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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.

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