Is Coding Required to Become a ServiceNow Developer?

ServiceNow is a cloud‑based workflow and automation platform that helps companies digitise everything from IT service tickets to HR onboarding to customer‑facing requests. A ServiceNow Developer designs, configures and extends this platform so that it solves real business problems.

But how much coding does that actually involve? ServiceNow’s marketing often highlights its low‑code and no‑code features, yet seasoned practitioners repeatedly warn newcomers not to underestimate the need for JavaScript.

This article delivers a balanced, step‑by‑step analysis of when coding is (and isn’t) essential, what skills employers expect in 2025, and how to chart a learning path that matches your background – technical or otherwise.

Overview of the ServiceNow Platform

Core Functionality

IT Service Management (ITSM): Incident, problem, change, request and knowledge management.
ITOM (IT Operations Management): keeps your live infrastructure and services healthy by discovering, monitoring, and automatically fixing issues.
ITAM (IT Asset Management): keeps your hardware and software inventory (and its costs, compliance, and lifecycle) accurate and optimized.
Automation Engine: Workflow Engine, Flow Designer and IntegrationHub for orchestration.
App Engine: Low‑code app builder with tables, forms, UI Builder and App Engine Studio.
Platform Services: CMDB, AI Search, Notification Engine, Performance Analytics, Virtual Agent and more.

Low‑Code / No‑Code Features

Feature	Typical Users	What You Build	Code Needed?
App Engine Studio	Citizen devs & pro devs	Drag‑and‑drop data models, forms, role‑based security	None to light
Flow Designer	Process owners	Workflows using natural‑language actions & IntegrationHub spokes	Only for complex scenario
UI Policies & Data Policies	Admins	Dynamic form behaviour & data validation	None
Decision Tables	Analysts		None

Where Coding Fits

Despite the rich configuration layer, ServiceNow is code‑friendly for complex use‑cases:

Business Rules & Script Includes: Server‑side JavaScript executed before/after database actions.
Client Scripts & UI Scripts: JavaScript running in the user’s browser.
Glide & g_ APIs: Proprietary JavaScript APIs for querying records, manipulating the UI, sending email and more.
REST/SOAP Integrations: Scripted APIs to connect ServiceNow with external systems.
Custom Components: For UI Builder or Service Portal widgets.

The Reality of Coding in ServiceNow

“It’s not a ‘no‑code’ environment. It CAN be low‑code, but you will find that it’s a heavy JavaScript platform.” – Senior Developer, Reddit

ServiceNow’s evolution mirrors a broader industry shift: platform vendors add drag‑and‑drop tooling to democratise app creation while simultaneously expanding pro‑code surfaces for deep customisation and performance tuning. The result is a hybrid development model:

Configuration‑first for speed and maintainability.
Script‑as‑needed for business logic, integrations and UI experiences that the low‑code layer can’t express.

JavaScript is the core language on both the server (Rhino engine) and the client (browser). Add‑on knowledge of HTML, CSS, SCSS and modern web frameworks (AngularJS in Service Portal) rounds out the toolkit.

Typical Responsibilities of a ServiceNow Developer

Below are everyday tasks split into non‑coding and coding activities. Your ratio depends on project size, maturity of the implementation and whether you wear an admin or developer hat.

Non‑Coding / Configuration

Configure tables, fields and dictionary attributes.
Design forms and list layouts.
Build flows in Flow Designer with IntegrationHub spokes.
Create service catalogue items and record producers.
Define SLAs, notifications, reports and dashboards.
Set up UI/data policies and role‑based access controls (ACLs).
Use App Engine Studio to scaffold new scoped apps.

Coding / Scripting

Business Rules for data validations and automation.
Client Scripts for real‑time form logic (onChange, onLoad, onSubmit).
GlideAjax calls for client‑server communication without full page reloads.
Scripted REST APIs and custom IntegrationHub actions.
Script Includes for reusable libraries.
Service Portal / UI Builder components with HTML, CSS, SCSS, Vue.js or AngularJS.
Data import Transform Scripts.
Asynchronous workers (Scheduled Jobs, Asynchronous Business Rules) for performance.

Top 60 ServiceNow Interview Questions and Answers

Skills Required

Technical Skills

Skill	Entry	Mid	Senior
Platform navigation & table design	✔️	✔️	✔️
Flow Designer & IntegrationHub	✔️	✔️	✔️
JavaScript (ES5/ES6)	Helpful	Required	Expert
Glide & `g_` APIs	Intro	Proficient	Advanced
REST/SOAP integrations	Intro	Proficient	Advanced
HTML/CSS, SCSS	Nice	Helpful	Pro
CI/CD (Scoped Apps, Source Control, ATF)	–	Helpful	Required
Data modelling & CMDB	Intro	Proficient	Expert

Key takeaway: You can land an associate developer or admin job with minimal coding, but you will quickly hit a ceiling. Advanced automation, integrations and performance optimisation all demand JavaScript mastery.

Non‑Technical Skills

Process thinking to map workflows into repeatable logic.
ITIL awareness (incidents, changes, requests).
Communication & documentation for gathering requirements and explaining designs.
Agile delivery (user stories, sprint ceremonies).
Troubleshooting mindset debugging is half the job.

Administrator vs Developer: Different Coding Requirements

Role	Primary Focus	Coding Need
ServiceNow Administrator	Maintain modules, handle updates, delegate admin rights, build reports, manage ACLs & SLAs, Platform Maintenance	Low – mostly configuration via UI, Flow Designer, policies
ServiceNow Developer	Extend platform, build scoped apps, write integrations, optimise scripts, design data models	High JavaScript, Glide APIs, REST integrations, web UI

An admin can accomplish much through point‑and‑click, but every developer job posting in 2025 explicitly lists JavaScript, Glide APIs and REST knowledge as must‑haves. One community answer sums it up: “A SN Admin will not require much coding, but a Developer absolutely will.”

Learning Path & Recommendations

Rule of thumb: “Configure first, then script only where value demands.”

Master the Fundamentals
- Sign up on the free developer.servicenow.com instance.
- Complete the ServiceNow Fundamentals learning path and the System Administrator (CSA) certification.
- Explore tables, forms, lists, data policies and ACLs.
Low‑Code Automation
- Build flows in Flow Designer.
- Invoke IntegrationHub spokes (Slack, Microsoft Teams, Azure DevOps).
- Package your app in the Application Repository.
Core JavaScript (~40 hours of study)
- Variables, functions, objects, arrays, ES6 arrow functions.
Platform Scripting
- GlideRecord, GlideAjax, GlideDateTime, GlideAggregate.
- Script Includes for modular design.
Integration Essentials
- REST API Explorer, OAuth 2.0 profiles.
- Scripted REST APIs and IntegrationHub custom actions.
Advanced Topics
- ATF (Automated Test Framework).
- Source Control, CI/CD pipelines.
- Performance best practices: asynchronous patterns, script optimisation.
Certifications & Community
- Certified Application Developer (CAD) after CSA.
- Contribute to the ServiceNow Community and TechNow episodes.

Real‑World Scenarios

Scenario 1: Quick Facilities Request App (No Code)

A facilities manager needs an app to track maintenance requests. Using App Engine Studio she:

Creates a table with common fields.
Builds a catalogue item via drag‑and‑drop.
Configures an approval flow in Flow Designer.
Publishes the app zero scripts written.

Scenario 2: Two‑Way HR System Integration (Medium Code)

A global HR SaaS must sync employee data and case updates with ServiceNow HRSD.

Inbound: Scripted REST API receives create/update calls.
Outbound: Scheduled IntegrationHub action pushes status via OAuth.
Transform Scripts: Cleanse data, map enums, handle attachments.
Total scripting: ≈200 lines across Script Includes and flow actions coding expertise mandatory.

Limitations of Low‑Code & the Future of Developer Roles

Why Low‑Code Isn’t a Silver Bullet

Low‑code tools accelerate delivery, but they hit walls when you need:

Complex data transformations (nested JSON, binary attachments).
High‑performance processing or bulk operations.
Pixel‑perfect UI/UX beyond standard components.
Advanced logic that spans multiple records and external systems.

As a Reddit contributor quipped, “Just imagine any integration via REST where complex data needs to be processed that has to be coded.”

How GenAI & Low‑Code Change the Day‑to‑Day

Generative AI, template builders and natural‑language flow creation will augment pro developers, not replace them. Expect to:

Spend less time on boilerplate scripts (AI can scaffold).
Spend more time on architecture, security, data strategy and optimisation.
Mentor citizen developers who create 70% solutions that still need pro‑code “finishing.”

In Gartner’s 2024 Low‑Code MQ, ServiceNow remained a leader precisely because it offers both drag‑and‑drop and deep scripting hooks a dual strategy that keeps developers relevant.

Conclusion