01 What happened
On October 27, 2026, AWS describes spec-driven development (SDD) for SAP ABAP using the AWS Coding Plugin for SAP ABAP in a blog post. The approach puts a specification at the center of AI-generated code, with three SDD levels (spec-first, spec-anchored, spec-as-source) and a three-phase AI-DLC lifecycle (Inception, Construction, Operations). The plugin is free but requires a Kiro CLI subscription, starting at a free tier of 50 credits and paid plans from $20 to $200 per month.
02 Key details
- Spec-driven development for ABAP uses three Markdown files (requirements, design, tasks) as the spec before code generation, ensuring decisions are documented.
- Steering files capture team-wide standards such as naming conventions and approved libraries, loaded automatically at session start.
- AI-DLC phases: Inception (spec approval before coding), Construction (code generation with ATC and unit tests), Operations (transport to production).
- Plugin free, but Kiro CLI subscription required: free tier of 50 credits, Pro $20/month, Power $200/month.
03 Why it matters
Spec-driven development addresses documentation and context-loss issues of vibe coding in ABAP, providing a reproducible, auditable workflow for new development and modernization.
04 Who it matters to
ABAP developers, solution architects and technical leaders.
Original source