CAL (programming language)
CAL, short for Component Assembly Language, is a proprietary programming language developed by SAP. It is primarily used within the SAP NetWeaver Business Rules Management (BRM) component of the SAP NetWeaver platform. CAL is designed for creating and managing business rules, allowing organizations to automate decision-making processes based on predefined conditions and actions.
CAL is a high-level, declarative language, focusing on what needs to be done rather than how it should be done. This contrasts with imperative programming languages that emphasize step-by-step instructions. The language allows business users, in conjunction with IT professionals, to model and deploy complex business logic without requiring extensive coding expertise in languages like ABAP or Java.
Key features of CAL include:
- Rule Definition: CAL facilitates the creation of rules based on conditions and actions. Conditions specify when a rule should be executed, while actions define the tasks to be performed when the condition is met.
- Decision Tables: CAL supports the use of decision tables, which are tabular representations of rules that can simplify the management of complex rule sets.
- Integration with SAP Systems: CAL integrates seamlessly with other components of the SAP NetWeaver platform, enabling access to data and functionality from various SAP systems.
- Versioning and Governance: CAL provides features for managing different versions of rules and implementing governance policies to ensure consistency and compliance.
- Deployment and Execution: Rules defined in CAL can be deployed and executed within the SAP NetWeaver BRM environment, allowing them to be triggered by events or called from other applications.
While CAL offers a powerful tool for business rule management within SAP environments, it is not a general-purpose programming language and is specifically tailored to the SAP ecosystem. Its usage is largely confined to organizations using SAP NetWeaver BRM for automating their business processes.