Building spokes using Spoke Generator
Summarize
Summary of Building spokes using Spoke Generator
ServiceNow’s Spoke Generator app enables customers to automate integrations by creating custom spokes—sequences of reusable actions that connect to third-party applications. These spokes simplify the integration process without requiring scripting, accelerating development of inbound and outbound integrations. Spoke Generator requires an Integration Hub subscription and is available on the ServiceNow Store.
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Key Features
- Spoke Creation Methods: Build spokes by importing OpenAPI Specifications or Postman collections, inputting API documentation snippets via Now Assist, or manually creating spokes and actions.
- Reusable Actions: Generate and add multiple reusable actions within a spoke to automate integration tasks effectively.
- OpenAPI Specification Support: Supports importing specifications up to 10 MB by default (configurable to 100 MB) with a limit of up to 500 API operations (configurable up to 1000).
- Role-Based Access: Administrators can create and publish spokes and actions, import APIs, and manage connection aliases. Users with specific roles can view or add actions depending on permissions.
- App Dependencies: Requires the ServiceNow IntegrationHub Professional Pack Installer plugin; some features may require additional licenses if used beyond spoke implementation.
Important Considerations
- OpenAPI step in spoke actions has limitations: only JSON media types are supported in request bodies, and certain OpenAPI 3.0 components (e.g., discriminator, callback, security schemes) are not supported.
- Be aware of size and operation limits when importing OpenAPI Specifications, configurable via system properties.
- Spoke Generator version 4.1.4 is the latest release, ensuring up-to-date functionality and fixes.
Benefits for ServiceNow Customers
By using Spoke Generator, customers can rapidly build and manage custom integrations with third-party APIs, reducing manual effort and scripting needs. This streamlines workflow automation and extends the capabilities of Integration Hub, helping teams quickly connect disparate systems and improve operational efficiency.
Automate integration tasks by creating a sequence of reusable actions to develop custom integrations called spokes.
Request apps on the Store
Visit the ServiceNow Store website to view all the available apps, for information about submitting requests to the store, and to download and install Spoke Generator (sn_spoke_builder). For cumulative release notes information for all released apps, see the ServiceNow Store version history release notes.
App dependencies
If you’re having trouble installing the app, ensure that the dependent plugin, ServiceNow IntegrationHub Professional Pack Installer (com.glide.hub.integrations.professional) is installed.
Capabilities
An Integration Hub custom spoke provides both inbound and outbound integration with third-party applications. These integrations, referred to as spokes, are easy to configure and enable you to quickly add powerful actions without the need to write a script. This feature requires an Integration Hub subscription. For more information, see Legal schedules - IntegrationHub overview.
You can build custom spokes for the required third-party application by importing an OpenAPI Specification or Postman collection, documentation snippets from third-party API documentation, or creating a spoke manually.
Required user roles
- Users with the admin role can:
- View the Spokes tab.
- Create a new spoke.
- Import an OpenAPI Specification.
- Create connection alias.
- Publish actions and save actions as drafts.
- See spoke activity log.
- Users with the action_designer and fd_read_actions roles can:
- View the Spokes tab.
- See actions in a spoke.
- Users with the action_designer role can add actions manually.Note:Users with just the fd_read_actions role can only see actions.
- Users with the flow_operator or flow_designer can view flows and subflows.
OpenAPI Specification size limit
By default, the system can import OpenAPI Specifications up to 10 MB. To increase the import size, update the glide.rest.openapi.max_request_size system property. The maximum value is 100 MB.
Limitations of OpenAPI Specification
Spoke actions created by importing OpenAPI specification, contain the OpenAPI step. Ensure that you are aware of these OpenAPI step limitations.
- Request body media types
- The request body only supports JSON media types. Note:A string type output object is created when the OpenAPI schema has additionalProperties or no properties.
- OpenAPI 3.0 components
OpenAPI 3.0 adds new components to Swagger 2.0 to describe an API in further detail. OpenAPI support in the OpenAPI step supports some, but not all of these components. The OpenAPI step does not currently support these components.
- Schema Object: oneOf, anyOf, additionalProperties properties
- Discriminator Object
- Info object: termsOfService, contact, license fields
- Example Object
- Link Object
- Callback Object
- Security Scheme Object
- Security Requirements Object
- Tag Object
- External Documentation Object
- Server Object
- Specification extensions
- Recursive references
More information on these components is available in the OpenAPI documentation. See OpenAPI Specification.
- Maximum number of operations supported
- The number of API operations is limited to 500 by default. However, using the system property glide.rest.openapi.max_operation_limit, you can configure the number of operations from 1 through 1000.
App version
Spoke Generator v4.1.4 is the latest version.