ABAP vs. C vs. OCaml vs. V Programming Language 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.

OCaml is a general-purpose, industrial-strength programming language with an emphasis on expressiveness and safety. OCaml’s powerful type system means more bugs are caught at compile time, and large, complex codebases are easier to maintain. This makes it a good language for running critical code. At the same time, sophisticated inference makes the type system unobtrusive, creating a smooth developer experience. One is a bytecode compiler which generates small, portable executables and is very fast. The other is a native code compiler that produces more efficient machine code; its performance matches the highest standards of modern compilers. OCaml has great support for the most popular editors. VS Code is recommended for beginners, and for power users there is deep integration with Vim and Emacs. OCaml has a rich and dynamic community and best-in-class tooling.