My 2025 - Impressions from the year

The seventh year of Software-Heroes is now drawing to a close. It felt even busier than previous years. Therefore, I'd like to pause briefly and look back at the various events of the year.

Personal

For me, the year was packed with events and preparations for them. In the middle of the year, I was practically only at presentations and in meetings to discuss the next event, its organization, or its content. Consequently, my schedule was full and sometimes stressful. In addition, I was able to gain a lot of new experience in ABAP development. I intensively tested and experimented with the IDE actions and obtained some usable results. I've been working on the workflow in Process Automation and built an integration with the ABAP Environment. There will certainly be more insights and articles about this next year. Internally, we've taken the first steps with the Work Zone and the Task Center, key components for the future.

And then there was YouTube. If you look at the channel, it was founded on January 10, 2024. Since then, there's been the intention to create video content; I think the YouTube microphone has been sitting under the table for just as long. In April and May, I delved a bit deeper into the software and technology, how videos are actually made these days, and which programs are recommended by YouTubers. Since we're already wrapping up the year with episode 30, it was actually a good start. The idea of Recycling-Heroes as a company and data model will therefore be with us for a while.

I'm often asked where I find the time to create so much content and interact with the community. Basically, it takes up a lot of my free time. While others are partying and going on vacation, I'm thinking about content and topics and already planning the next article. But not because I have to, because it interests me, is fun, and enriches me personally.

Events

Actually, last year I had planned to give fewer presentations and only attend events as a visitor. Unfortunately, I didn't quite manage that, and so quite a few events and formats have accumulated. Here you will find the various events in chronological order.

• DSAG Future Days - The Future Days focused primarily on upskilling and how we can get developers from the "old" world into the cloud and S/4HANA. In my presentation, I showed how REWE digital is addressing this topic internally and helping developers transition to the new world.
• DSAG Technology Days - At the Technology Days, I was able to take things a bit easier and, as deputy speaker, also moderated the presentations.
• DSAG TechXchange - The second TechXchange of DSAG and the SAP TechEd On-Tour was characterized primarily by hands-on sessions, about which I have already commented in my personal review. Next year I hope for plenty of variety again.
• ABAP Development Days - The DSAG (German-speaking SAP User Group) had quite a bit to organize for the event again. This time there was no customer presentation from me, but there was another ABAP quiz with several tasks to solve.
• ABAPConf - I then went back to Mannheim for ABAPConf. Two days full of impressions about ABAP development and plenty of exchange with colleagues. I spoke about XCO, as in my opinion it hasn't yet received the attention and widespread use one would expect from such a central framework. Perhaps also because it's not so easy to learn and understand at first.
• We love Output - On the Softway podcast, I had the opportunity to look back on ABAPConf with Frank, talk about blogging and current challenges, and of course, the SAP community. The podcast is only available in German, however.
• BTP Summit @ Bosch - A whole week of presentations and content on the latest topics? That's also available at Bosch, one of SAP's major customers. I spoke there about ABAP Cloud and REWE digital's journey to Clean Core. An exciting journey, many facets, and several years of work lie behind it.
• DSAG Annual Congress - In Bremen, the SAP booth focused on the topic of Clean Core and how we at REWE digital are driving this issue. On the last day, we went on stage again with Sebastian and we reported from a partner and customer perspective on how we are advancing upskilling within the company and how important this topic is.

• Platform & Data Expert Series - In a new SAP format, the topic of Clean Core was once again discussed. The main focus was on how we at REWE digital use BTP to implement side-by-side development and Clean Core. I presented the onboarding workflow for developers and discussed some details of the Clean Core journey.
• SIT Munich - At the SAP Inside Track of the SAP Community in Munich (sitMUC), I had the opportunity to speak about IDE Actions. How can you use IDE Actions in your S/4HANA 2025 system, how can you develop them, and what benefits do they offer?
• Devtoberfest - After sitMUC, the discussion about IDE Actions continued at Devtoberfest. I largely repeated the first part of the content, but then presented the new actions for the RAP Analyzer and the Extension Assistant, which I had been working on for the past few weeks.
• SAP Build Engagement Days - In Munich, the focus was on insights into the future of SAP Build Tools. At the Engagement Days, customers and partners can provide feedback on how the current tools are working and gain insights into future developments. Here I shared our experiences in the area of process automation, what went well and where there is still potential for improvement.

• SAP TechEd - As a community speaker, I spoke in Berlin about open source and how it can help others get a better start in this new world. I also wanted to motivate the community to start their own projects or to collaborate on existing ones.
• SAPfluencer Award - This year, the first SAPfluencer Award was up for grabs in Bielefeld. I was among the final 5 in the "Technology & Innovation" category and had the opportunity to give a TED Talk. I spoke about "Homo SAPdevelopus" and its challenges in the new world.

• SAP Stammtisch Magdeburg - At my first virtual Stammtisch, many familiar faces from the SAP community were present, and we discussed the topic of "Developing the Future." We touched upon various exciting topics and areas. I spoke a bit about the history of Software Heroes and how the platform has evolved over the past few years.

SAP Community

At the beginning of the year, I officially joined the SAP Community as an SAP Mentor. Many in the developer community aren't familiar with the programs in detail; you often hear that in conversations. I have to honestly admit that I wasn't entirely up to speed before either. Therefore, we should talk about the community programs and opportunities in the near future. As a mentor, you primarily provide feedback to SAP and get to see things that aren't yet public. Therefore, our work often takes place behind the scenes. Throughout the year, there are many virtual meetings where we discuss SAP topics. The highlight for me this year was d-com, where I was able to see, for example, the VS Code prototype that was then announced and shown for the first time at SAP TechEd.

Within the SAP community, I founded a new local user group for Düsseldorf and Cologne. This year, the focus was primarily on the regular SAP Meetups and building the community. Next year, events are planned, such as an SAP Inside Track together with colleagues from Dortmund, a Code Jam, and the Clean Core Night. More information will be available next year when we go into more detail.

Closing

While you're reading this, I'm already winding down for the end of the year and taking a hopefully well-deserved break. The last piece of content is written, the Christmas season is calling, and I'm already slowly starting to think about next year. If you've made it this far, then thank you for your support and assistance with the blog.