ServiceNow Fluent SDK

ServiceNow Fluent is a TypeScript-based DSL for defining application metadata (sys_metadata) as code. Files use the .now.ts extension and are compiled with now-sdk build. Two-way sync keeps metadata in sync between code and the ServiceNow instance. All Fluent APIs import from @servicenow/sdk/core.

Reference Files

Read these files when you need them — do not pre-load all references at session start. Paths are relative to the skill root (the directory containing this SKILL.md file).

File	When to read
references/metadata-types.md	When generating or reviewing any Fluent metadata type
references/column-types.md	When working with Table column definitions (StringColumn, IntegerColumn, etc.)
references/now-globals.md	When using Now.ID, Now.include, or the script tagged template literal
references/getting-started.md	When helping someone install the SDK or create their first project
references/project-structure.md	When explaining file layout, now.config.json, or scope prefix rules
references/gotchas.md	When encountering auth errors, XML/source conflicts, --reinstall questions, Now.ID or Now.ref usage, -now: import prefix issues, JS module sync questions, or npx vs now-sdk confusion
references/cli-reference.md	When running or explaining build, install, transform, clean, or pack commands

Example Assets

Use these as structural templates — only read the example that matches your target type, do not pre-load all examples:

File	Metadata type
assets/examples/table.now.ts	Table (all 6 column types)
assets/examples/acl.now.ts	Acl + Role
assets/examples/business-rule.now.ts	BusinessRule
assets/examples/client-script.now.ts	ClientScript (.client.js extension)
assets/examples/script-include.now.ts	ScriptInclude
assets/examples/ui-action.now.ts	UiAction
assets/examples/ui-page.now.ts	UiPage
assets/examples/rest-api.now.ts	RestApi
assets/examples/flow.now.ts	Flow (trigger + action)

Hard Rules

1. Read before writing. Always read the relevant reference file before generating or reviewing Fluent code. Do not write from memory.

2. Only use documented APIs. Only use field names and options that appear in the reference files. If a user requests something not in the reference, say so and suggest the closest documented alternative.

3. Never use GlideRecord. GlideRecord is the legacy scripting API. Fluent is the correct pattern for SDK applications.

4. Never omit Now.ID where required. Check the $id-required types list in the header of references/metadata-types.md before writing any metadata type.

5. Always import from @servicenow/sdk/core. Never from @servicenow/sdk — the /core subpath is required.

6. Scope prefix comes from now.config.json. NEVER invent or assume the scope prefix. Read references/project-structure.md for the schema. If now.config.json is absent from the workspace, ask the user for their application scope before writing any names (table names, API names, role names, etc.).

7. Never run install without a successful build first. now-sdk install deploys whatever is in dist/. Running it without a prior now-sdk build silently pushes stale or missing artifacts. Build must complete cleanly before deploy.

8. Always verify auth before deploying. OAuth tokens expire silently. Run now-sdk auth --list and confirm the correct alias is active before every deploy.

9. sys_app.do is the app record, not the running UI. After deploy, the install output link points to the app record. The live UI URL is the endpoint value in the UiPage() call in the .now.ts source — e.g. https://<instance>.service-now.com/<endpoint>.do.

ATF tests: When a user asks to generate ATF tests, do NOT generate ATF code from this skill. ATF API surface is extensive and version-sensitive. Direct them to: github.com/ServiceNow/sdk-examples/tree/main/test-atf-sample

Behavior by Task Type

Build & Deploy

Pre-deploy checklist — always run through this first:

1. now-sdk auth --list → confirm the correct alias is marked as default
2. Ensure all .now.ts changes are saved and complete
3. Run build — it must succeed cleanly before proceeding

The sequence — never skip or reorder:

npm run build    # now-sdk build — type-check + bundle
npm run deploy   # now-sdk install — push artifacts to instance

Post-deploy verification — always confirm the right version landed:

1. Open https://<instance>.service-now.com/sys_app.do?sys_id=<scopeId> (scopeId is in now.config.json)
2. Confirm version matches what you just deployed
3. Confirm state is Active
4. If either is wrong, check sys_app_install_log on the instance for errors

Finding the live UI URL after deploy: The install output shows a sys_app.do link — that is the app record, not the running UI. To get the live URL:

1. Open the UiPage() definition in your .now.ts source file
2. Read the endpoint value (e.g. x_snc_myapp_portal.do)
3. Live URL: https://<instance>.service-now.com/<endpoint>.do

Targeting a specific instance:

now-sdk install --auth <alias>   # override the default alias

Common failures and fixes:

Symptom	Cause	Fix
Auth error mid-deploy	Expired OAuth token	Re-run now-sdk auth --add <url> --type oauth --alias <name> to refresh
Install succeeds but UI shows old code	Build was skipped or stale	Re-run npm run build then npm run deploy
Type-check error blocks build	TypeScript error in source	Fix the error reported — do not bypass
Scope conflict on install	Another app owns the scope	Check sys_app for conflicting scope, resolve before retrying

---

Generating Fluent code

1. If the scope prefix, metadata type, or required fields have not been stated by the user and cannot be unambiguously determined from the workspace — gather them before writing (ask for each piece of information sequentially to avoid overwhelming the user)
2. Read references/metadata-types.md for the target metadata type
3. Read the matching example from assets/examples/
4. Write code following the example structure exactly
5. Use Now.ID['descriptive_key'] for stable IDs; use Now.include('./filename.ext') for external scripts
6. Prefix table names, API names, and role names with x_scope_ (where scope comes from now.config.json); if now.config.json is absent, apply Hard Rule 6

Reviewing Fluent code

1. Read references/metadata-types.md
2. Check every field and option in the code against the reference
3. Flag options not in the reference as "not in reference — may be valid but verify against SDK docs"
4. Flag missing $id on types that require it (marked in the reference header)
5. Flag any GlideRecord usage
6. Flag imports from @servicenow/sdk (should be @servicenow/sdk/core)

Explaining Fluent code

1. Read the relevant section of references/metadata-types.md
2. For each field, paraphrase the reference definition — do not explain from memory
3. For Now.ID, Now.include, or script tag questions, also read references/now-globals.md