--- sourceDocument: Australia Build or modify applications sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/application-development Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Build or modify applications ft:clusterId : - cadev bundleId : - cadev workflow : - Development, Data, and Analytics --- # Building pro-code applications # Building pro-code applications {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated March 12, 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 Building pro-code applications This content guides ServiceNow customers on creating and managing custom applications using classic pro-code tools. It highlights various development environments and tools that cater to different technical roles, from no-code creators to source code developers. The aim is to enable customers to build, customize, and deploy applications efficiently on the ServiceNow AI Platform. Show full answer Show less ## App Builders and Tools * **ServiceNow Studio:** An integrated development environment for building and managing scoped and global apps with tools for editing metadata, packaging changes, and using Build Agent for conversational app creation and updates. * **ServiceNow IDE:** A web-based Visual Studio Code implementation on the ServiceNow AI Platform, designed for source code development of scoped applications, including JavaScript modules and third-party libraries. It supports Build Agent for conversational interaction. * **ServiceNow SDK:** Enables local source code development using Visual Studio Code Desktop with capabilities to upload changes to ServiceNow instances and use third-party libraries. * **ServiceNow Extensions for Visual Studio Code:** Allows offline editing of applications and interaction with ServiceNow instances from within the VS Code editor. ## Choosing the Right App Builder Select the app builder based on your role and technical background: * **Creator Studio:** For process owners and line of business owners to build request-fulfillment apps without code. * **App Engine Studio:** For citizen developers to build a broader range of low-code applications without coding. * **ServiceNow Studio:** For citizen and platform developers to build and deliver apps in a unified environment with low-code tools and integrated tracking. * **ServiceNow IDE and SDK:** For source code developers to build applications using ServiceNow Fluent language, JavaScript modules, and third-party libraries in source code. ## Scripting and Automation * **Scripting Action Designer:** Automates repeatable tasks within flows as sequenced steps, enabling minimal configuration when adding actions to multiple flows. * **Client-side scripting:** Runs JavaScript in the browser in response to client events like form load or field changes. * **Server-side scripting:** Executes on the server to modify platform behavior or enforce business rules when records or tables are accessed or changed. * **ServiceNow Otto for Code:** AI-assisted code generation for faster script writing based on text or code prompts. * **Now Code Editor:** A rich-text editor supporting CSS, HTML, JavaScript, XML, and JSON for modifying UI configurations, styles, events, and scripts within Next Experience UI Builder components. ## Core Platform Features Supporting Development * **Groups and Roles:** Manage user access and permissions effectively by assigning roles to groups, which automatically apply business rules and attributes to all members. * **Notifications:** Manage system emails and notifications, including inbound email responses. * **Plugins:** Extend instance functionality with modular software components. * **UI Policies:** Dynamically control form behavior and custom process flows. * **User Records:** Maintain user identity and contact data essential for access and personalization. ## Related Applications and Features * **JavaScript APIs:** Customize application functionality and build new applications using scripting interfaces. * **UI Builder:** Create web user interfaces for customer service management, App Engine Studio workspaces, portals, and custom web experiences using Next Experience Components. Create and manage custom applications from scratch using classic pro-code tools. [ServiceNow Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/6vj3PRLgkGcvK8LaWdEsoQ "Use ServiceNow Studio to build, configure, and deploy custom ServiceNow apps from a single development environment. ServiceNow Studio gives admins and developers integrated tools to create app files, edit scoped and global app metadata, and package changes for deployment.") : Use ServiceNow Studio to build apps and app files with integrated tools, access and edit metadata in scoped and global apps, and package app changes for deployment, all in one powerful development tool. [ServiceNow IDE](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/eMYyriIe_g3dvPLBokdLyg "Create and develop applications in source code in an integrated development environment (IDE) on the ServiceNow AI Platform to improve collaboration across development teams and accelerate application development.") : ServiceNow IDE is an implementation of Visual Studio Code for the Web on the ServiceNow AI Platform. With the ServiceNow IDE, you can create and develop scoped applications in source code, create JavaScript modules, and use third-party libraries. [ServiceNow SDK](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/~gZiLOf42HSLacfuqryftg "Create and develop applications in source code locally in Visual Studio Code Desktop and upload changes to an instance using the ServiceNow software development kit (SDK).") : ServiceNow SDK enables developers to create scoped applications in source code locally in Visual Studio Code Desktop and upload changes to a ServiceNow instance. You can also use the ServiceNow SDK to create JavaScript modules and use third-party libraries. [ServiceNow Extensions for Visual Studio Code](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/hIZdp86kwIIpUgehUO25cA "Edit your ServiceNow applications in Visual Studio Code with the help of the ServiceNow Extensions for VS Code.") : The ServiceNow extensions for VS Code editor enables you to edit applications offline and within ServiceNow instances. ## Which app builder should I use? {#building-pro-code-applications__id_uzz_nf3_s3c} Use the following table to choose the app building experience that matches your role and technical background. {#building-pro-code-applications__app-builders-table__entry__3} | Tool | Users | Features | |-|-|-| | Creator Studio: Build an app without code. | Process owners, line of business owners | Build request-fulfillment apps without writing code. For example, create an application to request office supplies: a user fills out a form, and an approver accepts or denies the request. For more information, see [Exploring Creator Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/9ZdqTn_eJz8jrTrlJb5Z0w "Creator Studio makes creating apps easier by dividing their creation into simple steps. In this section, we'll explain each one."). | | App Engine Studio: Build a range of apps using low-code tools. | Citizen developers | Build a broader range of apps than Creator Studio without writing code. For more information, see [Exploring App Engine Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/F7_q8_62smdT3_7KYX_YfA "Learn how you can use the low-code app development tool, App Engine Studio (AES), to build powerful applications using guided setup, predefined templates, and workflows."). | | ServiceNow Studio: Build and deliver apps in a unified environment. | Citizen developers, Platform developers | Build apps in a unified development environment. ServiceNow Studio provides streamlined navigation, integrated low-code tools, and built-in tracking and packaging so you can develop and ship apps faster. Use Build Agent in ServiceNow Studio to create and update apps with a conversational interaction. For more information, see [Exploring ServiceNow Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/5vacmk3x3_kqCU_WE7R3gw "ServiceNow Studio is a unified development environment where platform developers create, modify, and deploy apps. Use ServiceNow Studio to manage app files, edit metadata, and package changes for deployment without switching between tools.") and [Build Agent in ServiceNow Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/A6Pjtl7DojwPwbxEzjKM7A "Use Build Agent, an autonomous AI agent, to create and update applications in ServiceNow Studio through conversational interaction."). | | ServiceNow IDE and ServiceNow SDK: Build apps in source code. | Source code developers | Develop applications in source code with ServiceNow Fluent, create JavaScript modules, and use third-party libraries. ServiceNow Fluent is a domain-specific programming language for creating application metadata in code. Use Build Agent in ServiceNow IDE to create and update apps in source code with a conversational interaction. The ServiceNow IDE runs Visual Studio Code for the Web on the ServiceNow AI Platform. The ServiceNow SDK runs Visual Studio Code Desktop locally. For more information, see [Building applications in source code](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/ctrNTXJvQ5Ygxu7d2YraWA "Create and develop custom applications in source code using familiar development tools and processes."). | [Table 1. App builders] {#building-pro-code-applications__app-builders-table} ## Scripting {#building-pro-code-applications__section_ptn_1v4_rvb} [Action Designer](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=actions&version=australia&pubname=australia-build-workflows&ft:locale=en-US) : Use Workflow Studio to automate a repeatable task within a flow as a sequence of related steps. Enable flow authors to add actions to multiple flows with minimal configuration. [Client-side scripting](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=client-side-scripting-overview&version=australia&pubname=australia-api-reference&ft:locale=en-US) : Client scripts enable the system to run JavaScript on the client (web browser) when client-based events occur, such as when a form loads, after form submission, or when a field changes value. [ServiceNow Otto for Code](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=now-assist-code-landing&version=australia&pubname=australia-api-reference&ft:locale=en-US) : Now Assist for code generation allows developers to write scripts quickly with AI-generated code suggestions based on text or code prompts. [Now Code Editor](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/_I3uLSyRSOOndtdC1z22Jw "Now Code Editor is a rich-text editor like interface that supports Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), JavaScript, Extensible Markup Language (XML), and JavaScript Object Notation (JSON). Use Now Code Editor to modify UI configuration, data resource configuration, styles, events, client-side and server-side scripts in Next Experience UI Builder components.") : Now Code Editor provides a rich-text editor interface that supports Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), JavaScript, Extensible Markup Language (XML), and JavaScript Object Notation (JSON). Use Now Code Editor to modify UI configuration, data resource configuration, styles, events, client-side and server-side scripts in Next Experience UI Builder components. [Server-side scripting](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c_ServerScripting&version=australia&pubname=australia-api-reference&ft:locale=en-US) : Server scripts run on the server or database. They can change the appearance or behavior of the ServiceNow AI Platform or run as business rules when records and tables are accessed or modified. ## Core functionality {#building-pro-code-applications__section_m3p_1z4_rvb} [Groups](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=ua-creating-groups&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) : Simplify user administration by assigning roles to groups. Any business rules, assignment rules, system roles, or attributes that refer to the group apply to all group members automatically. [Notifications](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=notifications&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) : Use ServiceNow Notifications to manage system email, create system notifications, and configure how your system responds to inbound email. [Roles](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=ua-creating-roles&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) : Roles control access to features and capabilities in applications and modules. The admin role provides access to all features and capabilities. [ServiceNow plugins](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c_ServiceNowPlugins&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) : Plugins are software components that provide specific features and functionalities within a ServiceNow instance. [UI policies](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_CreateAUIPolicy&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) : UI policies dynamically change the behavior of information on a form and control custom process flows for tasks. [Users](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=user&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) : User records establish a relationship between an individual and your ServiceNow instance. User records consist of a user name, a password, and information relating to the individual, such as contact information, location, and job title. ## Related applications and features {#building-pro-code-applications__section_gf3_hkq_rvb} [JavaScript APIs](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=api-reference&version=australia&pubname=australia-api-reference&ft:locale=en-US) : Use JavaScript APIs in scripts that you write to change the functionality of applications, or when you create new applications. [UI Builder](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/eEkHP5JM3Z7MG7voCBC~XA "UI Builder is a web user interface builder. Use UI Builder to build pages for App Engine Studio generated workspaces or custom web experiences using Next Experience Components and custom web components.") : Use UI Builder to build web user interfaces for CSM Configurable Workspace, App Engine Studio generated workspaces and portals, or custom web experiences using Next Experience Components and custom web components.