ABAP vs. BoxLang vs. Common Lisp vs. Java Comparison Chart

ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) is SAP’s proprietary fourth‑generation programming language, purpose‑built for mass data processing in SAP business applications. Utilized within SAP NetWeaver, it enables companies running SAP ERP and S/4 HANA to tailor systems precisely to their needs. ABAP is a multi‑paradigm language that supports procedural, object‑oriented, and other programming styles. It can seamlessly interoperate with languages such as Java, JavaScript, and SAPUI5. ABAP embraced object orientation with release 4.6C (2000) and saw even greater efficiency gains in ABAP 7.4/7.5, cutting code length by up to 50% via richer syntax, enhanced Open SQL, ABAP Managed Database Procedures, and Core Data Services (CDS) Views. The arrival of SAP HANA in 2011 shifted much processing into the in‑memory database layer, enabling real‑time operations and unlocking powerful new programming possibilities.

Common Lisp is the modern, multi-paradigm, high-performance, compiled, ANSI-standardized, most prominent (along with Scheme) descendant of the long-running family of Lisp programming languages. Common Lisp is known for being extremely flexible, having excellent support for object oriented programming, and fast prototyping capabilities. It also sports an extremely powerful macro system that allows you to tailor the language to your application, and a flexible run-time environment that allows modification and debugging of running applications (excellent for server-side development and long-running critical software). It is a multi-paradigm programming language that allows you to choose the approach and paradigm according to your application domain.