Building pro-code applications

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated January 30, 2025
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of Building pro-code applications

    This content describes how ServiceNow customers can create and manage custom applications from scratch using classic pro-code tools, helping developers and administrators build tailored solutions on the ServiceNow AI Platform. It outlines multiple development environments and scripting options available for different expertise levels and project needs.

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    Development Tools and Environments

    • ServiceNow Studio: A unified and modern development environment to build scoped and global applications with integrated tools for metadata editing, packaging, and deployment. It accelerates app development with streamlined navigation and low-code features.
    • ServiceNow IDE: A Visual Studio Code for the Web implementation tailored for creating scoped applications using source code, JavaScript modules, and third-party libraries directly on the platform.
    • ServiceNow SDK: Supports local development in Visual Studio Code Desktop, enabling developers to build scoped applications offline and upload changes to a ServiceNow instance.
    • ServiceNow Extensions for Visual Studio Code: Facilitates offline editing and seamless integration with ServiceNow instances.

    Choosing the Right Builder

    • Creator Studio: Ideal for users seeking no-code solutions to build request-fulfillment applications with simple approval workflows.
    • App Engine Studio: Provides low-code capabilities for creating broader application types without deep programming knowledge.
    • ServiceNow Studio: Recommended for developers desiring more control within a centralized, feature-rich environment.
    • ServiceNow IDE and SDK: Best suited for developers wanting industry-standard coding tools and processes, including the use of ServiceNow Fluent language for metadata in code.

    Scripting and Automation

    • Scripting Action Designer: Use Workflow Studio to automate repeatable tasks as sequences within flows, enabling reuse across multiple flows with minimal configuration.
    • Client-side scripting: Allows execution of JavaScript in the browser triggered by client events such as form load or field changes.
    • Server-side scripting: Executes on the server or database to modify platform behavior or enforce business rules during record or table operations.
    • Now Assist for code generation: AI-powered code suggestions to accelerate script writing based on text or code prompts.
    • Now Code Editor: A rich-text editor supporting CSS, HTML, JavaScript, XML, and JSON for editing UI components, styles, scripts, and configurations in Next Experience UI Builder.

    Core Platform Features

    • Groups and Roles: Simplify user management and access control by assigning roles to groups, which automatically apply permissions and rules to all members.
    • Notifications: Manage system emails and notifications, including inbound email responses.
    • UI Policies: Dynamically control form behavior and custom process flows without scripting.
    • Users: Maintain user records with credentials and relevant personal information essential for platform access and personalization.
    • Plugins: Extend instance functionality with targeted software components.

    Related Applications and Features

    • JavaScript APIs: Leverage APIs within scripts to customize application functionality and build new apps.
    • UI Builder: Create web user interfaces for Customer Service Management workspaces, App Engine Studio-generated portals, and custom web experiences using Next Experience components.

    By understanding and utilizing these tools and features, ServiceNow customers can efficiently develop, customize, and automate applications tailored to their enterprise requirements, enhancing productivity and control over their ServiceNow environments.

    Create and manage custom applications from scratch using classic pro-code tools.

    ServiceNow Studio
    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.
    ServiceNow IDE
    ServiceNow IDE is an implementation of Visual Studio Code for the Web on the ServiceNow AI Platform. With the ServiceNow IDE, you can create and develop scoped applications in source code, create JavaScript modules, and use third-party libraries.
    ServiceNow SDK
    ServiceNow SDK enables developers to create scoped applications in source code locally in Visual Studio Code Desktop and upload changes to a ServiceNow instance. You can also use the ServiceNow SDK to create JavaScript modules and use third-party libraries.
    ServiceNow Extensions for Visual Studio Code

    The ServiceNow extensions for VS Code editor enables you to edit applications offline and within ServiceNow instances.

    Which builder should I use to create an app?

    Figure 1. Types of builders
    Different builders available for different skill levels

    Want to build an app easily, without code?

    Creator Studio specializes in helping you craft request-fulfillment applications without writing code. For example, an application to request office supplies by filling out a form, and someone approves or denies your request. For more information, see Exploring Creator Studio.

    Need a more general app but still want low-code options?

    App Engine Studio lets you build a broader range of apps than Creator Studio without being a programming pro. For more information, see Exploring App Engine Studio.

    Are you a developer who wants more control in a centralized user interface?

    Build apps smarter and deliver them faster with the new ServiceNow Studio. ServiceNow Studio empowers platform developers with a modern, unified environment for building on the ServiceNow AI Platform. ServiceNow Studio features streamlined navigation to applications and metadata, integrated low-code tools, efficient tracking and packaging of development work that accelerates development processes and enhances productivity. For more information, see Exploring ServiceNow Studio.

    Are you a developer who wants to use industry-standard development tools and processes?

    The ServiceNow IDE and ServiceNow SDK support developing applications in source code with ServiceNow Fluent, creating JavaScript modules, and using third-party libraries. ServiceNow Fluent is a domain-specific programming language for creating application metadata in code.

    The ServiceNow IDE is an implementation of Visual Studio Code for the Web on the ServiceNow AI Platform. The ServiceNow SDK uses Visual Studio Code Desktop locally. For more information, see Building applications in source code.

    Scripting

    Action Designer
    Use Workflow Studio to automate a repeatable task within a flow as a sequence of related steps. Enable flow authors to add actions to multiple flows with minimal configuration.
    Client-side scripting
    Client scripts enable the system to run JavaScript on the client (web browser) when client-based events occur, such as when a form loads, after form submission, or when a field changes value.
    Now Assist for code generation
    Now Assist for code generation allows developers to write scripts quickly with AI-generated code suggestions based on text or code prompts.
    Now Code Editor
    Now Code Editor provides a rich-text editor interface that supports Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), JavaScript, Extensible Markup Language (XML), and JavaScript Object Notation (JSON). Use Now Code Editor to modify UI configuration, data resource configuration, styles, events, client-side and server-side scripts in Next Experience UI Builder components.
    Server-side scripting
    Server scripts run on the server or database. They can change the appearance or behavior of the ServiceNow AI Platform or run as business rules when records and tables are accessed or modified.

    Core functionality

    Groups

    Simplify user administration by assigning roles to groups. Any business rules, assignment rules, system roles, or attributes that refer to the group apply to all group members automatically.

    Notifications
    Use ServiceNow Notifications to manage system email, create system notifications, and configure how your system responds to inbound email.
    Roles
    Roles control access to features and capabilities in applications and modules. The admin role provides access to all features and capabilities.
    ServiceNow plugins
    Plugins are software components that provide specific features and functionalities within a ServiceNow instance.
    UI policies
    UI policies dynamically change the behavior of information on a form and control custom process flows for tasks.
    Users
    User records establish a relationship between an individual and your ServiceNow instance. User records consist of a user name, a password, and information relating to the individual, such as contact information, location, and job title.

    Related applications and features

    JavaScript APIs
    Use JavaScript APIs in scripts that you write to change the functionality of applications, or when you create new applications.
    UI Builder
    Use UI Builder to build web user interfaces for CSM Configurable Workspace, App Engine Studio generated workspaces and portals, or custom web experiences using Next Experience Components and custom web components.