SAP Fiori Launchpad is the central entry point for SAP Fiori applications, providing a role-based, personalized, and responsive user experience. To enhance and tailor this experience further, SAP introduced Launchpad Plugins — a powerful way to extend and customize the SAP Fiori Launchpad’s behavior without modifying its core code.
This article explains what Launchpad Plugins are, their benefits, how they work, and best practices for developing and deploying them.
Launchpad Plugins are custom JavaScript modules that run inside the SAP Fiori Launchpad environment, allowing developers to inject additional functionality or UI components into the Launchpad shell. Unlike traditional extensions or modifications, plugins provide a supported and upgrade-friendly way to:
- Add custom buttons or menu items to the shell bar.
- Modify or enhance the shell’s behavior.
- Implement global event handlers.
- Integrate with external services or systems directly from the Launchpad.
- Create tailored notifications or personalized user features.
- Non-Intrusive Customization: Plugins do not alter the core Launchpad code, ensuring easier upgrades and maintenance.
- Modular Architecture: Each plugin is a self-contained module, simplifying development and testing.
- Access to Launchpad APIs: Plugins can interact with the Launchpad shell via published APIs, enabling powerful extensions.
- Flexible Deployment: Plugins can be deployed selectively per user group or system landscape.
- The Launchpad loads registered plugins asynchronously during startup.
- Each plugin is instantiated and initialized via a defined API.
- Plugins listen for Launchpad events or user interactions and react accordingly.
- Plugins can communicate with backend services or other UI components.
Plugins are registered in the SAP Fiori Launchpad configuration, typically via the SAP Cloud Platform Portal or SAP Gateway Admin tools. Registration includes specifying:
- Plugin module name and location (URL or resource path).
- Metadata such as version and description.
- Activation scope (all users, roles, or specific groups).
A typical Launchpad Plugin consists of:
- JavaScript module: Implements the plugin logic and lifecycle methods.
- Manifest.json: Declares plugin metadata and dependencies.
- UI fragments or controls: Optional UI components injected into the Launchpad shell.
- Configuration files: Define settings or parameters for plugin behavior.
- Use SAP Web IDE or SAP Business Application Studio.
- Create a new SAPUI5 project tailored for Launchpad Plugins.
init() — Initialization logic when the plugin loads.onBeforeRendering() / onAfterRendering() — Hooks for UI manipulation.exit() — Cleanup before plugin unloads.
- Access shell services such as navigation, notifications, and user information.
- Example: Adding a custom button to the shell header.
¶ Step 4: Package and Deploy
- Package the plugin as a deployable UI5 component.
- Register the plugin in the Launchpad configuration.
- Test the plugin in the intended SAP Fiori Launchpad environment.
- Keep Plugins Lightweight: Avoid heavy processing to maintain Launchpad performance.
- Follow SAP UX Guidelines: Ensure UI components blend seamlessly with standard Launchpad elements.
- Secure Your Plugin: Handle authentication and authorization appropriately.
- Error Handling: Gracefully handle errors to prevent disrupting the Launchpad.
- Document Thoroughly: Provide clear documentation for maintenance and upgrades.
- Use Version Control: Manage plugin versions to handle updates effectively.
- Adding a global search enhancement button.
- Integrating custom user notifications or alerts.
- Implementing additional navigation options or shortcuts.
- Connecting with third-party tools directly from the Launchpad.
- Tracking user interactions or analytics at the Launchpad level.
Launchpad Plugins provide a robust and supported mechanism to customize and extend the SAP Fiori Launchpad without risking upgradeability or core stability. By leveraging this modular approach, organizations can tailor the user experience to better fit their business needs while maintaining alignment with SAP’s standards.
For SAP Fiori developers and architects, mastering Launchpad Plugins opens new possibilities to innovate and optimize how users interact with their SAP environments.