Collaborating on apps using ServiceNow Studio
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Summary of Collaborating on apps using ServiceNow Studio
ServiceNow Studio allows developers to collaborate on app development by inviting others to co-create and develop apps together. This collaboration, known as delegated development, builds on ServiceNow’s AI Platform capabilities, enabling app owners to invite collaborators or request access to others’ apps based on permissions.
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Collaboration requires the Collaboration plugin and an App Engine Enterprise license for full functionality. Without the plugin, delegated development permissions apply but cannot be managed through Studio.
App Access and Roles
- Admin role: Access to all apps in ServiceNow Studio.
- Delegateddeveloper role: Access limited to apps they create, apps they are invited to edit, and apps within their scope.
To gain access to apps not visible in Studio, users must request permission from an admin via the Collaboration app, which is installed automatically with Studio.
Collaborator Roles and Permissions
There are two standard collaborator roles:
- Owner: Automatically assigned to app creators; can manage collaborators, delete apps, and have full delegateddeveloper permissions.
- Editor: Can edit the app and invite collaborators but have more limited permissions compared to owners.
Admins can create custom collaboration roles with tailored permissions to better control what collaborators can do within an app.
Collaboration Approval Process
If a collaborator lacks the delegateddeveloper role, an App Engine admin must approve their access. Inviting a collaborator generates an approval task detailing the app and permissions assigned.
Admins with App Engine Management Center (AEMC) installed can approve or deny requests there; otherwise, they can manage approvals via the Collaboration Tasks module.
Managing Collaborators in ServiceNow Studio
- View collaborators: See who has access to an app and their roles.
- Add collaborators: Invite other developers to co-develop apps.
- Modify permissions: Customize what users or groups can do within the app.
- Remove collaborators: Revoke access when collaboration is no longer needed.
These capabilities enable effective team-based app development with controlled access and permissions directly within ServiceNow Studio.
Collaborate with other developers on app development in ServiceNow Studio by inviting them to co-create and develop apps with you.
What is collaboration in ServiceNow Studio?
Collaboration, also referred to as delegated development, builds on the existing delegated development feature set in the ServiceNow AI Platform. It enables developers to invite other developers into apps to co-create and develop together. Depending on your permissions, you can invite others to collaborate on an app or request to join another developer's app. For more information, see Delegated development and deployment.
There are two standard collaborator roles when co-developing an app: owner and editor. Admins can create a custom collaboration role by adjusting permissions.
What are the requirements for collaboration?
- An App Engine Enterprise license is required to use collaboration fully.
- If you already have the collaboration plugin installed, you can continue to use collaboration.
- Customers that don't have Collaboration installed will not be able to manage delegated development permissions in ServiceNow Studio. Existing delegated development permissions will still be respected within ServiceNow Studio.
Which apps can you access in ServiceNow Studio?
- Users with the admin role have access to all apps in ServiceNow Studio.
- Users with the delegated_developer role have access to:
- Apps they create.
- Apps they have been invited to edit.
- All apps within the scope they have access to. For more information about scopes, see Application scope.
To request access to an app that is not visible in ServiceNow Studio, contact your admin and ask them to grant you permission using the Collaboration app. The Collaboration app is automatically installed with ServiceNow Studio. For more information about the Collaboration app, see Application collaboration.
What can owners and editors do?
- If you create an app, you are the owner of that app.
- If an app is visible in ServiceNow Studio and you have been delegated to work on it, open it and begin working with the collaboration role the owner assigned you. That role is usually editor.
| Descriptor | Description |
|---|---|
| Owner | Owner of the application.
|
| Editor |
|
What are custom collaboration descriptors?
The collaboration descriptor assigned to a developer determines what they can do in the app — including assigning, managing, and monitoring delegated development permissions. Owners have more permissions than editors by default.
To create a customized collaboration role, create a custom collaboration descriptor and use collaboration permissions to control what developers can do in the app.
Admins can define custom collaboration descriptors to select when managing collaborators using the Collaboration app. For more information about custom descriptors, see Create collaboration descriptors to assign permissions.
How does the collaboration approval process work?
If you invite someone to collaborate on an app and they do not have the delegated_developer role, an App Engine admin must approve the collaboration request. For more information, see Delegated development and deployment.
When you add a user or group to collaborate on an app, the platform generates a collaboration task that initiates an approval flow. The task includes details about which app the developer is being added to and what permissions they receive. If App Engine Management Center (AEMC) is installed, admins can review and approve or deny collaboration requests there.
If AEMC is not installed, admins can navigate to to review collaboration tasks.