N8n

n8n

Complete skill for building, managing, and administering n8n workflows.

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How to Use This Skill

This skill covers 9 domains. Each has its own reference file with detailed guidance.

Workflow Building (from czlonkowski/n8n-skills)

| Domain | Reference | When to use | |--------|-----------|-------------| | Workflow Patterns | [czlonkowski/skills/n8n-workflow-patterns/SKILL.md](czlonkowski/skills/n8n-workflow-patterns/SKILL.md) | Building new workflows, choosing architecture (webhook, HTTP API, database, AI agent, scheduled) | | Node Configuration | [czlonkowski/skills/n8n-node-configuration/SKILL.md](czlonkowski/skills/n8n-node-configuration/SKILL.md) | Configuring nodes, understanding property dependencies, required fields by operation | | Code — JavaScript | [czlonkowski/skills/n8n-code-javascript/SKILL.md](czlonkowski/skills/n8n-code-javascript/SKILL.md) | Writing JS in Code nodes, $input/$json/$node syntax, $helpers.httpRequest(), DateTime | | Code — Python | [czlonkowski/skills/n8n-code-python/SKILL.md](czlonkowski/skills/n8n-code-python/SKILL.md) | Writing Python in Code nodes, _input/_json syntax, standard library, limitations | | Expression Syntax | [czlonkowski/skills/n8n-expression-syntax/SKILL.md](czlonkowski/skills/n8n-expression-syntax/SKILL.md) | Writing {{ }} expressions, $json/$node variables, fixing expression errors | | Validation | [czlonkowski/skills/n8n-validation-expert/SKILL.md](czlonkowski/skills/n8n-validation-expert/SKILL.md) | Interpreting validation errors/warnings, false positives, validation profiles | | MCP Tools | [czlonkowski/skills/n8n-mcp-tools-expert/SKILL.md](czlonkowski/skills/n8n-mcp-tools-expert/SKILL.md) | Using n8n MCP tools effectively — tool selection, parameter formats, common patterns |

Additional Domains

| Domain | Reference | When to use | |--------|-----------|-------------| | Credentials | [credentials/SKILL.md](credentials/SKILL.md) | Credential types, REST API credential CRUD, HTTP Request auth modes, httpCustomAuth JSON format, predefinedCredentialType vs genericCredentialType | | Administration | [administration/SKILL.md](administration/SKILL.md) | Instance operations the MCP doesn't cover — Docker, backup/restore, CLI commands, internal API, community packages, SSO, upgrades, troubleshooting |

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Quick Decision: Which Tool to Use

| You want to... | Tool | |----------------|------| | Create/edit/delete workflows | MCP (n8n_create_workflow, n8n_update_partial_workflow) | | Search nodes, get schema | MCP (search_nodes, get_node) | | Validate workflow or node | MCP (n8n_validate_workflow, validate_node) | | Auto-fix workflow issues | MCP (n8n_autofix_workflow) | | Deploy a template | MCP (n8n_deploy_template) | | Test/trigger a workflow | MCP (n8n_test_workflow) | | Manage executions | MCP (n8n_executions) | | Create/update credentials | Public REST API (/api/v1/credentials) | | Test a credential | Internal API (POST /credentials/test) — see [credentials](credentials/SKILL.md) | | Install community packages | Internal API (POST /community-packages) — see [administration](administration/SKILL.md) | | Export decrypted credentials | CLI (n8n export:credentials --decrypted) — see [administration](administration/SKILL.md) | | Backup/restore database | CLI / Docker — see [administration](administration/SKILL.md) | | Upgrade n8n | Docker — see [administration](administration/SKILL.md) |

Priority: MCP → Public API → Internal API → CLI → Docker/Infra.

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Core Concepts (Quick Reference)

Webhook Data Access

// CRITICAL: webhook data is nested under .body
const data = $input.first().json.body;  // NOT $input.first().json

Code Node Return Format

// MUST return array of {json: {...}} objects
return items.map(item => ({
  json: { ...item.json, processed: true }
}));

Expression Syntax

{{ $json.fieldName }}           // Current item field
{{ $node["NodeName"].json }}    // Another node's output
{{ $now.toISO() }}              // Current timestamp
{{ $env.MY_VAR }}               // Environment variable

Credential Linking (in workflow JSON)

{
  "credentials": {
    "httpHeaderAuth": { "id": "CRED_ID", "name": "My API Key" }
  }
}

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: D1DX
• Source: D1DX/n8n-skill
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.