Avoid obsolete language elements

When upgrading your ABAP version, make sure to check for obsolete language elements and refrain from using them.

For example, the @-escaped “host” variables in the following statement make a little clearer what’s a program variable and what’s a column in the database,

SELECT *
  FROM spfli
  WHERE carrid = @carrid AND
        connid = @connid
  INTO TABLE @itab.

as compared to the obsolete unescaped form

SELECT *
  FROM spfli
  WHERE carrid = carrid AND
        connid = connid
  INTO TABLE itab.

Newer alternatives tend to improve readability of the code, and reduce design conflicts with modern programming paradigms, such that switching to them can automatically clean your code.

While continuing to work, obsolete elements may stop benefitting from optimizations in terms of processing speed and memory consumption.

With modern language elements, you can onboard young ABAPers easier, who may no longer be familiar with the outdated constructs because they are no longer taught in SAP’s trainings.

The SAP NetWeaver documentation contains a stable section that lists obsolete language elements, for example NW 7.50, NW 7.51, NW 7.52, NW 7.53, NW 7.54, NW 7.55, NW 7.56, NW 7.57.