--- sourceDocument: Australia Build or modify applications sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/application-development Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Build or modify applications ft:clusterId : - cadev bundleId : - cadev workflow : - Development, Data, and Analytics --- # Building low-code applications # Building low-code applications {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated March 12, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Building low-code applications ServiceNow offers a suite of tools designed to enable customers to create and manage custom applications with minimal coding. These low-code and no-code environments help streamline app development, automate workflows, and integrate data from various sources, empowering different user roles from business owners to platform developers to build effective solutions quickly. Show full answer Show less ## Key Tools and Their Uses * **ServiceNow Studio:** A unified development environment for building and managing scoped and global apps. It offers integrated tools for editing metadata, packaging, and deploying app changes. It supports both low-code and more traditional development workflows, including conversational Build Agent features. * **App Engine Studio:** Designed for citizen developers, this guided low-code environment helps build custom apps from scratch or templates, supporting a broader app range than Creator Studio without coding. * **Creator Studio:** Enables process owners and line of business users to create request-fulfillment apps without coding, ideal for simple use cases like office supply requests. * **ERP Semantic Mining:** Connects to ERP systems using Zero Copy Connector, allowing extraction of ERP data (e.g., sales orders, purchase documents) for use in low-code applications on the ServiceNow AI Platform. * **ServiceNow CLI:** Allows source code developers to manage applications via custom commands from the local command line, supporting source code development workflows. ## Choosing the Right App Builder Your choice depends on your role and technical background: * **Process Owners/Line of Business Owners:** Use Creator Studio for no-code, request-fulfillment apps. * **Citizen Developers:** Use App Engine Studio for a wider range of low-code apps or ServiceNow Studio for a unified environment with integrated tools. * **Source Code Developers:** Use ServiceNow IDE and SDK for source code development, leveraging ServiceNow Fluent programming language and Build Agent for conversational app creation. ## Related Applications and Features * **Decision Builder:** Create and manage decision tables for embedding business logic. * **Workflow Studio:** Automate processes and repetitive tasks to improve efficiency. * **Table Builder:** Visually design tables, forms, and flows through a unified interface. * **UI Builder:** Build web user interfaces for CRM Workspace, App Engine Studio workspaces, portals, or custom web experiences. * **Workspace Builder:** Quickly create custom workspaces from App Engine Studio. ## Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers By leveraging these tools, ServiceNow customers can accelerate application delivery, reduce dependency on traditional coding, and empower diverse teams to create tailored business solutions. Integration with ERP systems and AI-powered platforms further enhances data-driven app capabilities, while workflow and UI builders improve process automation and user experience. This comprehensive low-code ecosystem supports efficient development and deployment aligned with enterprise needs. Create and manage custom applications in a simple, low-code environment. [ServiceNow Studio](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6vj3PRLgkGcvK8LaWdEsoQ "Use ServiceNow Studio to build, configure, and deploy custom ServiceNow apps from a single development environment. ServiceNow Studio gives admins and developers integrated tools to create app files, edit scoped and global app metadata, and package changes for deployment.") : Use ServiceNow Studio to build apps and app files with integrated tools, access and edit metadata in scoped and global apps, and package app changes for deployment, all in one powerful development tool. [App Engine Studio](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/h8XxHHlHZ_33IOtVA6Hf2w "ServiceNow App Engine Studio (AES) is a guided, low-code tool for developing rich web applications to store information, automate business processes, and solve business problems. Work that was once assigned to administrators can now be delegated to employees with little to no training using AES.") : Use App Engine Studio for guided, low-code development to build a custom app from scratch or with a template. [Creator Studio](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/HKgYJ231ppNzAj~FZbiadg "Creator Studio is a no-code application builder on the ServiceNow AI Platform that lets non-developers create request-fulfillment apps without writing code. Use Creator Studio to build apps that manage employee requests, approvals, and fulfillments, such as equipment requests or travel approvals, directly on the ServiceNow AI Platform.") : Use Creator Studio to quickly create a request/fulfill app based on Service Catalog using helpful templates. [ERP Semantic Mining](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=erp-customization-mining-overview&version=australia&pubname=australia-integrate-applications&ft:locale=en-US) : Use Zero Copy Connector for ERP to connect to an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system, create an ERP model, and extract data from the ERP system, such as sales orders, data records, and purchase documents. You can then use the ERP data when building low-code apps on the ServiceNow AI Platform. [ServiceNow CLI](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/wK7rN4Vh1XlwV5uvZaO5DQ "The ServiceNow CLI is a command-line interface that lets you perform instance operations from your local system. You can extend the CLI to include new commands that meet your application's needs.") : ServiceNow CLI enables you to create custom commands to manage applications from your local system's command line. ## Which app builder should I use? {#building-low-code-applications-with-app-engine__id_jrp_lf3_s3c} Use the following table to choose the app building experience that matches your role and technical background. {#building-low-code-applications-with-app-engine__app-builders-table__entry__3} | Tool | Users | Features | |-|-|-| | Creator Studio: Build an app without code. | Process owners, line of business owners | Build request-fulfillment apps without writing code. For example, create an application to request office supplies: a user fills out a form, and an approver accepts or denies the request. For more information, see [Exploring Creator Studio](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/9ZdqTn_eJz8jrTrlJb5Z0w "Creator Studio makes creating apps easier by dividing their creation into simple steps. In this section, we'll explain each one."). | | App Engine Studio: Build a range of apps using low-code tools. | Citizen developers | Build a broader range of apps than Creator Studio without writing code. For more information, see [Exploring App Engine Studio](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/F7_q8_62smdT3_7KYX_YfA "Learn how you can use the low-code app development tool, App Engine Studio (AES), to build powerful applications using guided setup, predefined templates, and workflows."). | | ServiceNow Studio: Build and deliver apps in a unified environment. | Citizen developers, Platform developers | Build apps in a unified development environment. ServiceNow Studio provides streamlined navigation, integrated low-code tools, and built-in tracking and packaging so you can develop and ship apps faster. Use Build Agent in ServiceNow Studio to create and update apps with a conversational interaction. For more information, see [Exploring ServiceNow Studio](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/5vacmk3x3_kqCU_WE7R3gw "ServiceNow Studio is a unified development environment where platform developers create, modify, and deploy apps. Use ServiceNow Studio to manage app files, edit metadata, and package changes for deployment without switching between tools.") and [Build Agent in ServiceNow Studio](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/A6Pjtl7DojwPwbxEzjKM7A "Use Build Agent, an autonomous AI agent, to create and update applications in ServiceNow Studio through conversational interaction."). | | ServiceNow IDE and ServiceNow SDK: Build apps in source code. | Source code developers | Develop applications in source code with ServiceNow Fluent, create JavaScript modules, and use third-party libraries. ServiceNow Fluent is a domain-specific programming language for creating application metadata in code. Use Build Agent in ServiceNow IDE to create and update apps in source code with a conversational interaction. The ServiceNow IDE runs Visual Studio Code for the Web on the ServiceNow AI Platform. The ServiceNow SDK runs Visual Studio Code Desktop locally. For more information, see [Building applications in source code](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ctrNTXJvQ5Ygxu7d2YraWA "Create and develop custom applications in source code using familiar development tools and processes."). | [Table 1. App builders] {#building-low-code-applications-with-app-engine__app-builders-table} ## Related applications and features {#building-low-code-applications-with-app-engine__section_x2x_jjq_rvb} [Exploring decision tables](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=decision-designer-overview&version=australia&pubname=australia-build-workflows&ft:locale=en-US) : Use Decision Builder to create and manage decision tables. Embed business logic into a series of if-then decision rules. [ServiceNow Studio](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6vj3PRLgkGcvK8LaWdEsoQ "Use ServiceNow Studio to build, configure, and deploy custom ServiceNow apps from a single development environment. ServiceNow Studio gives admins and developers integrated tools to create app files, edit scoped and global app metadata, and package changes for deployment.") : ServiceNow Studio gives developers access to app development builders and tools, all in one place. [Flows in Workflow Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=exploring-flows&version=australia&pubname=australia-build-workflows&ft:locale=en-US) : Workflow Studio automates processes and repetitive work to improve efficiency and experience. [Table Builder](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/v4uNU4QY5xwLMvluQYYNaw "Table Builder enables you to create, design, and administer tables and forms visually from a single user interface.") : Use Table Builder to design tables, forms, and flows visually using a single user interface. [UI Builder](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/eEkHP5JM3Z7MG7voCBC~XA "UI Builder is a web user interface builder. Use UI Builder to build pages for App Engine Studio generated workspaces or custom web experiences using Next Experience Components and custom web components.") : Use UI Builder to build web user interfaces for CRM Workspace, App Engine Studio generated workspaces and portals, or custom web experiences using Next Experience Components and custom web components. [Workflow Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=workflow-studio&version=australia&pubname=australia-build-workflows&ft:locale=en-US) : Integrate workflow authoring, configuring, and monitoring into a single page experience. [Workspace Builder](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/8_AXbnamKlE9zrb6ZblWTA "Create a workspace in Workspace Builder before customizing its settings, home page, record pages, lists, and analytics.") : Workspace Builder for App Engine enables you to create a custom workspace from App Engine Studio (AES) quickly and efficiently.