Set Up ABAP Cloud Development Environment: Complete Setup Guide 2026

Category
Setup
Published
Author
Johannes

Ready to code? This guide sets up your complete ABAP Cloud development environment - from zero to your first “Hello World”.

Estimated time: 45-60 minutes

What You Need

  • Computer: Windows, macOS, or Linux
  • RAM: Minimum 8 GB (16 GB recommended)
  • Hard Drive: 5 GB free
  • Internet: Stable connection
  • SAP Account: Free (Instructions)

Step 1: Install Java (10 Min)

ADT (ABAP Development Tools) is based on Eclipse and requires Java.

1.1 Check Java Version

Windows:

Terminal window
java -version

macOS/Linux:

Terminal window
java -version

Required: Java 17 or higher

If not installed: Continue with 1.2

1.2 Download Java

Option A: OpenJDK (recommended)

  1. Go to adoptium.net
  2. Select Temurin 17 (LTS)
  3. Download for your OS
  4. Install

Option B: Oracle JDK

  1. Go to oracle.com/java
  2. Download Java 17
  3. Install

1.3 Set JAVA_HOME

Windows:

  1. Control Panel → System → Advanced System Settings
  2. Environment Variables
  3. New: JAVA_HOME = C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-17
  4. Edit Path, add: %JAVA_HOME%\bin

macOS/Linux:

Terminal window
# In ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc
export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/temurin-17.jdk/Contents/Home
export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

Test:

Terminal window
java -version
# Should show: openjdk version "17.x.x"

Step 2: Install Eclipse (10 Min)

2.1 Download Eclipse

  1. Go to eclipse.org/downloads
  2. Download Eclipse IDE for Java Developers
  3. Version: 2024-12 or newer

2.2 Install Eclipse

Windows:

  • Run the installer
  • Choose installation folder (e.g., C:\eclipse)
  • Launch

macOS:

  • Open DMG
  • Drag Eclipse.app to Applications
  • Launch (adjust security settings if needed)

Linux:

Terminal window
tar -xzf eclipse-*.tar.gz
cd eclipse
./eclipse

2.3 Choose Workspace

On first launch:

  • Workspace: C:\abap-workspace (Windows) or ~/abap-workspace (Mac/Linux)
  • Enable “Use this as default”
  • Launch

Step 3: Install ABAP Development Tools (ADT) (15 Min)

3.1 Open ADT Install Site

In Eclipse:

  1. Help → Install New Software
  2. Click Add
  3. Name: ADT
  4. Location: https://tools.hana.ondemand.com/latest
  5. Add

3.2 Select ADT

  1. List loads…

  2. Expand ABAP Development Tools

  3. Select all components:

    • ABAP Development Tools
    • ABAP Development Tools for ABAP Platform
    • ABAP Development Tools for SAP BTP
    • ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model Tools
    • ABAP Search and Analysis Tools

  4. Next → Next

  5. Accept license → Finish

3.3 Wait for Installation

  • Download: ~300 MB
  • Duration: 5-10 min
  • On security warning: Install anyway

3.4 Restart Eclipse

Important: Restart Eclipse after installation!

Step 4: Create SAP BTP Trial Account (10 Min)

If you don’t have one yet: SAP BTP Trial Account Guide

Quick version:

  1. Go to sap.com/products/technology-platform/trial
  2. Click “Start your free trial”
  3. Login with SAP account
  4. Verify phone number
  5. Region: Select US East (VA)
  6. Create account (5-10 min)

Activate ABAP Trial:

  1. Open Trial Subaccount
  2. Service Marketplace → ABAP Trial
  3. Click Create
  4. Wait (~10 min)

Step 5: Create ABAP Project in ADT (5 Min)

5.1 Open ABAP Perspective

In Eclipse:

  1. Window → Perspective → Open Perspective → Other
  2. Select ABAP
  3. Open

5.2 Create System Connection

  1. File → New → ABAP Cloud Project

  2. System Connection:

    • Select Service Instance
    • Cloud Foundry Environment
    • Region: US East
    • Login with SAP account
    • Select Space & Instance

  3. Next

5.3 Enter Logon Data

  • User: Your SAP email
  • Password: SAP account password
  • Finish

Result: ABAP Project appears in Project Explorer!

Step 6: First “Hello World” (5 Min)

6.1 Create Package

  1. Right-click on $TMP (or ZLOCAL)
  2. New → ABAP Package
  3. Name: ZHELLO
  4. Description: Hello World Package
  5. Next → Finish

6.2 Create ABAP Class

  1. Right-click on ZHELLO
  2. New → ABAP Class
  3. Name: ZCL_HELLO_WORLD
  4. Description: Hello World Class
  5. Next → Finish

6.3 Write Code

CLASS zcl_hello_world DEFINITION PUBLIC FINAL CREATE PUBLIC.
  PUBLIC SECTION.
    INTERFACES if_oo_adt_classrun.
ENDCLASS.


CLASS zcl_hello_world IMPLEMENTATION.
  METHOD if_oo_adt_classrun~main.
    out->write( 'Hello ABAP Cloud!' ).
    out->write( |System Date: { cl_abap_context_info=>get_system_date( ) }| ).
  ENDMETHOD.
ENDCLASS.

6.4 Activate & Run

  1. Save: Ctrl+S
  2. Activate: Ctrl+F3
  3. Run: F9 (or Right-click → Run As → ABAP Application)

Result in Console:

Hello ABAP Cloud!
System Date: 2026-02-15

Congratulations! Your first ABAP Cloud program is running!

Step 7: Configure ADT (10 Min)

7.1 Change Theme (Optional)

Dark Theme:

  1. Window → Preferences
  2. General → Appearance
  3. Theme: Dark
  4. Apply and Close

7.2 Adjust Font Size

  1. Window → Preferences
  2. General → Appearance → Colors and Fonts
  3. Basic → Text Font → Edit
  4. Size: 12-14pt
  5. Apply

7.3 Enable Auto-Save

  1. Window → Preferences
  2. General → Editors → Autosave
  3. Enable Enable autosave
  4. Interval: 30 seconds

7.4 Code Templates

  1. Window → Preferences
  2. ABAP Development → Editors → Source Code Editors → Code Templates

Important Templates:

  • method → Method template
  • trycatch → Try-Catch block
  • loop → LOOP AT template

Step 8: Install Useful Plugins (10 Min)

8.1 abapGit

Git integration for ABAP:

  1. Help → Install New Software
  2. Add: https://eclipse.abapgit.org/updatesite/
  3. Select abapGit
  4. Finish

8.2 ABAP Cleaner

Code formatter:

  1. Help → Install New Software
  2. Add: https://eclipse.abap-cleaner.org/updatesite/
  3. Select ABAP Cleaner
  4. Finish

Usage:

  • Ctrl+4 → Formats current file

8.3 ABAP Quick Fix

Already included in ADT!

Usage:

  • Ctrl+1 → Quick Fix suggestions

Step 9: Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Ctrl+SpaceCode Completion
Ctrl+SSave
Ctrl+F3Activate
F9Run As ABAP Application
F8Debug (Resume)
F5Debug (Step Into)
F6Debug (Step Over)
Ctrl+Shift+FFormat
Ctrl+Shift+ASearch Object
Ctrl+Shift+GWhere-Used
Ctrl+Shift+TType Hierarchy
Ctrl+1Quick Fix
Ctrl+4ABAP Cleaner
Alt+← / Alt+→Navigation back/forward

PDF Cheat Sheet: Eclipse Shortcuts

Step 10: First Steps After Setup

Next Tutorials

  1. RAP Tutorial Part 1
  2. ABAP Cloud Cheat Sheet
  3. CDS Views Deep Dive

Join the Community

Further Learning

Troubleshooting

Problem: “Could not connect to system”

Solution:

  • Check SAP BTP Account status
  • Is Trial still active? (90 days)
  • Check internet connection
  • Proxy settings in Eclipse

Problem: “Java version not supported”

Solution:

  • Install Java 17+
  • Set JAVA_HOME correctly
  • Restart Eclipse

Problem: ADT not visible

Solution:

  • Window → Perspective → Open Perspective → ABAP
  • Restart Eclipse
  • Reinstall ADT

Problem: Slow Performance

Solution:

  • Give Eclipse more RAM:
    • Edit eclipse.ini
    • Increase -Xmx2048m to -Xmx4096m

Setup Checklist

  • Java 17+ installed
  • Eclipse IDE installed
  • ADT plugin installed
  • SAP BTP Trial Account created
  • ABAP Trial activated
  • ABAP Cloud Project created
  • “Hello World” successful
  • abapGit installed (optional)
  • ABAP Cleaner installed (optional)
  • Shortcuts learned

Everything checked? You’re ready for ABAP Cloud Development!

See also:

Happy Coding!