How Do I Get Started Building on ServiceNow? (ServiceNow Foundations #2)

[Travis Toulson]

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First Step: Get a Personal Developer Instance

If you're just getting started with ServiceNow, the best place to begin is with a Personal Developer Instance (PDI). This isn't where you build production apps, but it is the perfect environment to learn the platform, explore the tools, and experiment without worry.

A PDI is your own free, full-featured ServiceNow instance. Think of it as your personal sandbox. You can test ideas, break things, rebuild them, and develop skills in a way that doesn’t affect anyone else’s environment.

What You Get with a PDI

• A full installation of the ServiceNow platform, on the version of your choice

• Core developer tools like ServiceNow Studio ready to go

• Pre-installed apps like ITSM, with the ability to activate additional plugins

• Access to most platform features (some licensed features may be restricted)

• Full admin control to explore and customize your environment

How to Request One

Just head over to developer.servicenow.com, create a free account, and click Request Instance. Choose the version you want (Zurich is the latest) and in seconds you'll have a fully functioning instance to start using.

Best Practices for Using Your PDI

• Back up your work. PDIs can go inactive or be reclaimed. Use Git or your preferred source control system to keep track of your progress.

• Don’t use PDIs for University labs. Those labs require special pre-configured environments that PDIs don’t support.

• Manage upgrades wisely. You can upgrade in place or release and request a new one on the latest version. Just make sure your work is backed up.

• Experiment freely. PDIs are for learning. Try new features, build proof-of-concepts, break stuff, and see what happens—that’s what it’s for.