Jace's ServiceNow CLI

Explore and manage ServiceNow instances. Works standalone or with AI agents.

Agent Invariants

MUST follow these rules:

Choose the right output mode —
```
--json
```
when parsing data;
```
--md
```
when presenting to humans
Use sys_id for updates — All update/delete operations require sys_id
Check auth first — Run
```
jsn auth status
```
if commands fail

Profile scope — Use

--profile <name>

or switch with

jsn config switch <name>

Output Modes

Goal	Flag	Format
Parse data, pipe to jq	`--json`	JSON envelope: `{ok, data, summary, breadcrumbs}`
Show results to user	`--md`	Markdown tables
Automation/scripting	`--agent`	JSON + quiet + no interactive prompts
Raw data only	`--quiet`	JSON data without envelope

JSON Envelope

Every command supports

--json

json

{
  "ok": true,
  "data": [...],
  "summary": "5 tables",
  "breadcrumbs": [
    {"action": "show", "cmd": "jsn tables show incident", "description": "View details"}
  ]
}

Breadcrumbs suggest next commands for navigation.

Quick Reference

Task	Command
List tables	`jsn tables list --json`
Show table schema	`jsn tables schema incident --json`
List table columns	`jsn tables columns incident --json`
Create table	`jsn tables create u_my_table --label "My Table"`
Add column to table	`jsn tables add-column u_my_table u_field --type string --label "Field"`
Query records	`jsn records list incident --query "active=true" --json`
Show record	`jsn records show incident <sys_id> --json`
Count records	`jsn records count incident --query "priority=1" --json`
Create record	`jsn records create incident -f short_description="Test" --json`
Create with file	`jsn records create sys_script -f script=@/tmp/script.js --json`
Update record	`jsn records update incident <sys_id> -f state=2 --json`
Delete record	`jsn records delete incident <sys_id> --force --json`
List business rules	`jsn rules list --table incident --json`
Show rule script	`jsn rules script <sys_id>`
List flows	`jsn flows list --active --json`
List script includes	`jsn script-includes list --json`
Show script code	`jsn script-includes code <name>`
List ACLs	`jsn acls list --table incident --json`
List update sets	`jsn updateset list --json`
Set current update set	`jsn updateset use <name>`
List choices	`jsn choices list <table> <column> --json`
List jobs	`jsn jobs list --json`
Run job	`jsn jobs run <sys_id>`
List forms	`jsn forms list --table incident --json`
Show list columns	`jsn lists show incident --json`
List list views	`jsn lists list --table incident --json`
List UI policies	`jsn ui-policies list --table incident --json`
List client scripts	`jsn client-scripts list --table incident --json`
List catalog items	`jsn catalog-item list --json`
List item variables	`jsn catalog-item variables <sys_id> --json`
List variable choices	`jsn variable choices <name> --json`
Add variable choice	`jsn variable add-choice <name> "value"`
Variable types	`jsn variable-types --json`
Search docs	`jsn docs search <term>`
Compare instances	`jsn compare tables --source prod --target dev --json`
Generate code	`jsn generate gliderecord --table incident`
Run background script	`jsn eval "gs.print(gs.getProperty('instance_name'))"`
Run script from file	`jsn eval --file /tmp/my_script.js`

Command Categories

Tables & Schema

bash

jsn tables list --json                    # All tables
jsn tables list --search "incident"       # Filter by name
jsn tables list --app "global"            # Filter by scope
jsn tables show incident --json           # Table details (alias: get)
jsn tables schema incident --json         # Inheritance tree
jsn tables columns incident --json        # Column definitions
jsn tables create u_my_table --label "My Table"              # Create table
jsn tables create u_assets --label "Assets" --extends cmdb_ci  # Extend existing
jsn tables add-column u_my_table u_desc --type string --label "Description"
jsn tables add-column u_my_table u_ref --type reference --reference sys_user

Records (CRUD operations)

bash

jsn records list <table> --json                              # List records
jsn records list <table> --query "active=true" --limit 10    # With filter
jsn records list <table> --fields "number,short_description" # Specific fields
jsn records show <table> <sys_id> --json                     # Single record (alias: get)
jsn records count <table> --query "priority=1"               # Count
jsn records create <table> -f short_description="Test"       # Create with fields
jsn records create <table> -f script=@/tmp/script.js         # Read value from file
jsn records create <table> --data '{"field":"value"}'        # Create with JSON
jsn records update <table> <sys_id> -f state=2               # Update with fields
jsn records update <table> <sys_id> -f script=@/tmp/fix.js   # Update from file
jsn records delete <table> <sys_id> --force                  # Delete
jsn records variables <ritm_sys_id> --json                   # Catalog variables

Business Rules

bash

jsn rules list --table incident --json    # Rules on table
jsn rules show <sys_id> --json            # Rule details
jsn rules script <sys_id>                 # Output just the script

Flows

bash

jsn flows list --json                     # All flows
jsn flows list --active --json            # Active only
jsn flows show <name> --json              # Flow details

Script Includes

bash

jsn script-includes list --json           # All script includes
jsn script-includes list --scope global   # Filter by scope
jsn script-includes show <name> --json    # Details
jsn script-includes code <name>           # Output just the code

ACLs

bash

jsn acls list --table incident --json     # ACLs on table
jsn acls show <sys_id> --json             # ACL details
jsn acls script <sys_id>                  # Output condition script
jsn acls check --table incident --operation read  # Test coverage

Update Sets

bash

jsn updateset list --json                 # All update sets
jsn updateset show <name> --json          # Details
jsn updateset use <name>                  # Set as current
jsn updateset create <name>               # Create new
jsn updateset parent <child> <parent>     # Set parent

Choices

bash

jsn choices list <table> <column> --json  # List choices
jsn choices create <table> <column> --value 5 --label "Critical"
jsn choices update <sys_id> --label "New Label"
jsn choices delete <sys_id> --force
jsn choices reorder <table> <column> --mode hundreds

Jobs & Scheduling

bash

jsn jobs list --json                      # All jobs
jsn jobs list --type scheduled            # Scheduled only
jsn jobs show <sys_id> --json             # Job details
jsn jobs executions <sys_id> --json       # Execution history
jsn jobs run <sys_id>                     # Execute now

UI Configuration

bash

jsn forms list --table incident --json           # Form views
jsn forms show incident --view default --json    # Form layout
jsn lists list --table incident --json           # List views
jsn lists show incident --json                   # List columns (Default view)
jsn lists show incident --view "Default view"    # List columns for specific view
jsn ui-policies list --table incident --json     # UI policies
jsn ui-policies script <sys_id>                  # Policy script
jsn client-scripts list --table incident --json  # Client scripts
jsn client-scripts script <sys_id>               # Script code
jsn ui-scripts list --json                       # UI scripts

Service Portal

bash

jsn sp list --json                        # Portals
jsn sp show <id> --json                   # Portal details
jsn sp-widgets list --json                # Widgets
jsn sp-pages list --json                  # Pages

Service Catalog

bash

jsn catalog-item list --json              # List catalog items
jsn catalog-item list --active --json     # Active items only
jsn catalog-item show <sys_id> --json     # Item details
jsn catalog-item variables <sys_id> --json  # Variables on item

jsn variable show <name_or_sys_id> --json # Variable details
jsn variable choices <name> --json        # Choices for dropdown variable
jsn variable add-choice <name> "value" "Display Text"  # Add choice
jsn variable remove-choice <name> "value" # Remove choice

jsn variable-types --json                 # Variable type reference

Note:

jsn choices

manages

sys_choice

(field-level choices). Use

jsn variable choices

for catalog variable dropdown choices (

question_choice

table).

Logs

bash

jsn logs --json                           # Recent logs
jsn logs --level error --json             # Filter by level
jsn logs --source <name> --json           # Filter by source

Documentation

bash

jsn docs list                             # Available topics
jsn docs gliderecord                      # Show topic
jsn docs search "encoded query"           # Search docs
jsn docs update                           # Refresh cache

Cross-Instance Operations

bash

jsn compare tables --source prod --target dev --json
jsn compare script-includes --source prod --target dev --name "MyUtil"
jsn compare choices --source prod --target dev --table incident --column priority
jsn export script-includes --name "MyUtil" --output ./scripts
jsn export tables --name incident --output ./schema

Raw REST API

bash

jsn rest get /api/now/table/incident?sysparm_limit=5      # GET (query params auto-encoded)
jsn rest post /api/now/table/incident --data '{"short_description":"test"}'
jsn rest patch /api/now/table/incident/<sys_id> --data '{"state":"2"}'
jsn rest delete /api/now/table/incident/<sys_id>           # Shows confirmation on success
jsn rest get /api/x_myapp/custom_api/resource              # Custom/scoped APIs

Background Scripts (eval)

bash

jsn eval "gs.print(gs.getProperty('instance_name'))"             # Inline script
jsn eval --file /tmp/check_records.js                             # Script from file
echo "gs.print('hello')" | jsn eval                               # Piped from stdin
jsn eval --scope x_myapp_scope "gs.print(gs.getCurrentScopeName())" # Run in app scope
jsn eval --no-rollback "gs.print('skip rollback')"                # Disable rollback recording
jsn eval --no-quota "gs.print('no timeout')"                      # Disable 4-hour timeout
jsn eval "gs.print(JSON.stringify({user: gs.getUserName()}))" --json  # JSON output

Equivalent to "Scripts - Background" in the ServiceNow UI. Uses

sys.scripts.do

internally. Use

gs.print()

gs.info()

to produce output. Full server-side API access (GlideRecord, gs, etc.).

Code Generation

bash

jsn generate gliderecord --table incident
jsn generate script-include --name "MyUtil"
jsn generate rest --name "MyAPI"
jsn generate acl --table incident --operation read
jsn generate test --table incident

Configuration

~/.config/servicenow/         # Global config
├── config.json               #   Profiles and settings
└── credentials.json          #   Auth tokens (fallback)

.servicenow/                  # Per-repo config (optional)
└── config.json               #   Project-specific settings

Profiles

bash

jsn config list                           # List profiles
jsn config add                            # Add new profile
jsn config switch <name>                  # Switch active profile
jsn --profile prod tables list            # Use specific profile

Authentication

bash

jsn auth login                            # Interactive login
jsn auth status                           # Check auth
jsn auth logout                           # Clear credentials

Environment variables:

```
SERVICENOW_TOKEN
```
— Override stored token
```
SERVICENOW_INSTANCE
```
— Override instance URL

Interactive Pickers

Commands with

[optional]

arguments open pickers when omitted:

bash

jsn tables show [<name>]      # Opens picker if name not provided
jsn rules show [<id>]         # Opens picker if id not provided
jsn updateset use [<name>]    # Opens picker if name not provided

Alias:

get

works as an alias for

show

on all commands (e.g.,

jsn records get

jsn tables get

Global Flags

--config <path>       # Use specific config file
--profile <name>      # Use specific profile
--json                # Output as JSON
--quiet, -q           # Output data only (no envelope)
--md                  # Output as Markdown
--agent               # Agent mode (JSON + quiet + no prompts)
--jq <filter>         # Apply jq filter to JSON output

Error Handling

bash

jsn auth status                           # Check authentication
jsn instance info                         # Check connectivity

Common errors:

Auth error →
```
jsn auth login
```
Not found → Verify sys_id or table name
Forbidden → Check user roles/permissions

System Tables Reference

Area	Tables
Tables	`sys_db_object` , `sys_dictionary`
Choices	`sys_choice`
Business Rules	`sys_script`
Script Includes	`sys_script_include`
Flows	`sys_hub_flow`
ACLs	`sys_security_acl`
Update Sets	`sys_update_set`
UI Policies	`sys_ui_policy`
Client Scripts	`sys_script_client`
Forms	`sys_ui_section` , `sys_ui_element`
Jobs	`sysauto_script` , `sys_trigger`
Logs	`syslog`
Service Portal	`sp_portal` , `sp_widget` , `sp_page`
Service Catalog	`sc_cat_item` , `item_option_new` , `question_choice` , `sc_item_option_mtom`

servicenow

NPX Install

Tags

SKILL.md Content

Jace's ServiceNow CLI

Agent Invariants

Output Modes

JSON Envelope

Quick Reference

Command Categories

Tables & Schema

Records (CRUD operations)

Business Rules

Flows

Script Includes

ACLs

Update Sets

Choices

Jobs & Scheduling

UI Configuration

Service Portal

Service Catalog

Logs

Documentation

Cross-Instance Operations

Raw REST API

Background Scripts (eval)

Code Generation

Configuration

Profiles

Authentication

Interactive Pickers

Global Flags

Error Handling

System Tables Reference