--- 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 --- # Lux Lab # Lux Lab {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated September 29, 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 Lux Lab Lux Lab is a standalone desktop application designed to build Lux applications for ServiceNow customers. It integrates several development tools---including a project explorer, code editor, instance browser, agent chat panel, source control, and build actions---into a single interface, enabling efficient creation and extension of Lux experiences. Lux Lab is distinct from the Lux Lab extension for VS Code, allowing you to choose the tool that best fits your workflow without restriction. Show full answer Show less ## System Requirements and Installation Lux Lab supports macOS (12 Monterey or later) and Windows (10 64-bit or later) with minimum hardware requirements including 8 GB RAM and at least 2 GB free disk space. Recommended configurations suggest higher RAM and disk space for optimal performance. Additional prerequisites include Node.js v24+, pnpm v10+, Git v2.30+, and an active internet connection for instance connectivity and agent functionality. Installation on macOS is via a drag-and-drop .dmg file, and on Windows through an .exe installer. On first launch, macOS users may need to allow the app in Privacy \& Security settings. A guided setup ensures your environment has necessary dependencies, installs optional agents, and requires signing in to a provisioned ServiceNow instance to access the home page. ## Key Features * **Guided Setup:** Checks and fixes environment dependencies, installs agents as needed, and facilitates secure instance sign-in using basic authentication. * **Agent Support:** Vendor-neutral support for multiple ACP-compatible agents (e.g., Claude, Devin, Codex) with a dedicated Agents and Skills panel to manage them and project-level skills. * **Integrated Development Environment:** Home page includes workspace tabs (Run, Preview, Deploy), activity bar (Explorer, Source Control, Search), project explorer, code editor with IntelliSense-powered completions, agent chat panel, terminal, build console, and status indicators. * **Project Templates:** Create new projects quickly with templates for a full AIUX starter app, extensions to existing applications, or collections-based Lux apps. It also supports importing existing folders or Git repositories. * **Run and Preview:** Start a local development server with hot module replacement for rapid development. Preview your app in an embedded browser frame proxied to your connected ServiceNow instance. * **Deployment:** Uses ServiceNow SDK deployment workflow. Builds and deploys Lux applications directly to the signed-in instance, with options for build-only, custom deploy to other instances, or running project scripts. Deployment output is streamed into the Build tab for real-time feedback. * **Privacy:** Only installation status telemetry is collected, with no code, credentials, or conversations transmitted. Users can opt out via advanced settings. ## Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers Lux Lab empowers ServiceNow developers to efficiently create, test, and deploy Lux applications within a consolidated environment tailored for the platform. Its guided setup ensures all necessary tools and dependencies are in place, minimizing setup friction. The integrated agent chat panel and support for multiple agents enhance the developer experience and productivity. The ability to preview changes instantly and deploy using the ServiceNow SDK process streamlines the development lifecycle, helping teams deliver Lux-powered experiences faster and more reliably. By choosing Lux Lab or Lux Lab for VS Code, customers can select the development approach that best fits their preferences without compromising on capabilities or support. Lux Lab is the standalone desktop app for building Lux applications, not a VS Code extension. It combines a project explorer, code editor, instance browser, agent chat panel, source control, and build actions in one window. Lux Lab is one of the tools you can use to create or extend Lux experiences. The other is [Lux Lab for VS Code](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/jLQPjoHkjJ5orBPkQfgmmg "ServiceNow Lux Lab for VS Code brings project creation, instance browsing, local preview, build, and deployment into Visual Studio Code. It ships alongside the standalone Lux Lab desktop app as a separate product."). Pick whichever fits your workflow; neither is a track you graduate from. ## System requirements {#lux-lab-app__lux-lab-app-system-requirements} {#lux-lab-app__table-lux-lab-app-macos-requirements__entry__3} | Requirement | Minimum | Recommended | |-|-|-| | Operating system | macOS 12 (Monterey) or later | macOS 13 (Ventura) or later | | Processor | Apple Silicon (M1 or later) | Apple Silicon M2 or later | | RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB or more | | Disk space | 2 GB free | 10 GB or more free | [Table 1. macOS requirements] {#lux-lab-app__table-lux-lab-app-macos-requirements} {#lux-lab-app__table-lux-lab-app-windows-requirements__entry__3} | Requirement | Minimum | Recommended | |-|-|-| | Operating system | Windows 10 (64-bit) or later | Windows 11 | | Processor | Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5 | Intel Core i7 / AMD Ryzen 7 or better | | RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB or more | | Disk space | 2 GB free | 10 GB or more free | [Table 2. Windows requirements] {#lux-lab-app__table-lux-lab-app-windows-requirements} You also need Node.js v24 or later, pnpm v10 or later, Git v2.30 or later, and an internet connection for instance connectivity and agent features. ## Installation {#lux-lab-app__lux-lab-app-installation} For more information on installing Lux Lab, see [Install Lux Lab](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/sneID1KBxa7rCF38cSHPfw "Install Lux Lab on macOS or Windows from the ServiceNow Developer Store. On first launch, a guided setup takes you through environment, agent, and instance sign-in steps."). * macOS ships as a .dmg you drag into /Applications * Windows ships as an .exe installer {#lux-lab-app__ul_ubf_q4p_tkc} ## First launch {#lux-lab-app__lux-lab-app-first-launch} On the first macOS launch, the operating system may block the app. Open it from System SettingsPrivacy \& Security by selecting Open Anyway. A guided setup screen walks you through three steps before you reach the home page. {#lux-lab-app__table-lux-lab-app-guided-setup-steps__entry__3} | Step | What it does | Required | |-|-|-| | Environment | Checks for Node.js v24+, pnpm v10+, and Git v2.30+ | Yes | | Agents | Detects whether the agents the Agent Chat Harness needs are installed, and offers to install them | No | | Instance sign-in | Signs in to a provisioned ServiceNow instance that can run Lux applications, using your instance URL, username, and password (basic authentication) | Yes | [Table 3. Guided setup steps] {#lux-lab-app__table-lux-lab-app-guided-setup-steps} A failing environment check gets a Run Fix button that installs or resolves the issue and re-validates. All environment checks must pass before you continue. The Agents step completes automatically if the agents are already present, and you can configure agents later from the Agents and Skills panel. The home page is not accessible without signing in to an instance. Agent support is vendor-neutral. The Agents and Skills panel lists every ACP-compatible agent configured on your system, such as Claude, Devin, or Codex. The panel also lists the skills bundled with Lux Lab and any project-level skills in your project. ## Lux Lab home {#lux-lab-app__lux-lab-app-whats-in-the-window} {#lux-lab-app__table-lux-lab-app-window-regions__entry__2} | Region | Purpose | |-|-| | Top bar | Workspace tabs, plus the Run, Preview, and Deploy actions | | Activity bar | Icon strip that switches between Explorer, Source Control, Search, and other views | | Project Explorer | File tree for your local project | | Code Editor | Editing area with tabs and a breadcrumb trail; supports split views | | Agent Chat panel | Conversational agent interactions | | Bottom panel | Tabbed: Terminal, Build, Console, Problems, Tests | | Instance / Work Items | The connected instance and current work items, pinned in the sidebar | | Status bar | Branch name, sync status, IntelliSense, and other indicators | [Table 4. Home regions] {#lux-lab-app__table-lux-lab-app-window-regions} The editor gives language-server-based, context-aware completions as you type, using the same IntelliSense engine as VS Code. ## Project templates {#lux-lab-app__lux-lab-app-project-templates} The Create New Project dialog scaffolds from one of three templates, or imports an existing local folder or Git repository. {#lux-lab-app__table-lux-lab-app-project-templates__entry__2} | Template | What it scaffolds | |-|-| | Base AIUX template | A full starter with nav layout, pages, and a hello-world widget | | Extension template | An extension to an existing application | | Collections template | A collections-based Lux application | [Table 5. Project templates] {#lux-lab-app__table-lux-lab-app-project-templates} Lux Lab scaffolds the project, installs dependencies, and opens it. For the same project structure explained from the CLI side, see [Create your first Lux experience](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Omt_TYN_ds8aW9NeBPABFw "Install the ServiceNow SDK toolchain, scaffold a new Lux application, and deploy your first app to your ServiceNow instance. This foundational workflow guides you through environment setup, local development, and deployment."). ## Run and preview actions {#lux-lab-app__lux-lab-app-run-and-preview-actions} Run starts the local dev server. The button shows Stop while the server is up. Preview starts the dev server and opens the preview at the same time. Saving a source file triggers hot module replacement, which compiles only the changed module and pushes it to the preview without a full reload. Changes to configuration files such as aiux.json need a dev server restart. The preview opens as an editor tab showing your application in an embedded browser frame. Lux Lab serves it on localhost and proxies it to the instance you're connected to in the app. Dev server logs and hot-reload activity stream into the Console tab. Linter and type errors land in Problems; build failures land in Build. ## Deployment {#lux-lab-app__lux-lab-app-deployment} Lux Lab's deploy pipeline follows the ServiceNow SDK deployment process. When you trigger a deploy, Lux Lab builds the application, compiling and bundling the source into deployable artifacts. It then runs `now-sdk install` to push the built metadata and artifacts to the target instance. The target is the instance you're currently signed in to. The process is identical to running the ServiceNow SDK deployment from the command line. The Deploy button in the title bar runs a full build and deploy (`Cmd+Shift+D` on macOS, `Ctrl+Shift+D` on Windows). Its drop-down menu adds three options. {#lux-lab-app__table-lux-lab-app-deploy-options__entry__2} | Option | What it does | |-|-| | Build | Runs the build step only, without deploying | | Custom Deploy | Deploys to a different instance you have previously connected to but aren't currently signed in to | | Project scripts | Runs any script defined in the project's package.json | [Table 6. Deploy options] {#lux-lab-app__table-lux-lab-app-deploy-options} Deploy output streams into the Build tab. If several projects are open in the workspace, Deploy asks which one to deploy. Before deploying, confirm that the project builds, that you're connected to the target instance, and that your account has permission to deploy applications on it. Under App Settings, the ServiceNow SDK version Lux Lab uses for a project defaults to the latest. For what those commands do if you want the manual workflow instead, see [ServiceNow SDK](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/qqnlIBoD6w1T9XfXyLmSHg "ServiceNow SDK is the command-line tool that scaffolds, builds, and deploys a Lux application. It's distributed as the npm package @servicenow/sdk and invoked as now-sdk."). ## Privacy {#lux-lab-app__lux-lab-app-privacy} Lux Lab collects only installation status, a signal used to count active installations. It doesn't collect or transmit code, project files, prompts, agent conversations, or instance credentials. To opt out, open App SettingsAdvanced and turn off the installation status telemetry toggle. **Related concepts** * [Lux Lab for VS Code](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/jLQPjoHkjJ5orBPkQfgmmg "ServiceNow Lux Lab for VS Code brings project creation, instance browsing, local preview, build, and deployment into Visual Studio Code. It ships alongside the standalone Lux Lab desktop app as a separate product.") **Related reference** * [ServiceNow SDK](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/qqnlIBoD6w1T9XfXyLmSHg "ServiceNow SDK is the command-line tool that scaffolds, builds, and deploys a Lux application. It's distributed as the npm package @servicenow/sdk and invoked as now-sdk.") *[\>]: and then