SAP BTP Kyma startup
Tags: sap, btp, kyma, beginners
Published: 2023-11-06 10:55:09

I have created that blog post to provide some guidelines for beginners from a beginner, how to start from right foot there.

## Set up your local environment

First steps, first. Install essentials required for building application and deploying to Kubernetes.

[Prerequisites @ github.com/SAP-samples/kyma-runtime-extension-samples](https://github.com/SAP-samples/kyma-runtime-extension-samples/blob/main/prerequisites/README.md).

## SAP Custom utility binaries

### Cloud MTA Build Tool - MBT

SAP build tool, which based on configuration in your project `mta.yaml` file will build multiple parts of your project. That includes Java, Node.js and SAP BTP specific implementations e.g. approuter. More details on [MBT page](https://sap.github.io/cloud-mta-build-tool/).

Yeah. Spent 1 day setting it up, and it was worthless, as it builds MTAR possible to deploy on Cloud Foundry only. 
Why I did that? Because I got information from one BTP Kyma lead dev, that is supported (2023). Well… not yet, and it doesn't look like it will work with Kyma at all. Just looking at their [github.com/cloud-mta-build-tool](https://github.com/SAP/cloud-mta-build-tool/) since 2022 tool development has stopped, and they're just bumping versions of dependencies.

A pity, as it could be really nice glue for all microservices which you will end up having in your project.

 🔴 **Skip that tool**.

### SAP BTP CLI

BTP CLI which that may help setting up environment and make that step automatic if you do that quite frequently. Otherwise it is just little help for a dev and can be described and done manually.

You can find out more about tool on [Get Started with the SAP BTP CLI](https://developers.sap.com/tutorials/cp-sapcp-getstarted.html) tutorial.

If you are going to build an application fully on Kyma, you may use that tool just for spinning up Kyma runtime. Steps are listed on [SAP Blog: Creating SAP BTP, Kyma runtime via the SAP BTP CLI](https://blogs.sap.com/2022/02/24/creating-sap-btp-kyma-runtime-via-the-sap-btp-cli/).

🟡 **You may skip that tool**.

### SAP CDS CLI

SAP CLI tool to initialize, add new features to your dev project. If you follow [CAP way](https://cap.cloud.sap/docs/get-started/in-a-nutshell) fully, it will simplify working with your project a lot, otherwise it just adds a little help, as your Node.js project will be initialized other way, e.g. by React framework, or other. Then you will build it as a docker container and push to your Kyma runtime.

🟢 **You can install it for CAP projects**.


## Set Up BTP Environment

In order to do that and understand what are the steps, it is worth going through 2021 TechEd session available on [github](https://github.com/SAP-samples/teched2021-DEV261) and link to [recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MwJQzRvijM).


## Do you want to use SAP BTP Services?

Well, I would say yes, if you are not to build just a Hello World application. [SAP Discovery Center](https://discovery-center.cloud.sap/serviceCatalog) contains a lot of services, which you can consume on your BTP environment.

Problem: [How to connect to a SAP BTP service from Kyma environment](https://answers.sap.com/questions/13974322/how-to-connect-to-a-sap-btp-service-from-kyma-envi.html)
Solution: [SAP BTP Manager](https://github.com/kyma-project/btp-manager)
SAP Blog Post: [Kyma's Transition to Modular Architecture](https://blogs.sap.com/2023/08/29/kymas-transition-to-modular-architecture/)