SAS/AF

The architecture of SAS/AF is centered around a client-server model, where the client is the GUI application built using the AF environment, and the server is the SAS System. The main components include the Application Window, which serves as the container for the user interface; various controls (text boxes, buttons, list boxes) that enable user interaction; and event handlers, which trigger SAS code execution in response to user actions. Communication between these components is managed through event triggers and macro variables.

Data storage relies on SAS datasets and external databases accessed through SAS data access methods. The system does not expose standard APIs like REST or SOAP. Instead, it uses a proprietary internal API for communication between the GUI elements and the SAS backend.

Network requirements include connectivity to the SAS server, typically using the SAS System's proprietary communication protocol. The system supports integration with SAS procedures and external data sources. Compared to competing products like Java-based GUI builders, SAS/AF offers tighter integration with the SAS environment but may have limitations in terms of platform support and advanced UI capabilities.