ServiceNow IDE release notes

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of ServiceNow IDE release notes - Australia Release

    The ServiceNow® Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a Visual Studio Code–based web IDE running on the ServiceNow AI Platform that enables developers to create and manage scoped applications using source code. The Australia release introduces significant enhancements, including support for creating and converting global scope applications and improved code organization.

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    Key Features

    • Create or Convert Global Applications: Developers can now create and convert applications in the global scope, allowing these apps to be accessible by other global applications on Australia release instances.
    • Improved Code Organization: ServiceNow Fluent code generation now supports taxonomy-based directory structures by default within the fluent/generated directory. Developers can customize this structure via the taxonomy parameter in the now.config.json file.
    • Updated Activity Bar: The IDE’s Activity Bar now features new views for bookmarks and recent activity, replacing the previous Metadata Explorer with new File Categories and Apps views to improve navigation and productivity.
    • Localization: The IDE supports all left-to-right languages based on the instance’s language preferences, ensuring accessibility for global users.

    Activation and Upgrade

    • The ServiceNow IDE is available and active by default on Australia release instances as version 3.2.3.
    • To leverage the latest features, customers should upgrade to version 4.0 or later via the ServiceNow Store.
    • Access to the public npm registry (https://registry.npmjs.org) is required for package downloads; if blocked, a private npm registry must be configured in the IDE’s Package Manager settings.

    Related Applications and Features

    • ServiceNow SDK: Provides application packaging and Fluent APIs used behind the scenes by the IDE.
    • Build Agent: An AI assistant integrated with the IDE to facilitate application creation and editing via chat.
    • Now Assist for Code: Offers code autocomplete suggestions to improve scripting productivity within the IDE.
    • Developer Sandboxes: Allow delegated developers to safely write and merge code without risk of overwriting changes.
    • ReleaseOps: Automates deployment pipelines, improving reliability and reducing risks when releasing changes.
    • ServiceNow Studio: Provides a unified development environment for building and extending applications and solutions.

    The ServiceNow® integrated development environment (IDE) application enables developers to create scoped applications in source code in an IDE based on Visual Studio Code for the Web on the ServiceNow AI Platform. ServiceNow IDE was enhanced and updated in the Australia release.

    ServiceNow IDE highlights for the Australia release

    Create or convert applications in the global scope with instances on the Australia release.

    See ServiceNow IDE for more information.

    Important:
    ServiceNow IDE is available in the ServiceNow Store. For details, see the "Activation information" section of these release notes.

    Important information for upgrading ServiceNow IDE to Australia

    ServiceNow IDE version 3.2.3 is active by default on instances on the Australia release. Update to ServiceNow IDE version 4.0 or later to use the latest features. For information about updating ServiceNow IDE, see Install or update the ServiceNow IDE.

    New in the Australia release

    Version 4.0
    Create and convert global applications
    Create and convert applications in the global scope that are accessible to other global applications with instances on the Australia release.
    Generated ServiceNow Fluent code organized in taxonomy-based directories
    Configure a custom directory structure for metadata transformed into ServiceNow Fluent code with the taxonomy parameter in an application's now.config.json file. By default, generated ServiceNow Fluent files are organized in a taxonomy-based directory structure within the fluent/generated directory.

    UI changes

    Version 4.0
    Updated Activity Bar
    The Activity Bar includes additional views for bookmarks and recent activity, and the Metadata Explorer view has been replaced with the File Categories and Apps views.

    Activation information

    ServiceNow IDE is active by default and available for upgrade in the ServiceNow Store. Visit the ServiceNow Store to view all the available apps, and for information about submitting requests to the store. For cumulative release notes information for all released apps, see the ServiceNow Store version history release notes.

    Additional requirements

    ServiceNow IDE uses the public npm registry (https://registry.npmjs.org) as its default package source. If your network blocks access to this registry, you must have access to an alternate registry to download packages and build applications in the ServiceNow IDE. If access to the public npm registry is blocked on your system, you must configure a private npm registry in your Package Manager user settings in the ServiceNow IDE. For more information, see Install an npm package from a private registry with the ServiceNow IDE.

    Localization information

    The ServiceNow IDE is localized in all supported left-to-right languages and reflects the language preference selected by users for the instance. For information about how to activate a language on an instance, see Activate a language.

    Related ServiceNow applications and features

    ServiceNow SDK
    The ServiceNow SDK is used in the background of the ServiceNow IDE as the application packaging service that builds applications and provides the ServiceNow Fluent APIs for developing applications in source code. Scoped applications created or converted with the ServiceNow IDE or ServiceNow SDK can be developed with either application.
    Build Agent
    Use Build Agent, an autonomous AI agent, to help you create and edit applications from a chat panel in the ServiceNow IDE.
    Now Assist for Code
    With Now Assist for Code, you can use the Code autocomplete skill to generate code suggestions for scripts in applications in the ServiceNow IDE.
    Developer Sandboxes
    Developer Sandboxes provide admins and delegated developers the ability to request, access, and manage individual sandboxes on top of the same underlying development instance. Delegated Developers can write and merge code and configuration changes without the risk of their changes getting over-written on the instance mid-development.
    ReleaseOps
    ReleaseOps automates deployment of changes across your pipeline, increases predictability and reliability of deployments, and reduces the risk of releasing changes to production.
    ServiceNow Studio
    ServiceNow Studio provides a unified experience for all ServiceNow development activities, enabling admins and developers to extend base system solutions and create custom apps with ease.