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

Building a modern interface


There are two parts to a web-based platform such as ServiceNow: the central server, which is where most of the data is stored, and the client browsers that ask for the data, display it, and then push information back to the server.

ServiceNow takes advantage of modern web browsers to provide a simple-to-use and feature-rich interface. This is built with JavaScript, the language of the Web. JavaScript is very capable, giving you control over the whole interaction with the user.

Note

Most ServiceNow system administrators have had some experience working with client-side JavaScript. So, writing scripts that interact with a web browser is often simple and familiar. The fact that ServiceNow also uses JavaScript on the server is a bonus: you only need to know one language.

The power and pitfalls of Ajax

Modern websites make heavy use of asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax), a technique built by Microsoft but popularized by Google. It is the key method for loading data...