Exploring Build Agent

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 Australia Patch 5, 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

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.

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.

Starting with the Australia 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.

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.

Note:

Depending on your license, you will have access to certain application features, generative AI skills, agentic workflows, and AI agents. For more information, see ServiceNow product tiers.

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. For more information, see Use the app generation skill to generate apps.

Fluent and modern web frameworks

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. For the latest API reference, see https://servicenow.github.io/sdk/

Build Agent (Trial) app overview

Build Agent is available as a trial app on a freemium model. To install Build Agent (Trial), visit the ServiceNow Store.

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

Build Agent incorporates the ServiceNow AI Platform localization, so you can use it in any supported language. For more information, see Localization Framework.

How prompts are counted

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.

What apps are in ServiceNow

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

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.

Build Agent 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

What to explore next

To learn more about configuring and using Build Agent, see:

• Build Agent configuration
• Use Build Agent
• Build Agent reference

To learn more about prompting, see this Community article on The fastest way to learn Build Agent prompting? Ask Build Agent.

• Example Build Agent use cases
  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
  The Build Agent workflow automates building applications, testing, and deploying update sets 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
  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
  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
  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
  Use these guidelines to get the most out of Build Agent in your development workflow.
• Build Agent tools
  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
  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
  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
  Plan deployments and troubleshoot issues by learning about Build Agent constraints that affect deployment capabilities and performance.