Paper 130

Simplifying SAS Viya: Explaining the Compute and CAS Servers, Caslibs, and In-Memory Data

September 23, 2025: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Foundational Coding Skills (FCS), Breakout Room #8

Authors	Abstract
Carleigh Jo Crabtree	SAS Viya is a modern, cloud-enabled analytics platform designed for high-speed processing and scalability. It’s often described with terms like in-memory and massively parallel processing—but what do these concepts really mean in practice, and how can SAS 9 programmers continue to leverage their existing skills in this new environment? This paper demystifies SAS Viya by breaking down the core capabilities of its two primary servers, explaining caslibs—what they are, how to use them, and how they compare to traditional SAS libraries—and demonstrating how to load data into memory for optimal performance. Helpful options and considerations when working with data on the CAS Server are also explored. Whether you’re new to Viya or transitioning from SAS 9, you’ll gain a clear, practical understanding of how to work effectively in this modern analytics platform.

Carleigh Jo Crabtree

SAS Viya is a modern, cloud-enabled analytics platform designed for high-speed processing and scalability. It’s often described with terms like in-memory and massively parallel processing—but what do these concepts really mean in practice, and how can SAS 9 programmers continue to leverage their existing skills in this new environment? This paper demystifies SAS Viya by breaking down the core capabilities of its two primary servers, explaining caslibs—what they are, how to use them, and how they compare to traditional SAS libraries—and demonstrating how to load data into memory for optimal performance. Helpful options and considerations when working with data on the CAS Server are also explored. Whether you’re new to Viya or transitioning from SAS 9, you’ll gain a clear, practical understanding of how to work effectively in this modern analytics platform.