n8n
Open-source workflow automation platform with visual node-based editor, 400+ integrations, webhooks, and self-hosted deployment capabilities
Best use case
n8n is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Open-source workflow automation platform with visual node-based editor, 400+ integrations, webhooks, and self-hosted deployment capabilities
Teams using n8n should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/n8n/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How n8n Compares
| Feature / Agent | n8n | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Open-source workflow automation platform with visual node-based editor, 400+ integrations, webhooks, and self-hosted deployment capabilities
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# N8N ## When to Use This Skill ### USE when: - Building integrations between 400+ services (Slack, Gmail, Notion, Airtable, etc.) - Creating visual workflows accessible to non-developers - Self-hosting is required for data sovereignty and compliance - Need webhook-triggered automations with real-time processing - Building internal tool automations and business process automation - Connecting APIs without writing extensive code - Rapid prototyping of automation workflows - Need human-in-the-loop approval workflows ### DON'T USE when: - Orchestrating complex data pipelines with dependencies (use Airflow) - CI/CD pipelines tightly coupled with git (use GitHub Actions) - Need sub-second latency requirements (use direct API calls) - Processing massive datasets (use dedicated ETL tools) - Require enterprise audit compliance out-of-box (evaluate requirements) - Simple single-trigger cron jobs (use systemd timers) ## Prerequisites ### Installation Options **Option 1: npm (Development)** ```bash # Install globally npm install n8n -g # Start n8n n8n start # Access UI at http://localhost:5678 ``` *See sub-skills for full details.* ### Development Setup ```bash # Clone for custom node development git clone https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n.git cd n8n # Install dependencies pnpm install # Build pnpm build # Start development server pnpm dev ``` ## Version History | Version | Date | Changes | |---------|------|---------| | 1.0.0 | 2026-01-17 | Initial release with comprehensive workflow patterns | ## Resources - [n8n Documentation](https://docs.n8n.io/) - [n8n Community](https://community.n8n.io/) - [n8n Workflow Templates](https://n8n.io/workflows/) - [n8n GitHub Repository](https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n) - [Custom Node Development](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/creating-nodes/) - [n8n API Reference](https://docs.n8n.io/api/) --- *This skill provides production-ready patterns for n8n workflow automation, tested across enterprise integration scenarios handling thousands of daily executions.* ## Sub-Skills - [1. Basic Workflow Structure](1-basic-workflow-structure/SKILL.md) - [2. Webhook Triggers](2-webhook-triggers/SKILL.md) - [3. Scheduled Workflows](3-scheduled-workflows/SKILL.md) - [4. Conditional Branching and Error Handling](4-conditional-branching-and-error-handling/SKILL.md) - [5. Data Transformation with Code Node (+1)](5-data-transformation-with-code-node/SKILL.md) - [7. Custom Node Development](7-custom-node-development/SKILL.md) - [8. Workflow Templates and Subworkflows](8-workflow-templates-and-subworkflows/SKILL.md) - [Integration with Slack, Google Sheets, and Email](integration-with-slack-google-sheets-and-email/SKILL.md) - [Integration with GitHub and Jira](integration-with-github-and-jira/SKILL.md) - [1. Workflow Organization (+4)](1-workflow-organization/SKILL.md) - [Common Issues (+1)](common-issues/SKILL.md)
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