ServiceNow IDE release notes

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of ServiceNow IDE release notes

    The ServiceNow® integrated development environment (IDE) is a Visual Studio Code–based web IDE on the ServiceNow AI Platform that enables developers to create scoped applications in source code. The Zurich release introduces significant enhancements and updates to the ServiceNow IDE, improving development workflows and user experience.

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    Key Features

    • Clone Git repositories with multiple applications: Developers can clone repositories containing multiple scoped applications, provided they include at least one package.json and one now.config.json file, facilitating more complex source code development.
    • SDK version configuration: The IDE now allows configuration of whether to use the bundled or latest version of the ServiceNow SDK when creating or converting applications, controlled by the snglider.defaulttobundledsdk system property. By default, the latest SDK version is used.
    • New themes: Two developer themes are available—the Developer Light (default) and Developer Dark themes. Theme preferences set in ServiceNow IDE also apply to other builder applications like ServiceNow Studio and Creator Studio, ensuring a consistent user interface.
    • Localization support: The IDE supports all left-to-right languages and reflects the user’s language preference configured on the instance.

    Activation and Upgrade

    The ServiceNow IDE is active by default on Zurich release instances and available for upgrade through the ServiceNow Store. Version 2.1.2 is active by default, but customers are encouraged to update to version 3.0 or later to access the newest features. For upgrade procedures, customers should refer to the official installation or update guides.

    Additional Requirements

    The IDE relies on the public npm registry (https://registry.npmjs.org) as the default source for npm packages. If network access to this registry is blocked, customers must configure access to an alternate or private npm registry in the IDE’s Package Manager user settings to enable package downloads and application builds.

    Related Applications and Features

    • ServiceNow SDK: Powers application packaging and provides Fluent APIs for source code development within the IDE.
    • Build Agent: An AI-powered assistant embedded in the IDE to aid application creation and editing via a chat interface.
    • Now Assist for Code: Provides code autocomplete suggestions to accelerate script writing within applications.
    • Developer Sandboxes: Allow admins and delegated developers to work safely on isolated development environments to prevent overwriting changes.
    • ReleaseOps: Automates and streamlines deployment pipelines to improve deployment reliability and reduce production risks.

    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 Zurich release.

    ServiceNow IDE highlights for the Zurich release

    • Clone a Git repository that contains multiple applications.
    • Use light and dark developer themes.
    • Use the ServiceNow IDE in any supported left-to-right language.

    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 Zurich

    ServiceNow IDE version 2.1.2 is active by default on instances on the Zurich release. Update to ServiceNow IDE version 3.0 or later to use the latest features. For information about updating ServiceNow IDE, see Install or update the ServiceNow IDE.

    New in the Zurich release

    Clone a repository that contains multiple applications
    Clone a Git repository that contains multiple applications that support development in source code. The repository must contain at least one package.json file and one now.config.json file.
    Default to using the latest version of the ServiceNow SDK in new or converted applications
    Configure whether to use the bundled version or the latest version of the ServiceNow SDK when creating or converting applications in the ServiceNow IDE with the sn_glider.default_to_bundled_sdk system property. By default, the latest version of the ServiceNow SDK is used.

    UI changes

    New developer themes
    Use the Developer Light (default) and Developer Dark themes in the ServiceNow IDE. Select a theme from the user settings in the ServiceNow IDE or with the Preferences: Color Theme command from the command palette.

    The theme preference selected by a user from the ServiceNow IDE applies to other builder applications such as ServiceNow Studio and Creator Studio.

    Activation information

    ServiceNow IDE is active by default and available for upgrade in the ServiceNow Store. Visit the ServiceNow Store website 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.