Instance AI

Builds and maintains configuration-based evaluations on a workflow with the eval-config tool. Use when the user asks to set up, add, view, change, or remove an evaluation, score, grade, or judge a workflow's output, or measure answer quality against a test dataset. This is the only eval form Instance AI handles — it does not touch on-canvas evaluation nodes.

Load before calling build-agent for a new or existing n8n Agent. Governs prerequisite creation, faithful handoff of the user's request, agent targeting across turns, builder questions, testing, and publishing. Use directly for routine follow-ups when the conversation already targets an Agent; rerun intent-recognition only when the requested artifact is no longer clear.

Handles workflow verification and setup after build-workflow succeeds, or when the message contains workflow-verification-follow-up or workflow-setup-required. Load after direct builds, when verificationReadiness requires action, or on orchestrator verify/setup follow-up turns.

Load before calling build-workflow. Default path for all single-workflow work: new one-off workflows, existing-workflow edits, verification repairs, and workflow-local data tables. Write or edit a workspace source file, run workflow-sdk validate via workspace_execute_command, then call build-workflow with filePath. When the workflow creates or writes Data Tables, load data-table-manager first, then this skill. Do not load planning or create-tasks first. Load planning only when multiple coordinated workflows or shared cross-task data tables require a dependency-aware task graph.

Load before calling data-tables or parse-file. Use for natural standalone requests like "what data tables do I have?", "show/list my tables", or "what columns are in this table?", and whenever the user asks to list, show, create, inspect, import, seed, query, update, clean up, rename columns in, or delete data tables and rows, especially from CSV/XLSX/JSON attachments. Also load before building or planning workflows that create or write to Data Tables (then load workflow-builder before build-workflow).

Load when the request depends on what is already on this instance rather than on what the user just typed: a short or ambiguous opener ("fix it", "carry on", "what should I look at"), a reference to earlier work in a new conversation, or any question about what has recently run or broken.

Classifies automation requests using two decisions: anchor (which primitive owns the top-level control flow — workflow-anchored, agent-anchored, needs-clarification, or out-of-scope) and embeds_other (whether the other primitive appears embedded inside — an agent step inside a workflow, or a workflow invoked as an agent tool). Must be used whenever the current turn requires choosing or reconsidering the intent of an automation request, including compound requests, independent automations introduced mid-build, one-off questions or reports that need external systems you cannot query directly, and requests that need clarification before an anchor can be chosen. Do not load for routine edits or extensions when the conversation already targets a workflow or Agent.

Answers n8n product, setup, credential, node, hosting, API, and usage questions from current n8n docs. Load n8n-docs via load_tool before calling it (search "n8n docs" if not visible). Use when the user asks how to configure, set up, troubleshoot, or understand n8n behavior, especially credential setup questions opened from the credential modal.

Handles one-off operations: the request is a concrete effect that happens once — export or copy data somewhere, a migration, a backfill, a cleanup — with no trigger, schedule, or reuse intent. The workflow is the vehicle, not the deliverable. Users rarely say "one-off"; infer it from the task's shape. Load before building for such a request, or when a build-workflow result contains postBuildFlow.reason "direct-one-off-build-succeeded". Do not load for automations the user will run again — that is the normal build + post-build-flow path.

Debug failed or wrong-output workflow executions using executions tools. Load when the user reports execution failures, unexpected node output, empty parameter values after a successful run, or a node showing a red or failed expression error.

Handles system follow-up turns: planned-task-follow-up (synthesize, replan, build-workflow, checkpoint), background-task-completed, running-tasks context, and create-tasks silence rules. Load whenever any of these tags appear or after calling create-tasks.

Lookup procedure for Simplified Custom Auth recipe fields — sources the auth template, the key-issuing docsUrl and an auth-rejecting testUrl from the provider's real documentation instead of memory. Load before composing credentialHints for a service without a dedicated credential type (the post-build-flow setup step), or when asked to fix a recipe whose template, key page or test endpoint is wrong.

Guides n8n credential setup through Computer Use browser tools. Use when a user needs OAuth apps, API keys, client IDs, client secrets, or other credential values from an external service console.