n8n Workflow Automation Skill

Description

This skill provides expertise in building n8n workflow automations. It covers workflow design, node configuration, webhook setup, error handling, credential management, and integration patterns. Helps connect APIs, databases, and services into reliable automated pipelines using n8n's visual workflow builder.

Instructions

1. Design Workflow: Map the automation logic as a sequence of nodes with branching and error handling
2. Configure Nodes: Set up each node with proper parameters, authentication, and data mapping
3. Test: Validate with test data, check error paths, verify output format
4. Deploy: Configure triggers, set execution schedules, enable error notifications

Rules

• Always add error handling nodes (Error Trigger + notification) to production workflows
• Use the IF node for conditional branching, not JavaScript Code nodes for simple logic
• Store credentials in n8n's credential store, never hardcode API keys in nodes
• Use the Set node to reshape data between nodes rather than relying on implicit data passing
• Test workflows with edge cases: empty responses, API rate limits, malformed data
• Add sticky notes to document complex workflow sections
• Use sub-workflows for reusable logic (don't duplicate node chains)
• Set appropriate retry policies on HTTP Request nodes (3 retries, exponential backoff)
• For webhooks, always validate incoming data before processing

Common Workflow Patterns

Webhook → Process → Notify

Copy
{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "name": "Webhook",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.webhook",
      "parameters": {
        "httpMethod": "POST",
        "path": "incoming-data",
        "authentication": "headerAuth",
        "responseMode": "onReceived"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Validate Input",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
      "parameters": {
        "conditions": {
          "string": [{
            "value1": "={{ $json.email }}",
            "operation": "isNotEmpty"
          }]
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Process Data",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
      "parameters": {
        "values": {
          "string": [
            { "name": "processed_email", "value": "={{ $json.email.toLowerCase() }}" },
            { "name": "timestamp", "value": "={{ $now.toISO() }}" }
          ]
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Save to DB",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.postgres",
      "parameters": {
        "operation": "insert",
        "table": "submissions",
        "columns": "email, submitted_at",
        "returnFields": "id"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Send Notification",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
      "parameters": {
        "channel": "#notifications",
        "text": "New submission from {{ $json.processed_email }}"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Scheduled Sync Pattern

Copy
{
  "trigger": {
    "type": "n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger",
    "parameters": {
      "rule": { "interval": [{ "field": "hours", "hoursInterval": 1 }] }
    }
  },
  "flow": [
    "Fetch from API (HTTP Request, paginated)",
    "Compare with DB (Merge node, findMatches)",
    "Split: New vs Updated (IF node)",
    "Upsert to DB (Postgres/MySQL)",
    "Log summary (Set + Spreadsheet append)"
  ]
}

Error Handling Template

Copy
{
  "errorWorkflow": {
    "nodes": [
      {
        "name": "Error Trigger",
        "type": "n8n-nodes-base.errorTrigger"
      },
      {
        "name": "Format Error",
        "type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
        "parameters": {
          "values": {
            "string": [
              { "name": "error_message", "value": "={{ $json.execution.error.message }}" },
              { "name": "workflow_name", "value": "={{ $json.workflow.name }}" },
              { "name": "failed_node", "value": "={{ $json.execution.lastNodeExecuted }}" }
            ]
          }
        }
      },
      {
        "name": "Alert Team",
        "type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
        "parameters": {
          "channel": "#alerts",
          "text": "Workflow '{{ $json.workflow_name }}' failed at node '{{ $json.failed_node }}': {{ $json.error_message }}"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Examples

"Create a webhook that receives form data and saves it to Postgres"
"Build a workflow that syncs Stripe payments to our CRM every hour"
"Set up error notifications for all production workflows"
"Create a GitHub → Slack notification pipeline for new PRs"
"Build a scheduled workflow to clean up expired records"