Creating DevOps subflows

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 5 minutes to read
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    Summary of Creating DevOps subflows

    ServiceNow customers can create DevOps Workflow Studio subflows to collect and transform data from various DevOps tools during user-created integrations. These subflows utilize ServiceNow Flow Designer to automate processes through sequences of actions, triggered by conditions and passing data via variables.

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    The subflows support multiple DevOps tool types including planning, coding, orchestration, test, and artifact tools, each with predefined JSON payload structures for notifications. Subflows also enable key capabilities such as Connect and Discover for managing tool connections and data retrieval.

    Key Features

    • Notification capability subflow: Transforms original payloads from different DevOps tools into standardized JSON formats, storing the results in a transformedpayload field for further processing.
    • Connect capability subflow: Allows users to test and manage connections to DevOps tools, returning success flags and error messages to help troubleshoot connection issues directly from the DevOps tool form.
    • Discover capability subflow: Retrieves data from connected DevOps tools, supporting both paginated and non-paginated JSON payloads. This data includes items like releases, repositories, orchestration tasks, pipelines, test results, and artifacts.
    • Update Import Request action: Enables modification of Import Request record states within the Discover subflow, allowing controlled workflow progression and error handling.

    Practical Use and Outcomes

    By implementing these DevOps subflows, ServiceNow customers can streamline integration with a variety of DevOps tools, ensuring consistent data transformation and automation. The Connect and Discover capabilities facilitate reliable tool connectivity and efficient data import, enhancing visibility and control within ServiceNow.

    Using these subflows, customers can expect:

    • Standardized and validated data ingestion from planning, coding, orchestration, testing, and artifact tools.
    • Improved error handling with clear connection status and messages.
    • Support for large datasets via pagination in the Discover capability.
    • Integration workflows that pause or proceed based on Import Request state updates, enabling robust process management.

    For user-created integrations, create a DevOps Workflow Studio subflow to collect and transform data from the tool you are integrating.

    ServiceNow Flow Designer is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature your integration developer can use to automate processes using a sequence of actions. Trigger conditions start the flow, and variables pass information between actions.

    See Flow Designer Subflows for information on how to create a subflow.

    Notification capability subflow

    Item Expected value
    Inputs

    Label: current

    Type: Reference.Inbound Event

    Outputs

    		 N/A

    Transform the original payload, and save the final payload in the transformed_payload field.

    Expected standard JSON Notification capability payload - Planning tool
    Note:
    The version attribute in the JSON payload is optional. Even if you do not provide the version attribute, the payload is processed successfully.
    {
  "id": "STR1234",
  "type": "Story",
  "shortDescription": "Planning API Spec",
  "state": "In-progress",
  "createdDateTime": "1970-01-01T08:15:30-05:00",
  "assignedTo": {
    "name": "Leo Neo",
    "userName": "lenn",
    "id": "3fa85f64-5717-4562-b3fc-2c963f66afa6",
    "email": "lenn@smithworksinc.com"
  },
// The Version attribute is optional
  "version": {
      "id": "REL1234",
      "shortDescription": "APIs Release",
      "createdDateTime": "1970-01-01T08:15:30-05:00",
      "app": {
          "id": "PRODUCT1234",
          "shortDescription": "Mobile UI",
          "createdDateTime": "1970-01-01T08:15:30-05:00",
          "url": "https://jira.com/mycompany/browse/PRODUCT-125"
        },
      "url": "https://jira.com/mycompany/browse/REL-125"
    },
  "app": {
      "id": "PRODUCT1234",
      "shortDescription": "Mobile UI",
      "createdDateTime": "1970-01-01T08:15:30-05:00",
      "url": "https://jira.com/mycompany/browse/PRODUCT-125"
    },
  "url": "https://jira.com/mycompany/browse/HALOKEY-25"
}
    Expected standard JSON Notification capability payload - Coding tool
    {
  "id": "3fa85f64-5717-4562-b3fc-2c963f66afa6",
  "url": "https://github.com/mycompany/mobileplatform/commit/3fa85f6457174562b3fc2c963f66afa6",
  "committedDate": "1970-01-01T08:15:30-05:00",
  "repository": {
    "name": "Platform-Mobile",
    "url": "https://github.com/mycompany/mobileplatform"
  },
 "branch": {
    "name": "master",
    "path": "refs/heads/master"
  },
  "committer": {
    "email": "lenn@smithworksinc.com"
  },
  "details": [
    {
      "additions": 0,
      "deletions": 0,
      "totalChanges": 0,
      "file": "src/test/java/com/mycompany/app/App.java",
      "action": "modified",
      "changes": "%40%40%20-30%2C6%20%2B30%2C18%20%40%40%20public%20void%20testAppConstructor%28%29%20%7B%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%7D%0A%20%20%20%20%20%7D%0A%20%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%40Test%0A%2B%20%20%20%20public%20void%20testDatabase%28%29%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%7B%0A%2B%09%2F%2FThis%20is%20a%20test%20function%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20App.main%28null%29%3B%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20try%20%7B%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20assertEquals%28%22Hello%20World%21%22%20%2B%20System.getProperty%28%22line.separator%22%29%2C%20outContent.toString%28%29%29%3B%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%7D%20catch%20%28AssertionError%20e%29%20%7B%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20fail%28%22%22message%22%20is%20not%20%22Hello%20World%21%22%22%29%3B%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%7D%0A%2B%20%20%20%20%7D%0A%2B%0A%20%20%20%20%20%40Test%0A%20%20%20%20%20public%20void%20testAppMain%28%29%0A%20%20%20%20%20%7B"
    }
  ]
}
    Expected standard JSON Notification capability payload - Orchestration tool
    {
  "toolId": "bc1d9454dbdb0810ae77f3c61d9619d1",
  "buildNumber": "100",
  "nativeId": "HILR/Prod #100",
  "name": "HILR/Prod",
  "id": "HILR/Prod #100",
  "url": "https://dev.azure.com/lenn/CorpSite-ADO/_build/results?buildId=100#Prod/",
  "isMultiBranch": "false",
  "orchestrationTaskUrl": "https://dev.azure.com/lenn/CorpSite-ADO/_build?name=HILR#Prod",
  "orchestrationTaskName": "CorpSite-ADO/HILR#Prod",
  "upstreamTaskUrl": "https://dev.azure.com/lenn/CorpSite-ADO/_build/results?buildId=100#UAT/",
  "upstreamId": "CorpSite-ADO/HILR#UAT",
  "result": "building",
  "startDateTime": "2020-03-20 22:59:27"
}
    Expected standard JSON Notification capability payload - Test tool
    Functional:
    { 
"name": "CorpSite-selenium#55", 
"duration": 78.802, 
"passedTests": 4, 
"failedTests": 0, 
"skippedTests": 0, 
"blockedTests": 0, 
"totalTests": 4, 
"startTime": "2020-06-30T18:12:31Z", 
"finishTime": "2020-06-30T18:12:31Z", 
"passingPercent": 100, 
 
 
// Use Artifact OR Package OR Build + Stage + PipelineName Attributes 
"packages": [{"name": "CorpSite-pkg1"}], 
"artifacts": [{"name": "CorpSite-artifact", "version": "1.0.0"}], 
"buildNumber": "55", 
"stageName": "test", 
"pipelineName": "CorpSite-selenium", 
}
    Performance:
    { 
"name": "Performance Tests", 
"url": "http://abc.com", 
"startTime": "2020-06-30T18:12:31Z", 
"finishTime": "2020-06-30T18:12:31Z", 
"duration": 78.802, 
"maximumVirtualUsers": "", 
"throughput": "", 
"maximumTime": "", 
"minimumTime": "", 
"averageTime": "", 
"ninetyPercent": "", 
"standardDeviation": "", 
 
// Use Artifact OR Package OR Build + Stage + PipelineName Attributes 
"packages": [{"name": "CorpSite-pkg1"}], 
"artifacts": [{"name": "CorpSite-artifact", "version": "1.0.0"}], 
"buildNumber": "55", 
"stageName": "test", 
"pipelineName": "CorpSite-Performance", 
}
    Expected standard JSON Notification capability payload - Artifact tool
    Pipelines:
    {
  "artifacts": [
    {
      "name": "acm.jar",
      "version": "1.82",
      "semanticVersion": "1.82.0",
      "repositoryName": "acm-repo"
    }
  ],
  "pipelineName": "testMultiBranch/master",
  "taskExecutionNumber": "82",
  "stageName": "buildmbmaster",
  "branchName": "master"
}
    Jenkins Freestyle/Maven Project:
    {
  "artifacts": [
    {
      "name": "mav1.jar",
      "version": "1.11",
      "semanticVersion": "1.11.0",
      "repositoryName": "mav-repo"
    }
  ],
  "projectName": "maven-test-proj",
  "taskExecutionNumber": "11"
}
    Figure 1. DevOps Notification capability flow diagram example - Coding tool
    DevOps Notification Coding Tool Flow

    Connect capability subflow

    The Connect capability is supported.

    Item Expected value
    Inputs

    Label: current

    Type: Reference.DevOps Tool

    Tool record for which the Connect button action is clicked.

    Outputs

    See subflow outputs.
    • Label: connected

      Flag indicating the success or failure of the connection made to the target tool (true/false).

    • Label: errormessage

      String message displayed on the form for connection failure. The variable is an empty string if the connection is successful.
    Connect errors shown on the DevOps tool form:
    Connection failed
    Subflow was executed successfully but the connection could not be made.
    Error: Failed to get failure details from the tool specific connect flow
    Subflow execution failed for an unknown reason.
    Error updating the tool connect status
    The connection_state attribute could not be updated for an unknown reason.
    Figure 2. DevOps Connect capability flow diagram example - Orchestration tool
    DevOps Connect Orchestration Tool

    Discover capability subflow

    The Discover capability is supported.

    Item Expected value
    Inputs

    Label: current

    Type: Reference.DevOps Tool

    Outputs

    See subflow outputs.

    Without pagination:

    Label: discoverpayload

    Type: Array of objects as JSON string.

    (JSON.stringify([{},{}]))

    Planning tool without pagination:

    [
{
   "id":"REL1234567",
   "name": "REL NUMBERS",
   "url":"https://jira.com/vult/browse/REL1234567",
   "nativeId": "1790e6cc-085b-4529-9cb8-47f393182226"
},
{
   "id":"TOR67",
   "name": "TOR 67",
   "url":"https://jira.com/welp/browse/TOR67",
   "nativeId": "482ce864-085b-4529-9cb8-47f393767eb2"
}
]
    Coding tool without pagination: 
    [
  {
      "name": "nvm_repo",
      "url": "https://github.com/nvm_repo/"
  },
  {
      "name": "golang_util",
      "url": "https://github.com/golang_util/"
  }
];
    Orchestration tool without pagination:
    {
  "orchestrationTasks": [
    {
      "name": "Build_APC_1",
      "url": "https://jenkins.wsf.xyz/job/Build_APC_1",
      "projectName": "Build_APC_1"
    },
    {
      "name": "CI_CD_Jenkins",
      "url": "https://pt1.jenkins.com/job/CI_CD_Jenkins",
      "projectName": "CI_CD_Jenkins"
    },
    {
      "name": "CI_deploy",
      "url": "https://pt2.jenkins.com/job/CI_deploy",
      "projectName": "CI_deploy"
    }
  ],
  "pipelines": [
    {
      "name": "Build_APC_1",
      "url": "https://jenkins.wsf.xyz/job/Build_APC_1",
      "projectName": "Build_APC_1"
    },
    {
      "name": "CI_CD_Jenkins",
      "url": "https://pt1.jenkins.com/job/CI_CD_Jenkins",
      "projectName": "CI_CD_Jenkins"
    },
    {
      "name": "CI_deploy",
      "url": "https://pt2.jenkins.com/job/CI_deploy",
      "projectName": "CI_deploy"
    }
  ]
}

    With pagination:

    Label: discoverpayload

    Type: Array of objects as JSON string.

    (JSON.stringify([{},{}]))

    Sample JSON format:

    "pageInfo" : {
    "isLastPage" : true, 
    "discoverPayload" : {},
    “pageDetails” : {}
}
    Planning tool with pagination: 
    {               
    "pageInfo": {
        "isLastPage": false,
        "discoverPayload": [
            {
               "id":"REL1234567",
               "name": "REL NUMBERS",
        "url":"https://jira.com/vult/browse/REL1234567",
               "nativeId": "1790e6cc-085b-4529-9cb8-47f393182226"
            },
            {
               "id":"TOR67",
               "name": "TOR 67",
               "url":"https://jira.com/welp/browse/TOR67",
               "nativeId": "482ce864-085b-4529-9cb8-47f393767eb2"
            }
            ],
        "pageDetails": {
            "curPage" : 1,
            "nextPage": 2
        }
    }
}
    Coding tool with pagination: 
    {
    "pageInfo": {
        "isLastPage": false,
        "discoverPayload": [
            {
                "name": "nvm_repo",
                "url": "https://github.com/nvm_repo/"
            },
            {
                "name": "golang_util",
                "url": "https://github.com/golang_util/"
            }
        ],
        "pageDetails": {
            "curPage" : 1,
            "nextPage": 2
        }
    }
}
    Orchestration tool with pagination:
    { 
    "pageInfo": { 
        "isLastPage": false, 
        "discoverPayload": { 
            "orchestrationTasks": [ 
              { 
                "name": "Build_APC_1", 
                "url": "https://jenkins.wsf.xyz/job/Build_APC_1", 
                "projectName": "Build_APC_1" 
              }, 
              { 
                "name": "CI_CD_Jenkins", 
                "url": "https://pt1.jenkins.com/job/CI_CD_Jenkins", 
                "projectName": "CI_CD_Jenkins" 
              } 
            ], 
            "pipelines": [ 
              { 
                "name": "Build_APC_1", 
                "url": "https://jenkins.wsf.xyz/job/Build_APC_1", 
                "projectName": "Build_APC_1" 
              } 
            ] 
          }, 
        "pageDetails": { 
            "curPage" : 1, 
            "nextPage": 2 
        } 
    } 
}
    The Discover main flow is triggered during import request record creation. An import request has these states and messages.
    State Message
    Requested --
    Processing --
    Completed

    Updated <number> object(s)

    Found <number> objects with invalid toolId

    Found <number> objects failed validation
    Error
    • Unable to parse payload string from Subflow
    • discoverpayload is expected to be an array of objects
    • ImportRequest record does not have reference to tool table
    Paused --
    Canceled --
    Unmatched --
    Figure 3. DevOps Discover capability flow diagram example - Planning tool
    DevOps Discover Plan Tool Flow
    Figure 4. DevOps Discover capability with pagination support flow diagram
    Flow diagram of a typical discover flow with pagination support

    Update Import Request Workflow Studio action

    You can use the Update Import Request action in your Discover subflow to modify the Import Request record state, if desired.

    Input label Type
    current

    Reference.Import Request
    state (String)
    • requested
    • processing
      Note:
      Flow execution is stopped (once the return is received from the subflow) when the state is set to processing.
    • completed
    • error
    • paused
    • canceled
    • unmatched
    details (String)