: 250-499 points SAP Mentor is a Netweaver architect at Phoqus B.V.

Comment on this articleEnthousiast about the new individual developer license or would you like to add more wishes to the wish list? Please do not hesitate to comment.
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  • Why are namespaces not included in license?
    2010-09-21 17:38:37 Guido Brune Business Card [Reply]

    Hello,


    I was looking at the license conditions.


    I would point the following:


    + ABAP namespace is not included
    I think it is very important to include Namespace into the license, because with namespace you are sure your development can be transfered to a any SAP machine in the world.


    + no productive use
    How will SAP ensure that software on Code exchange will not pick up by someone and used in productive enviroment?


    All the best,


    Guido

  • No BI for SAP Community Developer Edition?
    2010-01-15 00:08:27 Paul Thomson Business Card [Reply]

    Am I right that the SAP Community Developer Edition will not have BI (as this was included in the ABAP Trial version)?


    Also, why the geographically restrictions for the SAP NetWeaver Development Pack?

    • No BI for SAP Community Developer Edition?
      2010-01-15 06:23:02 Jan Penninkhof Business Card [Reply]

      That's what it certainly looks like. You would have to get the "NetWeaver License for Non Partners" to get your hands on BI.


      I believe the SAP Netweaver Developer Subscription was only rolled out in the US and Germany as a pilot. After that pilot, it just didn't get any follow-up until now.

  • When will this be available?
    2009-11-20 00:38:31 Paul Thomson Business Card [Reply]

    Can someone tell me when the software and keys will be available?
    • When will this be available?
      2010-01-14 05:03:56 Jan Penninkhof Business Card [Reply]

      There is now official news from SAP with regards to the availability dates. The individual developer license will be launched in Q1/2010. The NetWeaver License for Non Partners will be launched at the end of Q1/2010. More info on http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/shop?rid=/webcontent/uuid/50231945-230d-2b10-97a3-d275c52b9b0a
  • New blog category for "code exchange"
    2009-11-16 02:17:36 Rui Nogueira SAP Employee Business Card [Reply]

    Hi Jan, thanks for your feedback!
    In case you didn't notice: some days ago we've created a new blog category for code exchange. So you can assign your blog to that category, too.
    Cheers,
    Rui
  • Too good to be true
    2009-11-10 08:44:42 Ritin Jain Business Card [Reply]

    It's really unbelieveable.. But please update when licenses are available and from where we can get it. I really want to try the New Java & ABAP capabilities that I can't do in office
  • Wow - Some more good news
    2009-11-05 12:15:24 Michelle Crapo Business Card [Reply]

    I was just catching up reading blogs today. This is great news.


    I also read a good blog, that goes nicely with this one. It's about SDN code exchange. Another interesting concept for those of us who like to play with new "stuff".


    http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/weblogs?blog=/pub/wlg/16455

    • Wow - Some more good news
      2009-11-06 03:31:55 Jan Penninkhof Business Card [Reply]

      Yes, it definitely goes together very well. That's why integration with Code-exchange is very high on my wish-list.


      If you are interested in code-exchange, Michael Bechauf's blog is also a must read: http://weblogs.sdn.sap.com/pub/wlg/16469

  • For business solutions as well?
    2009-11-02 09:46:14 Carsten Kasper Business Card [Reply]

    Hi there,


    I would like to see those licences for business solutions as well. As it happens for me to be playing around with the shiny new WebClient of SAP.


    Given all the stuff on SDN you do not have the possibility to try out any stuff as the CRM_UI framework is never included.


    cheers Carsten

    • For business solutions as well?
      2009-11-03 04:58:22 Jan Penninkhof Business Card [Reply]

      Hi Carsten,


      The idea behind the individual developer licenses is that you have an platform to use for individual developement. The license will not include applications such as CRM (or SRM, ERP etc). In case you want to develop applications that make use of CRM functionality, it would probably be best to install your individual developer license (when it is available) and hook it up to web-services published by your CRM system.


      Besides, would you really want to install a full-fledged CRM or maybe even IDES system on your laptop or home computer?


      Cheers,
      Jan

Showing messages 1 through 20 of 20.