N8n

n8n

Routes: choose one; NEVER start either automatically.

• Bundled REST CLI: author/administer through n8n REST.
• Optional MCPorter: discover current endpoint tools/schemas.

MCP catalog: instance state.

• NEVER infer tools, arguments, or response fields.
• Live discovery MUST define tools/input schemas.
• Only published output schemas contractual.
• Observed calls MUST remain samples, not contracts.

Bundled REST CLI

REST workflow operations SHOULD use bundled CLI:

uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py list --limit 5
uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py get <WORKFLOW_ID>
uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py create <WORKFLOW.json>
uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py update <WORKFLOW_ID> <WORKFLOW.json>
uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py activate <WORKFLOW_ID>
uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py deactivate <WORKFLOW_ID>
uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py export <WORKFLOW_ID> <OUT.json>
uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py mcp-enable <WORKFLOW_ID>
uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py validate <WORKFLOW.json>

MCP-exposed workflows MUST also be active. REST requires N8N_BASE_URL and N8N_API_KEY. MUST read reference.md before REST work or credential troubleshooting.

Optional MCPorter route

• MUST read references/mcporter.md first.
• MUST use the managed registry.
• MUST run quiet health gate first.
• Nonzero status MUST stop discovery.

mcporter list n8n --status --quiet --no-oauth

After success:

• MUST discover the compact live inventory, then inspect only each selected tool.
• MUST call only a discovered tool.

mcporter list n8n --brief
mcporter list n8n.<DISCOVERED_TOOL> --schema --all-parameters
mcporter call n8n.<DISCOVERED_TOOL> --args '<JSON_MATCHING_DISCOVERED_SCHEMA>'

• MUST copy exact live tool/input schemas.
• MUST copy only published output schemas.
• Unavailable catalog: MUST report unobserved response shape.
• NEVER invent tools or silently switch to REST.

Required follow-up reads

• REST auth, endpoints, environment lookup → reference.md; before REST work.
• MCP prerequisites, safe status, discovery, failures → references/mcporter.md; MUST read before MCPorter work.
• MCP transport definition → ~/.mcporter/mcporter.json; diagnose transport; MUST NOT print resolved secrets.
• Workflow authoring recipes → cookbook/basics.md; when a REST or MCP task matches.
• End-to-end authoring sequence → cookbook/blueprints.md; when creating or iterating a workflow.