ServiceNow IDE release notes

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of ServiceNow IDE Release Notes - Zurich

    The ServiceNow® Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a Visual Studio Code for the Web-based tool on the ServiceNow AI Platform that enables developers to create and manage scoped applications using source code. The Zurich release introduces important enhancements and updates to improve developer experience and productivity.

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    Key Features

    • Multi-Application Git Repository Support: Developers can now clone Git repositories containing multiple applications, provided these repositories include at least one package.json and one now.config.json file.
    • SDK Version Configuration: When creating or converting applications, you can configure whether the IDE uses the bundled version or the latest version of the ServiceNow SDK via the snglider.defaulttobundledsdk system property. By default, the latest SDK version is used.
    • New Developer Themes: The IDE offers light (default) and dark themes selectable through user settings or the command palette. Theme preferences apply consistently across other ServiceNow builder applications such as Studio and Creator Studio.
    • Localization: The IDE supports all left-to-right languages and respects the instance language preference set by users.

    Activation and Upgrading

    The ServiceNow IDE is active by default on Zurich instances and available for upgrade via the ServiceNow Store. Version 2.1.2 is active by default, but upgrading to version 3.0 or later is recommended to access the latest features. The IDE must be installed or updated through the ServiceNow Store, where you can also find cumulative release notes and management options.

    Additional Requirements

    The IDE uses the public npm registry (https://registry.npmjs.org) as its default package source. If network restrictions block access, you must configure a private npm registry in the IDE’s Package Manager user settings to ensure uninterrupted package downloads and application builds.

    Related Applications and Features

    • ServiceNow SDK: Powers application packaging and provides Fluent APIs for source code development within the IDE.
    • Build Agent: An autonomous AI agent embedded in the IDE to assist with application creation and editing via chat.
    • Now Assist for Code: Utilizes AI-generated code autocomplete to enhance script development.
    • Developer Sandboxes: Enables delegated developers to safely write and merge code changes in isolated environments without risking overwrites.
    • ReleaseOps: Automates pipeline deployments to increase reliability and reduce production release risks.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    With the Zurich release of the ServiceNow IDE, developers gain streamlined multi-application Git management, flexible SDK versioning, and enhanced UI customization for a more productive coding experience. The availability through the ServiceNow Store and integration with related tools like Build Agent and Now Assist for Code help accelerate application development with AI-powered support. Proper configuration of npm registries ensures smooth package management in restrictive network environments. Overall, these enhancements support efficient, collaborative, and reliable development workflows on the ServiceNow platform.

    The ServiceNow® integrated development environment (IDE) application enables developers to create scoped applications in source code in an IDE based on Visual Studio Code for the Web on the ServiceNow AI Platform. ServiceNow IDE was enhanced and updated in the Zurich release.

    ServiceNow IDE highlights for the Zurich release

    • Clone a Git repository that contains multiple applications.
    • Use light and dark developer themes.
    • Use the ServiceNow IDE in any supported left-to-right language.

    See ServiceNow IDE for more information.

    Important:
    ServiceNow IDE is available in the ServiceNow Store. For details, see the "Activation information" section of these release notes.

    Important information for upgrading ServiceNow IDE to Zurich

    ServiceNow IDE version 2.1.2 is active by default on instances on the Zurich release. Update to ServiceNow IDE version 3.0 or later to use the latest features. For information about updating ServiceNow IDE, see Install or update the ServiceNow IDE.

    New in the Zurich release

    Clone a repository that contains multiple applications
    Clone a Git repository that contains multiple applications that support development in source code. The repository must contain at least one package.json file and one now.config.json file.
    Default to using the latest version of the ServiceNow SDK in new or converted applications
    Configure whether to use the bundled version or the latest version of the ServiceNow SDK when creating or converting applications in the ServiceNow IDE with the sn_glider.default_to_bundled_sdk system property. By default, the latest version of the ServiceNow SDK is used.

    UI changes

    New developer themes
    Use the Developer Light (default) and Developer Dark themes in the ServiceNow IDE. Select a theme from the user settings in the ServiceNow IDE or with the Preferences: Color Theme command from the command palette.

    The theme preference selected by a user from the ServiceNow IDE applies to other builder applications such as ServiceNow Studio and Creator Studio.

    Activation information

    ServiceNow IDE is active by default and available for upgrade in the ServiceNow Store. Visit the ServiceNow Store website to view all the available apps and for information about submitting requests to the store. For cumulative release notes information for all released apps, see the ServiceNow Store version history release notes.

    Additional requirements

    ServiceNow IDE uses the public npm registry (https://registry.npmjs.org) as its default package source. If your network blocks access to this registry, you must have access to an alternate registry to download packages and build applications in the ServiceNow IDE. If access to the public npm registry is blocked on your system, you must configure a private npm registry in your Package Manager user settings in the ServiceNow IDE. For more information, see Install an npm package from a private registry with the ServiceNow IDE.

    Localization information

    The ServiceNow IDE is localized in all supported left-to-right languages and reflects the language preference selected by users for the instance. For information about how to activate a language on an instance, see Activate a language.