As part of our exciting SAP Build release, we’re happy to announce the release of Application Frontend service, a new SaaS application on SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) for hosting, serving and operating frontend applications.
Next Generation Solution for hosting frontend applications
Application Frontend serves as a single point of entry for hosting, serving and operating frontend applications. By consolidating all aspects of UI application management under one managed service, Application Frontend simplifies the development experience and enhances custom application operations.
Bridging the Gap Between Neo and Multi-Cloud
If you have been around SAP BTP for more than 10 years then, most likely, you have used the Neo environment. If you developed an HTML5 application in Neo, then you probably used the HTML5 Runtime. Many customers we met in the past years have reported that the snappy experience they had in Neo, when developing and operating HTML5 applications, was lost when moving to the multi-cloud environment, where the HTML5 Application Repository and the managed application router (approuter) are used.
This feedback was received, noted and motivated us to come up with a new solution for managing HTML5 applications. A solution that will bring back the simplicity and flexibility customers liked so much in the Neo environment. With Application Frontend, we aim to bring that experience into the multi-cloud environment.
The first capabilities Neo fans will find familiar are host-based routing, the versioning concept and a direct deployment option. Additional capabilities like extended control from the SAP BTP cockpit will be added in the future.
But don’t get me wrong, Application Frontend is not a replica of HTML5 Runtime in Neo. It is a multi-cloud service compatible with the multi-cloud development model. We use the same descriptors used in HTML5 Repository and application router, ensuring that developers don’t need to learn yet another paradigm.
Very high level architecture diagram
A New SaaS application
Application Frontend is a SaaS application which is not coupled to any specific SAP BTP runtime environment or other SAP BTP applications. You can find and subscribe to the service from the SAP BTP cockpit. Application Frontend is also equipped with a service broker to support interaction flows using service instances, for example when using MTA deploy in the CF environment.
While there is native support in the good old MTA concept for lifecycle management, Application Frontend also provides a command line interface (CLI) as a first-class tool for managing your applications. With the CLI, you can directly interact with the service and execute all actions supported by Application Frontend to enjoy fast response times and new integration opportunities.
Supported Use cases
At the moment, Application Frontend supports hosting of single tenant, stand-alone applications. (Stand-alone means applications that are not embedding other applications.)
In the future we will extend the supported use cases to cover more scenarios like applications dependencies, multi-tenancy, native SAP Build Work Zone integration, etc.
Application Frontend is perfect if you have a Build license and developing new HTML5 applications or migrating existing ones from Neo.
If the HTML5 Repository and application router are more suitable for your needs, please continue using them.
Application Frontend management UI in SAP BTP Cockpit
Next steps
Application Frontend service is starting its journey. We will continuously release additional features to support new scenarios and delight your experience.
In few weeks’ time, we will also make Application Frontend available in the SAP trial environment, so you can try it out more easily.
Note: Application Frontend will reside next to the HTML5 Repository, and the managed Application Router (approuter) hosted in SAP Build Work Zone. Both services will continue to be available, supported and developed as needed.
How to get started
SAP Build is available for subscription, more details in SAP Discovery Center
Once you purchased SAP Build, follow these steps for Application Frontend on-boarding.
As part of our exciting SAP Build release, we’re happy to announce the release of Application Frontend service, a new SaaS application on SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) for hosting, serving and operating frontend applications.Next Generation Solution for hosting frontend applicationsApplication Frontend serves as a single point of entry for hosting, serving and operating frontend applications. By consolidating all aspects of UI application management under one managed service, Application Frontend simplifies the development experience and enhances custom application operations.Bridging the Gap Between Neo and Multi-CloudIf you have been around SAP BTP for more than 10 years then, most likely, you have used the Neo environment. If you developed an HTML5 application in Neo, then you probably used the HTML5 Runtime. Many customers we met in the past years have reported that the snappy experience they had in Neo, when developing and operating HTML5 applications, was lost when moving to the multi-cloud environment, where the HTML5 Application Repository and the managed application router (approuter) are used.This feedback was received, noted and motivated us to come up with a new solution for managing HTML5 applications. A solution that will bring back the simplicity and flexibility customers liked so much in the Neo environment. With Application Frontend, we aim to bring that experience into the multi-cloud environment.The first capabilities Neo fans will find familiar are host-based routing, the versioning concept and a direct deployment option. Additional capabilities like extended control from the SAP BTP cockpit will be added in the future.But don’t get me wrong, Application Frontend is not a replica of HTML5 Runtime in Neo. It is a multi-cloud service compatible with the multi-cloud development model. We use the same descriptors used in HTML5 Repository and application router, ensuring that developers don’t need to learn yet another paradigm.Very high level architecture diagram A New SaaS applicationApplication Frontend is a SaaS application which is not coupled to any specific SAP BTP runtime environment or other SAP BTP applications. You can find and subscribe to the service from the SAP BTP cockpit. Application Frontend is also equipped with a service broker to support interaction flows using service instances, for example when using MTA deploy in the CF environment. While there is native support in the good old MTA concept for lifecycle management, Application Frontend also provides a command line interface (CLI) as a first-class tool for managing your applications. With the CLI, you can directly interact with the service and execute all actions supported by Application Frontend to enjoy fast response times and new integration opportunities. Supported Use casesAt the moment, Application Frontend supports hosting of single tenant, stand-alone applications. (Stand-alone means applications that are not embedding other applications.)In the future we will extend the supported use cases to cover more scenarios like applications dependencies, multi-tenancy, native SAP Build Work Zone integration, etc.Application Frontend is perfect if you have a Build license and developing new HTML5 applications or migrating existing ones from Neo.If the HTML5 Repository and application router are more suitable for your needs, please continue using them.Application Frontend management UI in SAP BTP Cockpit Next stepsApplication Frontend service is starting its journey. We will continuously release additional features to support new scenarios and delight your experience.In few weeks’ time, we will also make Application Frontend available in the SAP trial environment, so you can try it out more easily.Note: Application Frontend will reside next to the HTML5 Repository, and the managed Application Router (approuter) hosted in SAP Build Work Zone. Both services will continue to be available, supported and developed as needed. How to get startedSAP Build is available for subscription, more details in SAP Discovery CenterOnce you purchased SAP Build, follow these steps for Application Frontend on-boarding. Read More Technology Blogs by SAP articles
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