As a developer, you’ve likely experienced the frustration of hunting through log files or wrestling with complex deployment procedures when you’d rather be focusing on writing code. The new CAP Console addresses these pain points. Built by developers for developers, this tool evolved from the Developer Dashboard for Java. It simplifies both deployment and monitoring of your SAP Cloud Application Programming Model (CAP) applications on SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), whether you’re working in Java or JavaScript.
This blog post will walk you through the key features of the CAP console, explaining how it streamlines deployment and monitoring, and why it’s a valuable addition to your development toolkit.
Getting Started with CAP Console
Setting up the CAP Console is straightforward. After downloading and installing it from SAP Tools, the console automatically scans your local processes to identify running CAP projects. Both JavaScript and Java projects are detected and listed on the start page, giving you immediate access to your active development work.
The console includes a “Remember Project” feature for projects you want to keep visible even when they’re not running. You can also manually add projects, which is particularly useful for projects that aren’t currently running or weren’t detected automatically.
A filter option allows you to customize your project view, letting you filter by process status (running or stopped) and save status (detected or saved). This helps keep your workspace organized, especially when working with multiple projects simultaneously.
To utilize the full functionality of the CAP console, you need to install the CAP console plugin in your CAP project. The plugin is available for JavaScript and Java. Find detailed information how to install the CAP console plugin here.
Guided Deployment
Deployment is often a complex part of the development lifecycle, but the CAP Console makes it straightforward by offering step-by-step guidance. Starting a deployment is as simple as clicking “Add Deployment” for your chosen project. From there, the tool guides you through each step of the deployment procedure.
The process begins with the SAP BTP authentication, followed by SAP BTP account selection. The console presents a list of global accounts and subaccounts you can access, making it easy to choose your deployment target. If SAP BTP, Cloud Foundry environment isn’t enabled in your selected subaccount, the tool helps you to enable it.
As a next step you have to select the Cloud Foundry space, where you want to deploy to. If this space is not existing, the tool creates it for you.
The wizard also reads your mta.yaml definition to identify required services and automatically checks resource availability in your accounts. In case of missing resources, you simply click “Assign Quota” and all necessary entitlements are added. In case an HDI container is defined in your mta.yaml file, the tool also checks whether the required SAP HANA Cloud instance exists. If it does not, the missing service instance can be created.
You have two deployment options:
Deploy within the CAP Console: This option eliminates the need for CLI tool installations. Click “Deploy in CAP Console” and watch the deployment progress with real-time log information. The logs are automatically saved for later analysis.Terminal Deployment: For developers, who prefer command-line control, the console provides automated Cloud Foundry CLI authentication and convenient copy buttons for copying deployment commands. You can paste these directly into your terminal without manual setup.
The console also supports default deployment target configuration, allowing you to set preferred global accounts, subaccounts, and spaces in your SAP BTP, Cloud Foundry environment that apply across all projects. These defaults can be overridden as needed during the deployment process.
Monitoring Made Simple
Once your application is deployed and you’re logged into the Cloud Foundry environment, the monitoring view provides a graphical overview of your project’s structure and services based on your MTA configuration. Each component displays its current state through colored status indicators, along with real-time performance metrics including CPU and memory usage. Click any component to access detailed information about it, along with metadata like creation dates and direct links to the SAP BTP cockpit.
The interface includes practical controls for application management (start, stop, or restart your Cloud Foundry applications) without leaving the console. Where possible, you’ll find direct links to corresponding sections in the SAP BTP cockpit. The console also provides information on the SAP BTP services defined in your project, such as the XSUAA service.
The integrated log viewer offers access to real-time logs with the ability to adjust log levels on the fly when using the CAP Console plugin. For Non-CAP applications and CAP applications without the plugin, Cloud Foundry logs are displayed instead. The log viewer includes convenient level switching – simply select your desired level and view filtered logs without requiring restarts or additional configuration.
Easy Environment Switching
Most projects involve multiple environments like development, testing, production. The CAP console makes it easy to switch between them. This even includes your local development environment, though some features (like SAP BTP services) aren’t available locally.
Environment configurations are git-friendly. They are stored in YAML files within the `.cds` folder, making them easy to share with your team. To remove an environment, simply delete its YAML file from the `.cds` folder.
Since the CAP Console doesn’t store credentials, only team members with appropriate access to a space in the SAP BTP, Cloud Foundry environment can connect to configured environments, maintaining security without additional credential management overhead
Even if the CAP console plugin isn’t installed in a particular environment, you can still connect – though with limited features (such as viewing logs or accessing the UI).
Security Considerations
The CAP Console prioritizes security through the following mechanisms:
Rather than managing separate credentials, it leverages your existing SAP BTP and SAP BTP, Cloud Foundry environment permissions. This means you can only access resources you already have permission to use.
For deployed environments, the console establishes a secure SSH tunnel to the application. This is used to communicate via a WebSocket connection with the CAP console plugin for Java or JavaScript running in your application. The console minimizes risk by automatically closing tunnels when connections end or access is revoked.
On Apple macOS, encrypted credential storage using the OS keychain provides convenient access without repeated logins. This functionality can be disabled in settings if preferred, and it’s not available on Microsoft Windows due to platform limitations.
Ready to Get Started?
The CAP Console is available for download from SAP Tools. Read the documentation and give it a try and see how much smoother your CAP development workflow can be! If you have any questions or want to share your experience with the CAP console, feel free to leave a comment.
Happy coding!
As a developer, you’ve likely experienced the frustration of hunting through log files or wrestling with complex deployment procedures when you’d rather be focusing on writing code. The new CAP Console addresses these pain points. Built by developers for developers, this tool evolved from the Developer Dashboard for Java. It simplifies both deployment and monitoring of your SAP Cloud Application Programming Model (CAP) applications on SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), whether you’re working in Java or JavaScript. This blog post will walk you through the key features of the CAP console, explaining how it streamlines deployment and monitoring, and why it’s a valuable addition to your development toolkit. Getting Started with CAP ConsoleSetting up the CAP Console is straightforward. After downloading and installing it from SAP Tools, the console automatically scans your local processes to identify running CAP projects. Both JavaScript and Java projects are detected and listed on the start page, giving you immediate access to your active development work.The console includes a “Remember Project” feature for projects you want to keep visible even when they’re not running. You can also manually add projects, which is particularly useful for projects that aren’t currently running or weren’t detected automatically.A filter option allows you to customize your project view, letting you filter by process status (running or stopped) and save status (detected or saved). This helps keep your workspace organized, especially when working with multiple projects simultaneously.To utilize the full functionality of the CAP console, you need to install the CAP console plugin in your CAP project. The plugin is available for JavaScript and Java. Find detailed information how to install the CAP console plugin here. Guided DeploymentDeployment is often a complex part of the development lifecycle, but the CAP Console makes it straightforward by offering step-by-step guidance. Starting a deployment is as simple as clicking “Add Deployment” for your chosen project. From there, the tool guides you through each step of the deployment procedure.The process begins with the SAP BTP authentication, followed by SAP BTP account selection. The console presents a list of global accounts and subaccounts you can access, making it easy to choose your deployment target. If SAP BTP, Cloud Foundry environment isn’t enabled in your selected subaccount, the tool helps you to enable it.As a next step you have to select the Cloud Foundry space, where you want to deploy to. If this space is not existing, the tool creates it for you.The wizard also reads your mta.yaml definition to identify required services and automatically checks resource availability in your accounts. In case of missing resources, you simply click “Assign Quota” and all necessary entitlements are added. In case an HDI container is defined in your mta.yaml file, the tool also checks whether the required SAP HANA Cloud instance exists. If it does not, the missing service instance can be created.You have two deployment options: Deploy within the CAP Console: This option eliminates the need for CLI tool installations. Click “Deploy in CAP Console” and watch the deployment progress with real-time log information. The logs are automatically saved for later analysis.Terminal Deployment: For developers, who prefer command-line control, the console provides automated Cloud Foundry CLI authentication and convenient copy buttons for copying deployment commands. You can paste these directly into your terminal without manual setup.The console also supports default deployment target configuration, allowing you to set preferred global accounts, subaccounts, and spaces in your SAP BTP, Cloud Foundry environment that apply across all projects. These defaults can be overridden as needed during the deployment process. Monitoring Made SimpleOnce your application is deployed and you’re logged into the Cloud Foundry environment, the monitoring view provides a graphical overview of your project’s structure and services based on your MTA configuration. Each component displays its current state through colored status indicators, along with real-time performance metrics including CPU and memory usage. Click any component to access detailed information about it, along with metadata like creation dates and direct links to the SAP BTP cockpit.The interface includes practical controls for application management (start, stop, or restart your Cloud Foundry applications) without leaving the console. Where possible, you’ll find direct links to corresponding sections in the SAP BTP cockpit. The console also provides information on the SAP BTP services defined in your project, such as the XSUAA service.The integrated log viewer offers access to real-time logs with the ability to adjust log levels on the fly when using the CAP Console plugin. For Non-CAP applications and CAP applications without the plugin, Cloud Foundry logs are displayed instead. The log viewer includes convenient level switching – simply select your desired level and view filtered logs without requiring restarts or additional configuration. Easy Environment SwitchingMost projects involve multiple environments like development, testing, production. The CAP console makes it easy to switch between them. This even includes your local development environment, though some features (like SAP BTP services) aren’t available locally.Environment configurations are git-friendly. They are stored in YAML files within the `.cds` folder, making them easy to share with your team. To remove an environment, simply delete its YAML file from the `.cds` folder.Since the CAP Console doesn’t store credentials, only team members with appropriate access to a space in the SAP BTP, Cloud Foundry environment can connect to configured environments, maintaining security without additional credential management overheadEven if the CAP console plugin isn’t installed in a particular environment, you can still connect – though with limited features (such as viewing logs or accessing the UI). Security ConsiderationsThe CAP Console prioritizes security through the following mechanisms: Rather than managing separate credentials, it leverages your existing SAP BTP and SAP BTP, Cloud Foundry environment permissions. This means you can only access resources you already have permission to use.For deployed environments, the console establishes a secure SSH tunnel to the application. This is used to communicate via a WebSocket connection with the CAP console plugin for Java or JavaScript running in your application. The console minimizes risk by automatically closing tunnels when connections end or access is revoked.On Apple macOS, encrypted credential storage using the OS keychain provides convenient access without repeated logins. This functionality can be disabled in settings if preferred, and it’s not available on Microsoft Windows due to platform limitations. Ready to Get Started?The CAP Console is available for download from SAP Tools. Read the documentation and give it a try and see how much smoother your CAP development workflow can be! If you have any questions or want to share your experience with the CAP console, feel free to leave a comment. Happy coding! Read More Technology Blog Posts by SAP articles
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