Sap API Style

SAP API Style Guide

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Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. When to Use This Skill
3. Quick Decision Tree
4. Core Principles
5. Quick Reference Tables
6. Templates Available
7. Reference Files
8. Instructions for Use
9. Common Pitfalls to Avoid
10. External Resources
11. Updates and Maintenance
12. Common Issues

Overview

This skill provides comprehensive guidance for documenting SAP APIs according to official SAP API Style Guide standards. It covers all major API types and documentation approaches used across the SAP ecosystem.

Documentation Source: https://github.com/SAP-docs/api-style-guide (76 files extracted)

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• Creating API documentation for REST, OData, Java, JavaScript, .NET, or C/C++ APIs
• Writing OpenAPI specifications for SAP API Business Hub
• Reviewing API names for SAP naming convention compliance
• Documenting API parameters, responses, operations with proper formatting
• Creating manual API documentation using SAP templates
• Writing documentation comments in source code (Javadoc, JSDoc, XML comments)
• Implementing API deprecation following SAP lifecycle policies
• Developing developer guides or service documentation
• Performing quality checks on API documentation
• Publishing APIs to SAP API Business Hub

Quick Decision Tree

What Type of API?

REST/OData API
├─ Auto-generated (OpenAPI/Swagger)?
│  └─ references/rest-odata-openapi-guide.md
│     • OpenAPI specification standards
│     • Package, API, operation descriptions
│     • Parameters, responses, components
│     • SAP API Business Hub requirements
│
└─ Manually written?
   └─ references/manual-templates-guide.md
      • REST templates (2-level: overview → method)
      • OData templates (3-level: service → resource → operation)
      • Complete field requirements
      • templates/ directory for ready-to-use files

Native Library API
├─ Java → references/java-javascript-dotnet-guide.md
├─ JavaScript → references/java-javascript-dotnet-guide.md
├─ .NET (C#) → references/java-javascript-dotnet-guide.md
└─ C/C++ → references/java-javascript-dotnet-guide.md
    • Documentation comments structure
    • Language-specific tags
    • Templates for classes, methods, enums
    • Complete code examples

What Task?

Naming
└─ references/naming-conventions.md
   • REST/OData naming (resources, parameters, URIs)
   • Native library naming (classes, methods, constants)
   • Common mistakes to avoid

Writing Descriptions
└─ references/rest-odata-openapi-guide.md
   • Package descriptions
   • API details (info object)
   • Operations, parameters, responses

Quality Assurance
└─ references/quality-processes.md
   • Complete API Quality Checklist
   • Review workflows
   • Development team guidelines

Deprecating APIs
└─ references/deprecation-policy.md
   • Lifecycle states (beta, active, deprecated, decommissioned)
   • Timeline requirements (12+ months support)
   • Required metadata (x-sap-stateInfo)

Developer Guides
└─ references/developer-guides.md
   • Structure guidelines
   • Content selection
   • Code sample standards

Core Principles

1. Consistency Across SAP APIs

All SAP API documentation follows consistent conventions:

• Naming: Language-specific (camelCase, PascalCase, kebab-case)
• Structure: Hierarchical with clear navigation
• Formatting: Sentences start with capitals, end with periods
• Language: American English

2. API-Type-Specific Standards

3. Progressive Disclosure

Documentation organized hierarchically:

• High-level overviews provide context and navigation
• Detailed references cover specific APIs, methods, operations
• Examples and templates demonstrate practical usage

4. Quality Standards

All documentation must:

• ✅ Be reviewed by User Assistance (UA) developers
• ✅ Use consistent naming and terminology
• ✅ Include complete parameter and response descriptions
• ✅ Avoid sensitive data in examples
• ✅ Provide working code examples
• ✅ Maintain accurate links and cross-references

Quick Reference Tables

Character Limits

API Naming Rules

General Rules (all API types):

• ❌ Don't include "API" in name: "Custom Forms API" → ✅ "Custom Forms"
• ❌ Don't include "SAP" prefix: "SAP Document Approval" → ✅ "Document Approval"
• ❌ Don't use verbs: "Configuring Portal" → ✅ "Portal Configuration"
• ✅ Capitalize words properly
• ✅ Avoid technical specifics (REST, OData, etc.)

See references/naming-conventions.md for complete language-specific rules.

Common Documentation Tags

Java/JavaScript:

• @param <name> <description> - Parameter documentation
• @return <description> - Return value
• @throws <class> <description> - Exception
• @deprecated <description> - Deprecation notice

.NET:

• <summary> - Brief description
• <param name=""> - Parameter
• <returns> - Return value
• <exception cref=""> - Exception

See references/java-javascript-dotnet-guide.md for complete tag reference.

API Lifecycle States

See references/deprecation-policy.md for complete timeline and process requirements.

Large Reference Search Routing

Search large references before loading them. Use rg -n "<resource|operation|parameter|description|template|deprecation|x-sap-stateInfo>" references/*.md to locate the exact rule, then open only the relevant excerpt.

• Use references/manual-templates-guide.md for manually written REST/OData documentation templates. Search for REST API Template, OData Operation Template, field requirements, method, or the resource name.
• Use references/rest-odata-openapi-guide.md for OpenAPI, OData, operation descriptions, responses, parameters, and SAP API Business Hub publication checks.
• Use references/naming-conventions.md for resource, operation, package, class, method, parameter, enum, and constant naming.
• Use references/java-javascript-dotnet-guide.md for Javadoc, JSDoc, XML doc comments, and native SDK documentation tags.
• Use references/deprecation-policy.md for lifecycle state, migration guidance, and x-sap-stateInfo.
• Use references/quality-processes.md for review checklists, gates, and documentation quality workflows.

Templates Available

Ready-to-use templates in templates/ directory:

REST API Templates (2-Level)

1. rest-api-overview-template.md - Resource-level overview
2. rest-api-method-template.md - Individual endpoint details

OData API Templates (3-Level)

1. odata-service-overview-template.md - Complete service overview
2. odata-resource-template.md - Individual resource/entity set
3. odata-operation-template.md - Specific operation details

All templates include:

• Clear "How to Use" instructions
• [Placeholder text] for customization
• Complete section structure
• Working examples
• Inline guidance

Reference Files

Complete Guides Available

1. rest-odata-openapi-guide.md (2,800 lines)

   • Complete OpenAPI specification guidelines
   • Package, API, operation descriptions
   • Parameters, responses, components
   • Security schemes, tags, external docs
   • Character limits and anti-patterns

2. manual-templates-guide.md (2,765 lines)

   • REST API templates (2-level hierarchy)
   • OData API templates (3-level hierarchy)
   • Complete template structures
   • Field-by-field requirements
   • Best practices and examples

3. naming-conventions.md (2,059 lines)

   • REST/OData naming rules (resources, parameters, URIs)
   • Native library naming (classes, methods, constants, packages)
   • Language-specific conventions
   • Common mistakes with fixes
   • Decision trees and reference tables

4. quality-processes.md (1,774 lines)

   • Complete API Quality Checklist
   • Review workflows (developer + UA collaboration)
   • Development team guidelines
   • Common review findings and solutions
   • Process flowcharts

5. java-javascript-dotnet-guide.md (1,517 lines)

   • Documentation comments structure
   • Language-specific tags (Java, JavaScript, .NET, C/C++)
   • Templates for classes, methods, enums
   • Complete code examples
   • Best practices by language

6. developer-guides.md (704 lines)

   • Guide structure standards
   • Topic types (concept, reference, task)
   • Content selection criteria
   • Code sample standards (compilable, concise, commented)
   • Best practices

7. deprecation-policy.md (664 lines)

   • API lifecycle states (beta, active, deprecated, decommissioned)
   • Timeline requirements (12+ months support, 24+ months lifespan)
   • Required metadata (x-sap-stateInfo, artifact.json)
   • Decommission process
   • Complete examples

8. glossary-resources.md (472 lines)

   • Complete terminology definitions (API, OData, OpenAPI, etc.)

   • External resource links (standards, tools, SAP resources)

   • Quick reference tables

   • Tool documentation links

   • Content extraction and organization tracking

   • Source file mapping from SAP documentation

   • Consolidation and adaptation notes