Zurich Release brings App Dev to the beach!

[Craig Riegelhau]

We all know ServiceNow developers like to have fun building things. Well, we’ve upped the fun in Zurich!

Developer Sandbox: Your Team’s Innovation Playground

This isn't just another development tool; it's your dedicated innovation hub where creativity meets functionality.

What Makes Developer Sandbox Special?

The Developer Sandbox represents a paradigm shift in how developers approach application development on the ServiceNow platform. Unlike traditional shared development environments, each sandbox is a complete, isolated instance that mirrors production capabilities while maintaining complete separation from other development activities.

Key Features and Benefits

🔒 Complete Isolation

• Dedicated Environment: Each developer receives their own private sandbox eliminating conflicts and dependencies
• Safe Experimentation: Test radical ideas, experiment with new APIs, and push boundaries without fear of breaking shared resources
• Independent Configuration: Customize your environment to match your specific development needs and preferences

⚡ Rapid Development Cycles

• Instant Provisioning: Spin up new sandbox environments in an hour or so, not days
• Quick Iterations: Rapidly prototype, test, and refine your applications with immediate feedback loops
• Streamlined Workflows: Eliminate bottlenecks associated with shared resource scheduling and approval processes

🚀 Enhanced Productivity

• Parallel Development: Work on multiple projects simultaneously without interference
• Version Control Integration: Seamlessly integrate with your preferred version control systems
• Isolated Testing Environment: Built-in testing frameworks to validate your applications before deployment

Real-World Use Cases

The Developer Sandbox excels in various development scenarios:

• Proof of Concept Development: Quickly validate new ideas and demonstrate value to stakeholders without impacting existing systems.
• Training and Learning: New team members can explore the platform, learn best practices, and build confidence in a risk-free environment.
• Integration Testing: Test complex integrations with external systems without affecting production data or workflows.

The Developer Sandbox represents a fundamental shift toward more agile, flexible, and productive development practices. By providing developers with their own isolated environments, we're removing barriers to innovation and enabling the rapid prototyping and testing that modern development demands.

While Developer Sandbox takes center stage, the Zurich release includes numerous other enhancements that collectively elevate the entire development experience. This includes:

• Enhanced IDE experience with improved code intelligence, integrated debugging and performance profiling.
• Advanced Application Lifecycle Management with a streamlined CI/CD process for faster time to market and enhanced testing frameworks.
• Improved Collaboration Tools with real-time code sharing, enhanced documentation and structured peer review processes for code quality.
• Optimized Runtime Performance with faster application loading, enhanced memory management and intelligent caching strategies.
• Streamlined developer experience with simplified navigation for faster task completion, intelligent assistance, and customizable workspaces.

The Zurich release transforms the ServiceNow development experience with the introduction of Developer Sandbox and numerous other enhancements. These innovations empower developers to build better applications faster while maintaining the highest standards of quality. The future of app development on the ServiceNow platform has never been brighter, and we're excited to see the innovative solutions you'll create with these powerful new tools.

The Developer Sandboxes will be available as part of our Zurich GA , Sept 10 - but be sure to check out the release notes for more information here, or reach out to your respective solution expert to learn more!