Hi Readers, welcome back to the ServiceNow learning series. In the previous blog we have seen what ServiceNow is. We know now that ServiceNow is a SaaS platform where we can build easy to complex applications with very less or no coding. But how do we actually do that?
First, let us discuss how we build an application on a general tech stack. Consider I need to build a web application we usually develop in the following layers:
All the applications have the following architecture as building blocks:
- UI (Front End): For any web application, we have to build a front end in a web development framework. There are multiple frameworks available, and the list keeps growing. The most commonly used frameworks are Angular, React, and Vue.js. Here, we build what is visible to the user, like Lists, Form, Dashboard, etc..
- Server (Back End): For the front end to show content it needs the data. This data comes from a Server. The Server connects with the Database and sends the data. The server can be built using NodeJS, Java, PHP, etc.
- The link between the two is established via the API’s. They are running on the Server and consumed by the front-end applications. The UI requests data via the API to which the Server responds.
In a usual development cycle, a developer has to build all of these parts. He has to configure the Server, create tables, connect to the database, create APIs for CRUD operations, and so on. Similarly, on the front end, he has to create forms, and lists for each table and application. These tasks are easily managed in ServiceNow. ServiceNow provides a UI to create databases which automatically creates a form and list view for the table. A developer can easily create a data model and configure the form as per the need. It also provides easy-to-write validations on the form. Thus reducing the developer’s tasks.
Building Blocks of ServiceNow
Following below are the building blocks of ServiceNow
- Tables – The creation of the tables automatically provides Form, List, and CRUD operations. The tables that we create on a database are done by ServiceNow and we don’t have to worry about any SQL queries.
- Business Rules – Works as triggers on a table like
before insert, orafter updateetc.. - Client Script – Works as form validation scripts before submitting the form.
- Reports and Dashboards – Helps generate reports on the data and have a graphical representation. Like Doughnut charts, Pie charts, Bar charts, etc.
- Scripting APIs – ServiceNow provides a few APIs like Java Packages / Classes to perform complex operations.
- Update Set – This is a method that helps to deploy the application to the different instances (Dev, UAT, Prod)
These things work together to make an application. They are easy to develop and configure.
Conclusion
Today we have gone through how we build an application on any tech stack and how it correlates with ServiceNow. We have seen the different building blocks of ServiceNow. From the next blog onwards we will start developing an application using them. This will help you develop an application like an expert.
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