--- sourceDocument: Zurich Build or modify applications sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/zurich/application-development Release : - zurich ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Zurich Build or modify applications ft:clusterId : - cadev bundleId : - cadev workflow : - Development, Data, and Analytics --- # Explore # Exploring Build Agent {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Zurich * * Updated July 22, 2026 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 4 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 Exploring Build Agent Build Agent is an AI-powered development tool within the ServiceNow Studio and ServiceNow Integrated Development Environment (IDE) designed to accelerate full-stack application creation, editing, and deployment on the ServiceNow AI Platform. It autonomously generates scoped or global applications, managing both user interface and back-end components through natural language prompts in a multi-turn chat interface. Build Agent supports modern web frameworks like React and uses ServiceNow Fluent, a domain-specific language, to produce compliant metadata and code. Show full answer Show less Starting with Zurich Patch 8, Build Agent is available in ServiceNow Studio and Developer Sandboxes, enabling isolated development with controlled configurations. The tool is enabled by default for AI app creation but can be disabled to use other ServiceNow Otto AI products. ## Key Features * **Natural Language Interaction:** Describe applications in plain language and receive complete code generation, file organization, and deployment to update sets. * **Multi-Function AI Tool:** Beyond app creation, Build Agent can rewrite tables, explain code, validate and enhance apps, fix errors, and query data with tools like Run Query. * **File Upload Support:** Upload images, code, or documents to provide additional context for app design and functionality. * **Agentic Experiences:** Create agentic workflows, agents, and skills to extend custom app functionality with AI-powered automation. * **Localization:** Supports all languages available on the ServiceNow AI Platform via the Localization Framework. * **Governance and Compliance:** Built-in safeguards ensure code quality, security, and adherence to organizational standards during app generation. * **Integration via MCP Connections:** Connect to external tools like Figma to streamline design-to-development workflows. * **Trial Access:** The Build Agent (Trial) app provides 100 free user interactions for 30 days to explore capabilities before purchasing. ## Key Outcomes * **Increased Developer Productivity:** Automates repetitive and complex development tasks, reducing manual effort. * **Faster Application Deployment:** Streamlines building, testing, and deploying applications without manual code compilation or quality checks. * **Reduced Development Backlogs and Costs:** Accelerates delivery timelines and lowers overall development expenditure. * **Improved Application Quality:** Enforces governance controls to maintain security and compliance standards. ## Practical Considerations for ServiceNow Customers * Ensure the latest Family patches and ServiceNow Otto for Creator update are installed to access all Zurich release features. * Check your product entitlements to verify access to specific Build Agent features and AI capabilities. * Use the Build Agent chat panel within ServiceNow Studio or IDE to interact naturally and maximize prompt efficiency. * Plan for prompt usage carefully, as each message counts toward interaction limits; drafting messages offline can optimize usage. * Leverage Build Agent tools such as semantic search, code inspection, and script execution to enhance development workflows. * Understand Build Agent limitations related to deployment and performance to effectively plan your projects. ## Next Steps * Explore configuration and usage guides to customize Build Agent for your environment. * Review example use cases to identify opportunities for applying Build Agent across development, modernization, and governance tasks. * Consider trial usage to evaluate Build Agent capabilities before full adoption. * Utilize provided tutorials and community resources to improve prompt crafting and maximize Build Agent effectiveness. Build Agent enables developers to create, edit, and deploy full-stack ServiceNow® applications to update sets that encompass both user interface and back-end components. As of Zurich Patch 12, ServiceNow Otto is the new AI experience brand. This change is reflected in the name of ServiceNow products, including Build Agent. Your product entitlements remain unchanged. Check your entitlements to determine your access to specific features. ## How to use Build Agent {#exploring-build-agent__cf-exploring-parent-overview} Build Agent is an AI tool designed for developers within ServiceNow Studio the ServiceNow Integrated Development Environment (ServiceNow IDE). Build Agent acts as an autonomous AI agent capable of independently generating a complete ServiceNow® scoped or global application. For example, a global scope app that uses tables such as incident, problem, and change. Using the chat panel within ServiceNow Studio or the ServiceNow IDE, you can interact with Build Agent through an easy-to-use multi-turn conversation interface. You can also ask it general questions about developing on the ServiceNow AI Platform. All you have to do is describe an application in natural language, and the agent can then automatically create it. Build Agent generates the necessary code, organizes files clearly, and manages both the core logic and user interface components of the application. Note: To access all of the tools and features in the Zurich release, you must have the latest Family patches and the ServiceNow Otto for Creator ServiceNow Store update for Zurich Patch 8 (April 2026) installed. Build Agent can understand natural language prompts, autonomously generate full-stack applications, oversee the entire build process, respond to feedback, deploy applications to update sets, and more. You can also upload supported file types, such as images, code, and documents, to provide more context about application design and functionality. For more information, see [Supported file types for Build Agent](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/6tcBL4f0l9z6adqqAeGkNw "Build Agent accepts images, documents, code files, and file types specific to ServiceNow as uploads. Supported formats, size limits, and general guidelines apply when generating apps and metadata."). Note: Starting with the Zurich Patch 8 release, you can use Build Agent in ServiceNow Studio. This document provides guidance on using Build Agent in the ServiceNow IDE. For detailed instructions on using Build Agent in ServiceNow Studio, see [Build Agent in ServiceNow Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/UU~FEJbdI3nXy~sJSW3MWg "Use Build Agent, an autonomous AI agent, to create and update applications in ServiceNow Studio through conversational interaction."). You can also use Build Agent in Developer Sandboxes, which provides a controlled baseline configuration for isolated, parallel development. For more information, see [Exploring Developer Sandboxes](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/D7wwdN3cAQ53usbGdlrDZA "Developer Sandboxes enable delegated developers and admins to request, access, and manage individual sandbox environments on top of the same underlying development instance."). Note: Depending on your license, you will have access to certain application features, generative AI skills, agentic workflows, and AI agents. While creating and updating applications is the primary use case for Build Agent, its capabilities extend beyond that. It can perform various code-related tasks, such as rewriting tables, explaining code, validating and enhancing existing applications, fixing application errors, and more. For instance, Build Agent can use the Run Query tool to query a specific table within your instance and return the top five records or derive specific insights. Build Agent is enabled by default to create apps with AI, for example in ServiceNow Studio. To use other ServiceNow Otto products, such as the app generation skill, disable Build Agent. For example, using the setting in your ServiceNow Studio preferences.{#exploring-build-agent__ba-on-by-default-ph} ## Fluent and modern web frameworks {#exploring-build-agent__build-agent-fluent} Build Agent generates code in ServiceNow Fluent, the domain-specific language for developing on the ServiceNow AI Platform. Build Agent can also incorporate modern web frameworks, such as React, when building custom user experiences. Important: Build Agent only creates metadata supported by ServiceNow® Fluent. For more information, see [ServiceNow Fluent](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/ohv0rMJ2O_nhoDa98apEXg "Define application metadata in source code using the ServiceNow Fluent domain-specific programming language."). For the latest API reference, see ## Build Agent (Trial) app overview {#exploring-build-agent__section_tmq_bbc_vgc}
After you install the Build Agent (Trial) app, your instance receives 100 free user interactions for 30 days at no additional charge. The free interactions enable you to explore Build Agent features at no additional cost. If you exceed the free interaction limit, you must wait 30 days for a reset, or install the paid version of Build Agent. ## Localization and Build Agent {#exploring-build-agent__section_g1g_rcg_y3c} Build Agent incorporates the ServiceNow AI Platform localization, so you can use it in any supported language. For more information, see [Localization Framework](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=localization-framework-landing&version=zurich&pubname=zurich-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US). ## How prompts are counted {#exploring-build-agent__section_prompt-counting} Prompts are counted each time you submit a message to Build Agent. If Build Agent asks a clarifying question and you respond, that response counts as a prompt. Approving a plan that Build Agent presents does not count as a prompt. To get the most value from each prompt, draft your message in a text editor before you submit it. For more information on prompting, see [Example prompts](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/wuovSgfIITreoH~B55Eekw "Explore example prompts for building apps, as well as adding governance, UI and other ServiceNow metadata to help you get started with prompting Build Agent."). ## What apps are in ServiceNow {#exploring-build-agent__section_dlz_gqn_w3c} A ServiceNow app is a package that performs a specific task for a specified group of users. Think of an app as a container with a set of rules around who can access and edit it. For example, ServiceNow apps can include an API, a table, a workspace, a form, a flow, or any combination of those things. ## Enhance applications with agentic experiences {#exploring-build-agent__my-topic-id-2} You can enhance your applications with agentic experiences by using Build Agent. Build Agent enables you to create agentic workflows, agents, and skills for your custom applications. Additionally, Build Agent recommends in-app agents tailored to specific use cases. For more information, see [Create agentic workflows, agents, and skills](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/~z~N1ZRI2H8UzYWsu8Gsmg "Build custom agentic workflows, AI agents, and skills for your applications using automated generation tools with Build Agent. You can streamline development by creating the necessary instructions, tools, and access controls based on your requirements."). ## Build Agent benefits {#exploring-build-agent__cf-exploring-parent-benefits} Build Agent accelerates application development on the ServiceNow AI Platform. It helps automate many repetitive and time-consuming tasks that developers previously had to do manually, enabling: * Increased developer productivity * Reduced development backlogs * Quicker deployment of new business applications * Reduction in overall development cost {#exploring-build-agent__ul_nmq_1zk_hgc} ## What to explore next {#exploring-build-agent__cf-exploring-parent-links} To learn more about configuring and using Build Agent, see: * [Build Agent configuration](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/OSrqXgV_OrnSqs2KR7EztA "Build Agent connects your instance to AI-powered design workflows. Set up the required application and MCP server connections to start using it.") * [Use Build Agent](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/IOIc9Nq5bnZhLqSiwgkXdQ "Build Agent is an autonomous AI agent native to ServiceNow that translates plain language instructions into ready-to-deploy applications and metadata, using the platform’s domain language and guardrails. It's purpose-built for full-stack creation and editing across tables, flows, UI, and scripts, and it operates as the core engine for agentic development on the ServiceNow AI Platform.") * [Build Agent reference](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/jnsFBsZ1Gai53IR~YHAFJw "Reference topics provide additional information about using Build Agent to create and edit apps, as well as ServiceNow metadata.") {#exploring-build-agent__ul_cbn_stk_hgc} To learn more about prompting, see this Community article on [The fastest way to learn Build Agent prompting? Ask Build Agent.](https://www.servicenow.com/community/now-assist-for-creator-articles/the-fastest-way-to-learn-build-agent-prompting-ask-build-agent/ta-p/3533544){#exploring-build-agent__ba-prompting-community-link-ph} * **[Example Build Agent use cases](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/GEKBn6kczYKKPyCP44LTEQ)** Use Build Agent for a wide range of development scenarios beyond application creation, including app analysis, modernization, documentation, governance, and learning assistance. Reference these scenarios to identify ways to apply Build Agent across your development workflow. * **[Build Agent workflow](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bAQhi_8_FdIvwJIqUnWVJA)** The Build Agent workflow automates the process of building, testing, and deploying applications on the ServiceNow AI Platform. Build Agent streamlines development by handling code compilation, quality checks, and deployment steps without manual intervention. * **[Build Agent chat panel](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/q3KW_n~SoMFlcdQ6crm8hw)** The Build Agent chat panel is where you interact with the AI agent during development. Use it to submit requests, review responses, and apply generated code. * **[Supported models and versions](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/G88yQefsDbSNEYomg2uCaA)** Learn which AI models and versions Build Agent supports and how to change them. Use this information to verify compatibility and select the right model for your task. * **[Tutorial for Build Agent in ServiceNow Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/e8BOKU7oZ4y8V5Yg108leg)** Learn to develop reusable server-side logic and build a ServiceNow® application in Build Agent, from data modeling through testing, using agentic development. * **[General guidelines for Build Agent](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/PLxmFvevquklQ0zlKNZTxA)** Use these guidelines to get the most out of Build Agent in your development workflow. * **[Build Agent tools](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/5nGB0jzHeMvdHGWhfObrew)** Build Agent tools support application development tasks such as semantic search, schema inspection, code search, planning, UI validation, database querying, app navigation, and script execution. Each tool extends what Build Agent can do during a build session. * **[MCP connections and Build Agent](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/P4sT4iEXZOfs7YUr5wZbmg)** MCP connections enable Build Agent to access external tools and resources through standardized communication. Use these connections to integrate third-party applications like Figma for accelerated design-to-development workflows. * **[Build Agent governance](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/R01L4_2rkxcvH7LNfoMmSA)** Governance controls in Build Agent help with code quality, security, and compliance when generating applications. The Build Agent automated safeguards prevent common development issues and enforce organizational standards. * **[Build Agent limitations](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/d3Go5Ad_lvTbN3MIjFEt7Q)** Plan deployments and troubleshoot issues by learning about Build Agent constraints that affect deployment capabilities and performance.