Book Image

Mastering ServiceNow - Second Edition

Book Image

Mastering ServiceNow - Second Edition

Overview of this book

ServiceNow is a SaaS application that provides workflow form-based applications. It is an ideal platform for creating enterprise-level applications giving requesters and fulfillers improved visibility and access to a process. ServiceNow-based applications often replace email by providing a better way to get work done. The book steps through the main aspects of the ServiceNow platform, from the ground up. It starts by exploring the core architecture of ServiceNow, including building the right data structure. To add business logic and control data, and interactivity to user interaction, you will be shown how to code on both server and the client. You will then learn more about the power of tasks, events and notifications. The book will then focus on using web services and other mechanisms to integrate ServiceNow with other systems. Furthermore, you will learn how to secure applications and data, and understand how ServiceNow performs logging and error reporting. You will then be shown how to package your applications and changes, so they can be installed elsewhere and ways to maintain them easily. If you wish to create an alternative simple interface, then explore ways to make ServiceNow beautiful using Service Portal. By the end of the book, you will know the fundamentals of the ServiceNow platform, helping you be a better ServiceNow System Administrator or developer.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Mastering ServiceNow Second Edition
Credits
Notice
About the Author
About the Reviewer
www.PacktPub.com
Preface

Configuration and customization


ServiceNow provides a great deal of functionality. However, the platform is also designed to be adaptable to specific requirements that are not available out of the box. The platform and any ServiceNow apps can be configured or customized to make them work as desired.

But there is always a tension when building new functionality: can I make it it secure? Will it be fast? Can I maintain it easily? Will platform upgrades be straightforward? As discussed in the previous section, ServiceNow has designed scoped applications to help as much as possible, and if you build in an application, the risk of your app doing something 'bad' is low.

But what happens when you build in the global scope? Unlike some other software, it is difficult to define the difference between configuration and customization. It is generally accepted that the former is less at risk of you regretting it later, and the latter is something you should only do if you have to.

  • Configuration is generally...