FIRST WE WILL DISCUSS WHAT IS UI5:
It is a JavaScript UI library consisting of a feature-rich core and a large number of UI controls which are organized in a handful of libraries.
By “feature-rich” I mean stuff like data binding and models for different data sources, an efficient engine for creating and updating the HTML of the controls, support for a Model-View-Controller concept, support for declarative UI construction and HTML templates, automatic loading of the appropriate language resources and many other features along these lines.
The controls range from simple Button controls to complex ones like the sap.m.SplitContainer (with a responsive master-detail behavior and animated page navigation) and provide support for accessibility, keyboard navigation, touch interaction, right-to-left languages etc. out of the box. Different visual themes are available and can be adapted by either modifying the CSS or using the Theme Designer.
SAP is using this UI library for business applications, where standards like security and supportability are crucial, so protection against cross-site scripting and other attacks and a powerful error analysis/inspection tool is integrated. And for sure SAP is investing a lot into automated and manual tests, from unit tests to screenshot comparisons.
UI5 is based on jQuery, which of course can be directly used in UI5 applications, but there’s a lot on top of it, so most of the time you might rather find yourself working with the controls.
Many other Open Source libraries are used in UI5 and come bundled with it, e.g. LESS, the famous CSS processor, or datajs, the OData library.
WHAT IS FIORI ?
Fiori focus mainly on mobility. One code line for all screen sizes.
SAP Fiori is a design system and user experience (UX) framework developed by SAP to provide a consistent and intuitive user interface across various SAP applications.
It focuses on delivering a role-based, consumer-grade user experience that can be accessed across different devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
Key Features of SAP Fiori:
1. Role-Based:
– Tailored to the needs of specific user roles, ensuring that users have access to the tools and information relevant to their tasks.
2. Responsive Design:
– Ensures that applications can be used on any device, adapting seamlessly to different screen sizes and orientations.
3. Simple and Intuitive:
– Emphasizes a clean and straightforward design, making applications easy to use and reducing the learning curve for users.
4. Consistent User Experience:
– Provides a uniform look and feel across all SAP applications, enhancing user productivity and satisfaction.
5. Integration with SAP S/4HANA:
– Designed to work seamlessly with SAP’s S/4HANA suite, providing a modern interface for accessing SAP business processes and data.
6. Customizable and Extensible:
– Allows businesses to tailor the Fiori apps to their specific needs and extend functionality as required.
7. Efficiency and Productivity:
– Streamlines common tasks and processes, reducing the time and effort required to complete business activities.
Components of SAP Fiori:
Fiori Apps:
Pre-built applications that cover a wide range of business processes, categorized into three types:
–Transactional Apps: Enable users to perform transactional tasks like creating purchase orders or managing time sheets.
–Analytical Apps: Provide insights and analytics to help users make informed decisions.
–Fact Sheet Apps: Allow users to view detailed information about key business objects.
SAP Fiori Launchpad:
– A role-based, personalized, and real-time aggregation point for accessing Fiori apps, providing a single entry point for users.
SAP Fiori Elements:
– Framework for developing consistent and high-quality enterprise applications based on predefined templates and patterns.
SAPUI5:
– The underlying technology for Fiori apps, providing the necessary libraries and tools for building and extending Fiori applications.
Benefits of SAP Fiori:
Enhanced User Satisfaction:
– By providing a modern, intuitive interface, Fiori increases user satisfaction and reduces frustration.
Improved Productivity:
– Streamlined workflows and role-based design help users complete tasks more efficiently.
Faster Adoption:
– Consistent design and ease of use reduce training time and accelerate user adoption.
Flexibility:
– Can be used across various devices, enabling a mobile workforce and supporting remote work scenarios.
Business Agility:
– Allows businesses to respond quickly to changes and evolving requirements through customizable and extensible applications.
In summary, SAP Fiori represents SAP’s commitment to delivering a superior user experience, transforming the way users interact with SAP software and enhancing overall business efficiency.
OPEN UI5 VS SAP UI5
“OpenUI5” is the free version available under the Apache 2.0 Open Source license.
“SAPUI5” is the version that may only be used by SAP customers with a certain kind of license. (It’s still free for them, but they have paid some other SAP product.)
The good news is: most importantly, the entire core of “OpenUI5” and “SAPUI5” (containing all central functionality) is identical. The most-commonly used control libraries, containing the vast majority of all existing controls, are identical. All of this can now be used for free, when using OpenUI5.
The difference is in some more exotic control libraries which have not (or not yet) been put under an Open Source license. There are several reasons, including legal issues, organizational clarifications (developed in different parts of SAP) – and after all SAP is still a company which has to pay its employees, so it may choose not to give everything away for free. You find the same pattern with other Open Source libraries and products.
But anyway, the majority of all things UI5, including all things which have been developed close to the core of it are free. And there are no paid extensions. There is no intention to make any money with UI5.
This was the technical perspective. Beyond that, there is a difference regarding support: for SAP customers with that certain sort of license the “commercial version” SAPUI5 comes with support agreements, so SAP guarantees bug fixing. These support guarantees are naturally not coming with the completely free Open Source version of UI5. But still, it is not a fork or so:OpenUI5 also gets the bug fixes done for SAPUI5. It’s the same thing, just a subset. A big one.
SAPUI5 VS FIORI
- UI5 and Fiori both are developed and owned by SAP.
- UI5 is library framework, where Fiori is a design concept.
- All Fiori applications are developed using UI5.
- All applications developed using UI5 are not Fiori applications.
- There are more than 750 standard Fiori applications in Fiori Library.
- Without Fiori guidelines, UI5 applications are called as custom UI5 application.
- In Fiori Application data is coming from Odata where in custom UI5 application data may be come from any web service. (XSJS, .Net web service , Odata , XSOdata etc).
CONCLUSION:
Fiori applications are the standard or custom applications which are strictly following Fiori guidelines and developed with UI5 framework. Hence there is only one difference i.e. applications which follows Fiori design guidelines are Fiori applications and applications which are not following guidelines are custom UI5 applications.