---
sourceDocument: Yokohama Build or modify applications
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/yokohama/application-development

 Release :

    - yokohama

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Yokohama Build or modify applications

ft:clusterId :

    - cadev

bundleId :

    - cadev

workflow :

    - Development, Data, and Analytics


---

# ServiceNow IDE user interface

# ServiceNow IDE user interface {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Yokohama
* 
* Updated July 31, 2025
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 4 minutes to read

The ServiceNow IDE user interface contains many of the same features as Visual Studio Code for the Web and some unique functionality for creating ServiceNow applications.

## Overview of the ServiceNow IDE user interface {#servicenow-ide-user-interface__section_lyx_vyd_dbc}

The ServiceNow IDE is an implementation of Visual Studio Code for the Web on the ServiceNow AI Platform, which includes the following features:

* Basic editing and keyboard shortcuts
* IntelliSense
* Code navigation
* Code and file search
* Command palette
* Source control integration

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Visual Studio Code for the Web is similar to Visual Studio Code Desktop but doesn't support all of the features that are available in the desktop interface. For information about browser-based implementations of Visual Studio Code, see [Visual Studio Code for the Web](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/vscode-web). The following Visual Studio Code features aren't supported in the ServiceNow IDE:

* Integrated terminal
* Debugger
* Marketplace extensions
* Integrated unit testing
* Remote development

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For general information about common features in Visual Studio Code and the ServiceNow IDE, see the [Visual Studio Code documentation](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs) website.

## Features in the ServiceNow IDE {#ariaid-title2}

Learn about features of the ServiceNow IDE user interface.
Figure 1. ServiceNow IDE user interface

1. [ServiceNow IDE home page](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/fPd4yT40iorbG9G_3ShN3A#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_sqf_j5j_1cc): Get started creating workspaces and applications and view existing workspaces. Switch between development environments using the experience switcher.
2. Activity Bar
   * [File Explorer view](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/fPd4yT40iorbG9G_3ShN3A#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_vl3_bj2_dbc): Navigate through applications in your workspace and their code.
   * [Search view](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/fPd4yT40iorbG9G_3ShN3A#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_oq5_fj2_dbc): Find content within files.
   * [Source Control view](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/fPd4yT40iorbG9G_3ShN3A#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_zys_hzd_dbc): Integrate with a Git repository for version control of your code.
   * [Metadata Explorer view](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/fPd4yT40iorbG9G_3ShN3A#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_xdm_dzd_dbc): Create, update, and view application metadata.
   * [Now SDK view](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/fPd4yT40iorbG9G_3ShN3A#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_oqm_xtp_ldc): Synchronize changes to application metadata or build and install applications.
   * [Manage menu](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/fPd4yT40iorbG9G_3ShN3A#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_x2f_2rc_qfc): Access and configure various aspects of the user interface.
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3. [Editor](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/fPd4yT40iorbG9G_3ShN3A#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_agx_c42_dbc): Write source code and view application metadata through embedded ServiceNow AI Platform user interfaces.
4. [Status bar](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/fPd4yT40iorbG9G_3ShN3A#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_qnf_d42_dbc): View status information about your applications and files and build applications.

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In addition to these features, you can open the command palette to run a variety of commands to develop applications, manage files, use source control, and more. For more information, see [Command palette](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/fPd4yT40iorbG9G_3ShN3A#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_ftq_gzd_dbc).

### ServiceNow IDE home page {#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_sqf_j5j_1cc}

Create workspaces, access existing workspaces, and create or open applications. Clone a Git repository to add an existing application from a remote repository. To get started creating workspaces and applications, see [Developing applications with the ServiceNow IDE](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/hJdjaYVU3iNaTJIpuaPHsg "Create and develop applications in source code with the ServiceNow IDE. Build applications to make your changes available across an instance and collaborate with users of any skill set."). To clone a Git repository, see [Clone a Git repository with the ServiceNow IDE](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/3XUdhdkMO2cvJ8ByxDB4xA "Clone a remote Git repository to collaborate on applications in source control with the ServiceNow IDE.").
Figure 2. Experience switcher

Work in the right environment for your task by using the experience switcher to switch between developing in ServiceNow IDE, ServiceNow Studio, and Creator Studio. For information about configuring the experience switcher, see [Configure non-default access to the experience switcher](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/VopMkWRq~WYGHu4Yc6i~rg "Control which roles have access to the experience switcher in ServiceNow Studio. The experience switcher enables you to easily switch between development environments to use the right tool for your task.").

### File Explorer view {#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_vl3_bj2_dbc}

Navigate through applications in a workspace and add files or folders. In the Outline section, view the outline of the active file in the editor. In the Timeline section, view a history of changes to the active file. For
information about the default application file structure, see the [Application structure](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/NZvoSqmUdToPQ43Dq2OslQ#building-applications-source-code__application-structure) section of the Building applications in source code topic.

### Search view {#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_oq5_fj2_dbc}

Search across files in the active workspace. The Search view supports using regular expressions, find and replace, and advanced search options.  
To search for files by name, open the search box with the following keyboard shortcuts:

* Windows: Ctrl-P
* Mac: Cmd-P
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### Source Control view {#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_zys_hzd_dbc}

See changes to files grouped by application and the type of change. Stage, commit, and push changes to a remote repository and pull changes into your local repository. Create and checkout branches for your applications. In the
Commits section, see the commit history for branches in the repository. To get started integrating with source control providers, see [Integrating source control with the ServiceNow IDE](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Wh~ihrihpX7QCTuuaWTewg "Integrate with remote Git repositories to manage applications in source control with the ServiceNow IDE.").

### Metadata Explorer view {#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_xdm_dzd_dbc}

Create, update, and view application metadata in the most applicable embedded ServiceNow AI Platform user interface in the editor. If you need to create some application metadata outside of source code, you can create application files from the Metadata Explorer. For more information, see [Create an application file from the Metadata Explorer](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/ZWi0y68yXQOsEE16NvN7yw "Create an application file in an embedded ServiceNow AI Platform user interface from the Metadata Explorer in the ServiceNow IDE.").

### Now SDK view {#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_oqm_xtp_ldc}

Run commands from the ServiceNow SDK application packaging service to synchronize changes to application metadata or build and install an application. For more information, see [Synchronizing applications in the ServiceNow IDE](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/jbQrwiyonvtEZDpac2w4Qw "Synchronizing an application in the ServiceNow IDE downloads and transforms application metadata into ServiceNow Fluent code.") and
[Build and install an application in the ServiceNow IDE](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/NpZVL4t4OjS5y6ijBXoOLQ "Build an application to compile its source code and install application changes across an instance from the ServiceNow IDE.").

### Manage menu {#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_x2f_2rc_qfc}

Access and configure various aspects of the ServiceNow IDE user interface from the Manage menu. You can manage your settings, select a theme preference, view or edit keyboard shortcuts, and more.

### Editor {#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_agx_c42_dbc}

Write and edit code using IntelliSense, custom language processing and validation for ServiceNow Fluent, side-by-side editing, and more.

After building an application, review changes to ServiceNow Fluent source code as application metadata in embedded ServiceNow AI Platform user interfaces without leaving the ServiceNow IDE. Application metadata opens in the most applicable embedded ServiceNow AI Platform user interface. From links in the editor, you can open the Metadata Explorer view for metadata defined with a dedicated ServiceNow Fluent API.

Switch between tabs and split the editor into groups. If a file has unsaved changes, the file tab includes a dot icon.

![File with unsaved changes.]()

To get started developing applications in source code, see [Developing applications with the ServiceNow IDE](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/hJdjaYVU3iNaTJIpuaPHsg "Create and develop applications in source code with the ServiceNow IDE. Build applications to make your changes available across an instance and collaborate with users of any skill set.").

### Status bar {#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_qnf_d42_dbc}

![Status bar]()

Get information about the state of your application and build applications. View the progress when creating, building, and syncing applications. In addition, the status bar displays the active branch, problems in your code, the active application scope, the active update set, and more.

From the status bar, the panel opens
and displays more information about problems in your code and logging related to creating, building, and syncing applications.

### Command palette {#servicenow-ide-ui-features__section_ftq_gzd_dbc}

Run commands to configure the user interface, develop applications, manage files, use source control, access a list of keyboard shortcuts, and more. The command palette includes commands unique to the ServiceNow IDE and Visual Studio Code commands. For a list of commands specific to the ServiceNow IDE, see [ServiceNow IDE commands](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/jQgNNdwprEiW4NWD1EftUg "Use commands from the command palette to perform many actions in the ServiceNow IDE.").  
To open the command palette, use one of the following keyboard shortcuts:

* Windows: Ctrl-Shift-P
* Mac: Cmd-Shift-P
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To close the command palette, press the Escape key.