App generation

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 15, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of App generation

    App generation enables ServiceNow developers to rapidly initiate application development through conversational interaction with generative AI, specifically using Now Assist for Creator. Developers describe their business processes, objectives, users, workflows, and experiences via natural conversation. This approach expedites the creation of a basic application that can later be customized to meet specific organizational needs.

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    To utilize app generation, users must have the admin and now.assist.creator roles assigned. The process is integrated into ServiceNow Studio and App Engine Studio (AES), supporting iterative refinement and verification of the generated application.

    Key Features

    • Conversational Design: Developers initiate app building by chatting with Now Assist, specifying detailed business requirements.
    • Iterative Refinement: Now Assist summarizes application requirements and updates the preview continuously based on developer feedback until approval.
    • Automated Generation: Upon finalizing requirements, Now Assist generates application components such as tables, roles, access control lists (ACLs), and record producers automatically.
    • Verification and Customization: Developers verify the generated app in ServiceNow Studio (Xanadu Store Release 2) or App Engine Studio (Xanadu Store Release 1), with options to extend functionality by adding flows, automation, business rules, script includes, and other features.
    • Role Requirements: Administrator and creator roles are mandatory to access the app generation capabilities.

    App Generation Workflow

    The workflow consists of three main phases, plus verification:

    • Conversation: Developers communicate business process details to Now Assist.
    • Refinement: Now Assist provides requirement summaries for review and iterative editing.
    • Generation: The application and related components are generated automatically.
    • Verification: Developers validate and customize the app within ServiceNow Studio or App Engine Studio.

    Availability

    This app generation skill is available via the Now Assist for Creator product and workflow, integrated into the ServiceNow platform to enhance developer productivity and accelerate application delivery.

    App generation enables developers to kick start application building through conversation.

    The app generation skill lets your developers begin creating applications through a natural conversation with generative AI. They can describe their business process and engage in a back-and-forth conversation with Now Assist to develop an application for your organization. With this feature, your organization can expedite the initial development of a basic app that can then be customized.

    Note:
    Your administrators and developers must be assigned with the admin and now.assist.creator roles to use app generation. For more information about using app generation, see Now Assist for app generation in ServiceNow Studio (Xanadu Store Release 2) or Generate apps with Now Assist for Creator for use with AES (Xanadu Store Release 1).
    Figure 1. App generation begins
    App generation conversation beginning in the Now Assist panel.
    Conversation
    Chat with Now Assist for Creator to specify the business processes you want in the application including the details on the objectives, users, workflows, and experiences.
    Refinement in Xanadu Store Release 2
    Now Assist for Creator provides a summary of the application requirements based on the information collected during the conversation. Preview the application and check that it’s accurate. If you want to make changes, stay in the conversation and keep editing. Now Assist continues to update the preview tab based on your comments and provides summaries until you choose to proceed with generating the application.
    Generation
    Now Assist for Creator generates the application and associated components, including the tables, roles, access control lists (ACLs), and record producers.
    Verify
    Developers verify everything that is generated in ServiceNow Studio. The developer can modify the app to make it suit your organization's needs. For example, the application's functionality can be extended by adding flows and automation, script includes, business rules, and other features.

    For more information, see Now Assist for app generation in ServiceNow Studio.

    In Xanadu Store Release 1, there are three distinct phases to building apps with Now Assist for Creator using the app generation skill and a fourth phase to verify the app in App Engine Studio.

    Figure 2. App generation workflow in Xanadu Store Release 1
    Infographic that shows the three phases to using app generation, with a fourth on verifying the app in App Engine Studio. For the text description, refer to the text that follows.
    Conversation
    Your developers can chat with Now Assist for Creator to specify the business processes they want in the application including the details on the objectives, users, workflows, and experiences.
    Refinement
    Now Assist for Creator provides a summary of the application requirements based on the information collected during the conversation. The developer reviews each summary and if the requirements meet the application's needs, they move forward with generating the app. If the developer wants to make changes, they can stay in the conversation and keep editing. Now Assist continues to refine the application requirements based on their comments, and provides summaries until the developer chooses to proceed with generating the application.
    Generation
    Now Assist for Creator generates the application and associated components, including the tables, roles, access control lists (ACLs), and record producers.
    Verify
    Developers verify everything that is generated in App Engine Studio. The developer can modify the app to make it suit your organization's needs. For example, the application's functionality can be extended by adding flows and automation, script includes, business rules, and other features.

    For more information, see Now Assist for app generation in AES.

    Availability

    This skill is available in the workflow and product listed below.

    Table 1. Now Assist products and workflows
    Workflow Product
    Creator Now Assist for Creator