# N8n Automation > Master skill for building production-ready n8n workflows. Combines 8 specialized skills for template search, expressions, MCP tools, patterns, validation, node configuration, JavaScript and Python code. Use when creating, validating, or debugging n8n workflows. Use when this capability is needed. - Skill: `tomevault-io/n8n-automation` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/n8n-automation` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/n8n-automation/raw - Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: AI & ML - Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/n8n-automation --- # n8n Automation Master Skill Unified skill that orchestrates 8 specialized n8n skills to build production-ready workflows. --- ## 🔧 Sub-Skills Included | Skill | Purpose | When Activated | |-------|---------|----------------| | [n8n-template-search](n8n-template-search/SKILL.md) | Template discovery | Finding workflow templates, examples | | [n8n-mcp-tools-expert](n8n-mcp-tools-expert/SKILL.md) | MCP tool usage | Searching nodes, templates, validating | | [n8n-workflow-patterns](n8n-workflow-patterns/SKILL.md) | Architectural patterns | Creating new workflows | | [n8n-expression-syntax](n8n-expression-syntax/SKILL.md) | Expression syntax | $json, $node references | | [n8n-validation-expert](n8n-validation-expert/SKILL.md) | Error handling | Validation failures, debugging | | [n8n-node-configuration](n8n-node-configuration/SKILL.md) | Node parameters | Configuring complex nodes | | [n8n-code-javascript](n8n-code-javascript/SKILL.md) | JavaScript code | Code node JS scripting | | [n8n-code-python](n8n-code-python/SKILL.md) | Python code | Code node Python scripting | --- ## 🎯 Quick Reference ### Template Search (ALWAYS START HERE!) **MCP Template Library** (2,709+ templates): - `search_templates` - Find by keyword, nodes, task, metadata - `get_template` - Get template JSON for deployment **Web Template Discovery** (for recent/community templates): - Load `n8n-template-search` skill for comprehensive web search - Combines n8n.io, GitHub, forum sources ### MCP Tools Available **Always Available (no n8n API needed):** - `search_nodes` - Find nodes among 1,084+ available - `get_node` - Get node documentation and config - `validate_node` - Check node configuration - `validate_workflow` - Validate complete workflow - `search_templates` - Search 2,709 templates - `get_template` - Get workflow template JSON **Requires n8n API Key:** - `n8n_create_workflow` - Deploy workflow - `n8n_update_partial_workflow` - Update workflow - `n8n_validate_workflow` - Validate by ID - `n8n_deploy_template` - Deploy template directly ### nodeType Format (CRITICAL!) ```javascript // For search/validate tools: SHORT prefix "nodes-base.slack" "nodes-base.httpRequest" "nodes-langchain.agent" // For workflow tools: FULL prefix "n8n-nodes-base.slack" "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest" "@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent" ``` --- ## 📋 Workflow Creation Process ### Step 0: Template Discovery (ALWAYS FIRST!) 🔍 **CRITICAL**: Before building anything, search for existing templates! ```javascript // Quick keyword search (MCP - fastest) search_templates({query: "slack notification"}) // Search by specific nodes search_templates({ searchMode: "by_nodes", nodeTypes: ["n8n-nodes-base.webhook", "n8n-nodes-base.slack"] }) // Search by workflow pattern search_templates({searchMode: "by_task", task: "webhook_processing"}) // Search by complexity/time search_templates({ searchMode: "by_metadata", complexity: "simple", maxSetupMinutes: 15 }) // If MCP insufficient: Web search (load n8n-template-search skill) WebFetch({ url: "https://n8n.io/workflows/?search=slack", prompt: "Find Slack notification templates with descriptions" }) ``` **Found suitable template?** - ✅ YES → Deploy with `n8n_deploy_template({templateId: XXX, autoFix: true})` - ❌ NO → Continue to Step 1 (Node Discovery) ### Step 1: Node Discovery (if no template fits) ```javascript // Search for nodes search_nodes({query: "slack", includeExamples: true}) // Get node details get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack", detail: "standard"}) ``` ### Step 3: Configuration & Validation ```javascript // Quick validation validate_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack", config: {...}, mode: "minimal"}) // Full validation validate_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack", config: {...}, profile: "runtime"}) ``` ### Step 4: Build & Deploy ```javascript // Create workflow n8n_create_workflow({name: "...", nodes: [...], connections: {...}}) // Or deploy template directly n8n_deploy_template({templateId: 2947, autoFix: true}) ``` ### Step 5: Validate Complete Workflow ```javascript validate_workflow(workflowJson) n8n_validate_workflow({id: "workflow-id"}) ``` --- ## ⚠️ Critical Warnings ### Never Trust Defaults ```javascript // ❌ FAILS at runtime - missing required params {resource: "message", operation: "post", text: "Hello"} // ✅ WORKS - all parameters explicit {resource: "message", operation: "post", select: "channel", channelId: "C123", text: "Hello"} ``` ### IF Node Multi-Output Routing ```javascript // Use branch parameter for IF nodes { type: "addConnection", source: "If Node", target: "True Handler", sourcePort: "main", targetPort: "main", branch: "true" // ← CRITICAL! } ``` ### addConnection Syntax ```javascript // ❌ WRONG - object format {type: "addConnection", connection: {source: {...}}} // ✅ CORRECT - four separate strings { type: "addConnection", source: "node-id", target: "target-id", sourcePort: "main", targetPort: "main" } ``` --- ## 🔗 Expression Syntax Quick Reference ```javascript // Access current item data {{ $json.fieldName }} // Access previous node {{ $node["NodeName"].json.field }} // Webhook data (CRITICAL: under .body) {{ $json.body.fieldName }} // Built-in variables {{ $now }} // Current datetime {{ $env.KEY }} // Environment variable {{ $runIndex }} // Current run index ``` --- ## 📊 Popular Nodes Reference | Node | Type | Purpose | |------|------|---------| | Webhook | `n8n-nodes-base.webhook` | HTTP trigger | | HTTP Request | `n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest` | API calls | | Code | `n8n-nodes-base.code` | JS/Python scripts | | IF | `n8n-nodes-base.if` | Conditional routing | | Set | `n8n-nodes-base.set` | Data transformation | | Slack | `n8n-nodes-base.slack` | Slack messaging | | Gmail | `n8n-nodes-base.gmail` | Email automation | | Google Sheets | `n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets` | Spreadsheet ops | | AI Agent | `@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent` | AI automation | | OpenAI Chat | `@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmChatOpenAi` | ChatGPT calls | --- ## 🔍 When to Load Sub-Skills Read the specific sub-skill when: | Situation | Load | |-----------|------| | Finding workflow templates/examples | [n8n-template-search](n8n-template-search/SKILL.md) | | Writing expressions with `$json` | [n8n-expression-syntax](n8n-expression-syntax/SKILL.md) | | Using MCP tools | [n8n-mcp-tools-expert](n8n-mcp-tools-expert/SKILL.md) | | Designing workflow architecture | [n8n-workflow-patterns](n8n-workflow-patterns/SKILL.md) | | Validation errors | [n8n-validation-expert](n8n-validation-expert/SKILL.md) | | Configuring complex nodes | [n8n-node-configuration](n8n-node-configuration/SKILL.md) | | Writing JavaScript in Code node | [n8n-code-javascript](n8n-code-javascript/SKILL.md) | | Writing Python in Code node | [n8n-code-python](n8n-code-python/SKILL.md) | --- ## ✅ Validation Checklist Before deploying any workflow: - [ ] All nodes have unique IDs - [ ] All required parameters configured - [ ] Connections properly mapped - [ ] Expressions use correct syntax - [ ] Error handling implemented - [ ] validate_workflow passed - [ ] Tested in development first --- > Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/JulioBorges) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.