Background

As a keen runner, I've been thinking of ideas that I could build as a custom app in ServiceNow; firstly to build my skills in this area and secondly to build something that would be of practical use.

What I decided was an app where I could build training plans and schedules and most importantly pre-activity motivational WhatsApp reminders to get me out the door.

This is a high-level insight into the building blocks of the app.

Data

Firstly the data. What I envisioned was 3 tables consisting of:

Training Plans

Label	Column	Type
Name	name	String
Goal	goal	String
Start Date	start_date	Date
End Date	end_date	Date
Retrospective	retrospective	String
Active	active	True/False

Activities

Label	Column	Type
Training Plan	training_plan	Reference
Type	type	Choice
Name	name	String
Description	description	String
Gear	gear	Reference
Day	day	Date/Time

Gear

Label	Column	Type
Brand	brand	Choice
Model	model	String
Nick Name	nick_name	String
Notes	notes	String
Mileage	mileage	Integer
Auto Retire	auto_retire	True/False
Retire Mileage	retire_mileage	Choice
Retired	retired	True/False

Each training plan created would consist of several activities and each activity would use some gear (running shoes).

Experience

Next the experience. I created 3 record producers:

Add Training Plan

Add Activity

Add Gear

A new Catalog (because why not) - Icons generated at https://icons8.com/):

Then a front-end Portal via UI Builder (App Logo generated at https://app.logo.com/):

Logic and Automation

Next the fun part. Automation. I created a flow that would send automated reminders of planned activities. I utilized Twilio (where you can set up a free trial) to trigger WhatsApp messages and integration to include a fitness-related quote with each notification for inspiration and motivation.

Actions

Inspirational Quote Generator

A simple GET REST Message utilizing an API Key Header for Authentication (configured at API Ninja)

Send WhatsApp via Twilio

Another simple POST REST Message utilizing Basic Authorization (Twilio Docs)

Flow

Outcome / Result

A nice little app that I will use to track training plans, goals and activities and my favourite part is an automated motivational message reminding me of the goal for the day:

Insights

Forms are also created as 'experience' items as a by-product of creating a table
Items not available to be created in App Engine Studio can be created via Studio (System Applications => Studio)
- For example, I created Application Menus / Modules, Connections and Credential Aliases
App Engine Starter Portal Experience (developed via UI builder) rather than Service Portal. Taken from this Portal Experience FAQs article by Ashley Snyder - Portal Experiences are suggested to be used as a self-service user interface for custom applications.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this was of some interest to some of you ServiceNow and/or Running enthusiasts out there. A decent starter app to whet the appetite. Drop any feedback, suggestions or comments below.

ServiceNow Go Run App

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