Creating DevOps subflows

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 5 minutes to read
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    Summary of Creating DevOps subflows

    ServiceNow customers integrating DevOps tools can create DevOps Workflow Studio subflows using Flow Designer, a feature of the ServiceNow AI Platform. These subflows automate data collection and transformation from various DevOps tools, enabling seamless integration and process automation. Trigger conditions initiate flows, and variables enable data passing between actions.

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    Key Features

    • Notification Capability Subflow: Transforms original payloads from tools like Planning, Coding, Orchestration, Test, and Artifact tools into standardized JSON formats. This enables consistent handling of data such as stories, commits, builds, test results, and artifacts.
    • Connect Capability Subflow: Supports connection validation to DevOps tools. It outputs success flags and error messages to inform users of connection status, helping troubleshoot connection issues effectively.
    • Discover Capability Subflow: Retrieves and parses data from DevOps tools, both with and without pagination support. Outputs are standardized JSON arrays or objects representing entities like releases, repositories, orchestration tasks, and pipelines. This subflow is triggered during import request creation, updating import states accordingly.
    • Update Import Request Action: Allows modification of the Import Request record’s state during Discover subflows to reflect current processing status. Setting the state to “processing” pauses flow execution until completion, ensuring controlled data handling.

    Key Outcomes

    • Enables integration developers to automate data transformation and flow orchestration for various DevOps tools using ServiceNow’s Flow Designer subflows.
    • Provides standardized JSON payload formats tailored to different DevOps tool types, facilitating consistent and reliable data interchange.
    • Supports connection validation and error reporting, improving integration reliability and user experience.
    • Facilitates efficient discovery and import of DevOps tool data, with support for pagination to handle large datasets.
    • Offers control over import request lifecycle states, enabling better tracking and management of integration processes.

    For user-created integrations, create a DevOps Workflow Studio subflow to collect and transform data from the tool you are integrating.

    ServiceNow Flow Designer is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature your integration developer can use to automate processes using a sequence of actions. Trigger conditions start the flow, and variables pass information between actions.

    See Flow Designer Subflows for information on how to create a subflow.

    Notification capability subflow

    Item Expected value
    Inputs

    Label: current

    Type: Reference.Inbound Event

    Outputs

    		 N/A

    Transform the original payload, and save the final payload in the transformed_payload field.

    Expected standard JSON Notification capability payload - Planning tool
    Note:
    The version attribute in the JSON payload is optional. Even if you do not provide the version attribute, the payload is processed successfully.
    {
  "id": "STR1234",
  "type": "Story",
  "shortDescription": "Planning API Spec",
  "state": "In-progress",
  "createdDateTime": "1970-01-01T08:15:30-05:00",
  "assignedTo": {
    "name": "Leo Neo",
    "userName": "lenn",
    "id": "3fa85f64-5717-4562-b3fc-2c963f66afa6",
    "email": "lenn@smithworksinc.com"
  },
// The Version attribute is optional
  "version": {
      "id": "REL1234",
      "shortDescription": "APIs Release",
      "createdDateTime": "1970-01-01T08:15:30-05:00",
      "app": {
          "id": "PRODUCT1234",
          "shortDescription": "Mobile UI",
          "createdDateTime": "1970-01-01T08:15:30-05:00",
          "url": "https://jira.com/mycompany/browse/PRODUCT-125"
        },
      "url": "https://jira.com/mycompany/browse/REL-125"
    },
  "app": {
      "id": "PRODUCT1234",
      "shortDescription": "Mobile UI",
      "createdDateTime": "1970-01-01T08:15:30-05:00",
      "url": "https://jira.com/mycompany/browse/PRODUCT-125"
    },
  "url": "https://jira.com/mycompany/browse/HALOKEY-25"
}
    Expected standard JSON Notification capability payload - Coding tool
    {
  "id": "3fa85f64-5717-4562-b3fc-2c963f66afa6",
  "url": "https://github.com/mycompany/mobileplatform/commit/3fa85f6457174562b3fc2c963f66afa6",
  "committedDate": "1970-01-01T08:15:30-05:00",
  "repository": {
    "name": "Platform-Mobile",
    "url": "https://github.com/mycompany/mobileplatform"
  },
 "branch": {
    "name": "master",
    "path": "refs/heads/master"
  },
  "committer": {
    "email": "lenn@smithworksinc.com"
  },
  "details": [
    {
      "additions": 0,
      "deletions": 0,
      "totalChanges": 0,
      "file": "src/test/java/com/mycompany/app/App.java",
      "action": "modified",
      "changes": "%40%40%20-30%2C6%20%2B30%2C18%20%40%40%20public%20void%20testAppConstructor%28%29%20%7B%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%7D%0A%20%20%20%20%20%7D%0A%20%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%40Test%0A%2B%20%20%20%20public%20void%20testDatabase%28%29%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%7B%0A%2B%09%2F%2FThis%20is%20a%20test%20function%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20App.main%28null%29%3B%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20try%20%7B%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20assertEquals%28%22Hello%20World%21%22%20%2B%20System.getProperty%28%22line.separator%22%29%2C%20outContent.toString%28%29%29%3B%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%7D%20catch%20%28AssertionError%20e%29%20%7B%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20fail%28%22%22message%22%20is%20not%20%22Hello%20World%21%22%22%29%3B%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%7D%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%7D%0A%2B%0A%20%20%20%20%20%40Test%0A%20%20%20%20%20public%20void%20testAppMain%28%29%0A%20%20%20%20%20%7B"
    }
  ]
}
    Expected standard JSON Notification capability payload - Orchestration tool
    {
  "toolId": "bc1d9454dbdb0810ae77f3c61d9619d1",
  "buildNumber": "100",
  "nativeId": "HILR/Prod #100",
  "name": "HILR/Prod",
  "id": "HILR/Prod #100",
  "url": "https://dev.azure.com/lenn/CorpSite-ADO/_build/results?buildId=100#Prod/",
  "isMultiBranch": "false",
  "orchestrationTaskUrl": "https://dev.azure.com/lenn/CorpSite-ADO/_build?name=HILR#Prod",
  "orchestrationTaskName": "CorpSite-ADO/HILR#Prod",
  "upstreamTaskUrl": "https://dev.azure.com/lenn/CorpSite-ADO/_build/results?buildId=100#UAT/",
  "upstreamId": "CorpSite-ADO/HILR#UAT",
  "result": "building",
  "startDateTime": "2020-03-20 22:59:27"
}
    Expected standard JSON Notification capability payload - Test tool
    Functional:
    { 
"name": "CorpSite-selenium#55", 
"duration": 78.802, 
"passedTests": 4, 
"failedTests": 0, 
"skippedTests": 0, 
"blockedTests": 0, 
"totalTests": 4, 
"startTime": "2020-06-30T18:12:31Z", 
"finishTime": "2020-06-30T18:12:31Z", 
"passingPercent": 100, 
 
 
// Use Artifact OR Package OR Build + Stage + PipelineName Attributes 
"packages": [{"name": "CorpSite-pkg1"}], 
"artifacts": [{"name": "CorpSite-artifact", "version": "1.0.0"}], 
"buildNumber": "55", 
"stageName": "test", 
"pipelineName": "CorpSite-selenium", 
}
    Performance:
    { 
"name": "Performance Tests", 
"url": "http://abc.com", 
"startTime": "2020-06-30T18:12:31Z", 
"finishTime": "2020-06-30T18:12:31Z", 
"duration": 78.802, 
"maximumVirtualUsers": "", 
"throughput": "", 
"maximumTime": "", 
"minimumTime": "", 
"averageTime": "", 
"ninetyPercent": "", 
"standardDeviation": "", 
 
// Use Artifact OR Package OR Build + Stage + PipelineName Attributes 
"packages": [{"name": "CorpSite-pkg1"}], 
"artifacts": [{"name": "CorpSite-artifact", "version": "1.0.0"}], 
"buildNumber": "55", 
"stageName": "test", 
"pipelineName": "CorpSite-Performance", 
}
    Expected standard JSON Notification capability payload - Artifact tool
    Pipelines:
    {
  "artifacts": [
    {
      "name": "acm.jar",
      "version": "1.82",
      "semanticVersion": "1.82.0",
      "repositoryName": "acm-repo"
    }
  ],
  "pipelineName": "testMultiBranch/master",
  "taskExecutionNumber": "82",
  "stageName": "buildmbmaster",
  "branchName": "master"
}
    Jenkins Freestyle/Maven Project:
    {
  "artifacts": [
    {
      "name": "mav1.jar",
      "version": "1.11",
      "semanticVersion": "1.11.0",
      "repositoryName": "mav-repo"
    }
  ],
  "projectName": "maven-test-proj",
  "taskExecutionNumber": "11"
}
    Figure 1. DevOps Notification capability flow diagram example - Coding tool
    DevOps Notification Coding Tool Flow

    Connect capability subflow

    The Connect capability is supported.

    Item Expected value
    Inputs

    Label: current

    Type: Reference.DevOps Tool

    Tool record for which the Connect button action is clicked.

    Outputs

    See subflow outputs.
    • Label: connected

      Flag indicating the success or failure of the connection made to the target tool (true/false).

    • Label: errormessage

      String message displayed on the form for connection failure. The variable is an empty string if the connection is successful.
    Connect errors shown on the DevOps tool form:
    Connection failed
    Subflow was executed successfully but the connection could not be made.
    Error: Failed to get failure details from the tool specific connect flow
    Subflow execution failed for an unknown reason.
    Error updating the tool connect status
    The connection_state attribute could not be updated for an unknown reason.
    Figure 2. DevOps Connect capability flow diagram example - Orchestration tool
    DevOps Connect Orchestration Tool

    Discover capability subflow

    The Discover capability is supported.

    Item Expected value
    Inputs

    Label: current

    Type: Reference.DevOps Tool

    Outputs

    See subflow outputs.

    Without pagination:

    Label: discoverpayload

    Type: Array of objects as JSON string.

    (JSON.stringify([{},{}]))

    Planning tool without pagination:

    [
{
   "id":"REL1234567",
   "name": "REL NUMBERS",
   "url":"https://jira.com/vult/browse/REL1234567",
   "nativeId": "1790e6cc-085b-4529-9cb8-47f393182226"
},
{
   "id":"TOR67",
   "name": "TOR 67",
   "url":"https://jira.com/welp/browse/TOR67",
   "nativeId": "482ce864-085b-4529-9cb8-47f393767eb2"
}
]
    Coding tool without pagination: 
    [
  {
      "name": "nvm_repo",
      "url": "https://github.com/nvm_repo/"
  },
  {
      "name": "golang_util",
      "url": "https://github.com/golang_util/"
  }
];
    Orchestration tool without pagination:
    {
  "orchestrationTasks": [
    {
      "name": "Build_APC_1",
      "url": "https://jenkins.wsf.xyz/job/Build_APC_1",
      "projectName": "Build_APC_1"
    },
    {
      "name": "CI_CD_Jenkins",
      "url": "https://pt1.jenkins.com/job/CI_CD_Jenkins",
      "projectName": "CI_CD_Jenkins"
    },
    {
      "name": "CI_deploy",
      "url": "https://pt2.jenkins.com/job/CI_deploy",
      "projectName": "CI_deploy"
    }
  ],
  "pipelines": [
    {
      "name": "Build_APC_1",
      "url": "https://jenkins.wsf.xyz/job/Build_APC_1",
      "projectName": "Build_APC_1"
    },
    {
      "name": "CI_CD_Jenkins",
      "url": "https://pt1.jenkins.com/job/CI_CD_Jenkins",
      "projectName": "CI_CD_Jenkins"
    },
    {
      "name": "CI_deploy",
      "url": "https://pt2.jenkins.com/job/CI_deploy",
      "projectName": "CI_deploy"
    }
  ]
}

    With pagination:

    Label: discoverpayload

    Type: Array of objects as JSON string.

    (JSON.stringify([{},{}]))

    Sample JSON format:

    "pageInfo" : {
    "isLastPage" : true, 
    "discoverPayload" : {},
    “pageDetails” : {}
}
    Planning tool with pagination: 
    {               
    "pageInfo": {
        "isLastPage": false,
        "discoverPayload": [
            {
               "id":"REL1234567",
               "name": "REL NUMBERS",
        "url":"https://jira.com/vult/browse/REL1234567",
               "nativeId": "1790e6cc-085b-4529-9cb8-47f393182226"
            },
            {
               "id":"TOR67",
               "name": "TOR 67",
               "url":"https://jira.com/welp/browse/TOR67",
               "nativeId": "482ce864-085b-4529-9cb8-47f393767eb2"
            }
            ],
        "pageDetails": {
            "curPage" : 1,
            "nextPage": 2
        }
    }
}
    Coding tool with pagination: 
    {
    "pageInfo": {
        "isLastPage": false,
        "discoverPayload": [
            {
                "name": "nvm_repo",
                "url": "https://github.com/nvm_repo/"
            },
            {
                "name": "golang_util",
                "url": "https://github.com/golang_util/"
            }
        ],
        "pageDetails": {
            "curPage" : 1,
            "nextPage": 2
        }
    }
}
    Orchestration tool with pagination:
    { 
    "pageInfo": { 
        "isLastPage": false, 
        "discoverPayload": { 
            "orchestrationTasks": [ 
              { 
                "name": "Build_APC_1", 
                "url": "https://jenkins.wsf.xyz/job/Build_APC_1", 
                "projectName": "Build_APC_1" 
              }, 
              { 
                "name": "CI_CD_Jenkins", 
                "url": "https://pt1.jenkins.com/job/CI_CD_Jenkins", 
                "projectName": "CI_CD_Jenkins" 
              } 
            ], 
            "pipelines": [ 
              { 
                "name": "Build_APC_1", 
                "url": "https://jenkins.wsf.xyz/job/Build_APC_1", 
                "projectName": "Build_APC_1" 
              } 
            ] 
          }, 
        "pageDetails": { 
            "curPage" : 1, 
            "nextPage": 2 
        } 
    } 
}
    The Discover main flow is triggered during import request record creation. An import request has these states and messages.
    State Message
    Requested --
    Processing --
    Completed

    Updated <number> object(s)

    Found <number> objects with invalid toolId

    Found <number> objects failed validation
    Error
    • Unable to parse payload string from Subflow
    • discoverpayload is expected to be an array of objects
    • ImportRequest record does not have reference to tool table
    Paused --
    Canceled --
    Unmatched --
    Figure 3. DevOps Discover capability flow diagram example - Planning tool
    DevOps Discover Plan Tool Flow
    Figure 4. DevOps Discover capability with pagination support flow diagram
    Flow diagram of a typical discover flow with pagination support

    Update Import Request Workflow Studio action

    You can use the Update Import Request action in your Discover subflow to modify the Import Request record state, if desired.

    Input label Type
    current

    Reference.Import Request
    state (String)
    • requested
    • processing
      Note:
      Flow execution is stopped (once the return is received from the subflow) when the state is set to processing.
    • completed
    • error
    • paused
    • canceled
    • unmatched
    details (String)