n8n¶

Workflow automation tool for connecting services and automating tasks.

Overview¶

n8n is a powerful workflow automation tool that allows you to connect various apps and services together. It provides a visual interface for creating automated workflows, making it easy to integrate different systems and automate repetitive tasks.

Features¶

Visual workflow editor
400+ integrations
Custom code execution (JavaScript/Python)
Webhook support
Scheduled workflows
Error handling and retries
User management
API access
Self-hosted and privacy-focused

Access¶

Default Port: 5678
URL: http://localhost:5678
Default User Email: Set via N8N_DEFAULT_USER_EMAIL
Default User Password: Set via N8N_DEFAULT_USER_PASSWORD

Configuration¶

Environment Variables¶

N8N_HOST: Hostname for n8n (default: n8n.${DOMAIN})
N8N_PORT: Internal port (5678)
N8N_PROTOCOL: Protocol for webhooks (https)
NODE_ENV: Environment (production)
WEBHOOK_URL: Base URL for webhooks
GENERIC_TIMEZONE: Timezone setting
N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY: Encryption key for credentials
N8N_USER_MANAGEMENT_DISABLED: Enable/disable user management
N8N_DEFAULT_USER_EMAIL: Default admin email
N8N_DEFAULT_USER_PASSWORD: Default admin password

Volumes¶

n8n_data: Persistent data storage
./local-files: Local file access for workflows

Getting Started¶

Access n8n at http://localhost:5678
Log in with your admin credentials
Create your first workflow
Add nodes for different services
Configure connections between nodes
Test and activate your workflow

Common Use Cases¶

Documentation Automation¶

Auto-generate documentation from code comments
Sync documentation between different platforms
Notify team when documentation is updated

Email Campaign Integration¶

Connect Listmonk with external data sources
Automate subscriber management
Trigger campaigns based on events

Database Management with NocoDB¶

Sync data between NocoDB and external APIs
Automate data entry and validation
Create backup workflows for database content
Generate reports from NocoDB data

Development Workflows¶

Auto-deploy documentation on git push
Sync code changes with documentation
Backup automation

Data Processing¶

Process CSV files and import to databases
Transform data between different formats
Schedule regular data updates

Example Workflows¶

Simple Webhook to Email¶

Webhook → Email

Scheduled Documentation Backup¶

Schedule → Read Files → Compress → Upload to Storage

Git Integration¶

Git Webhook → Process Changes → Update Documentation → Notify Team

Security Considerations¶

Use strong encryption keys
Secure webhook URLs
Regularly update credentials
Monitor workflow executions
Implement proper error handling

Integration with Other Services¶

n8n can integrate with all services in your Changemaker Lite setup: - Listmonk: Manage subscribers and campaigns - PostgreSQL: Read/write database operations - Code Server: File operations and git integration - MkDocs: Documentation generation and updates

Troubleshooting¶

Common Issues¶

Workflow Execution Errors: Check node configurations and credentials
Webhook Issues: Verify URLs and authentication
Connection Problems: Check network connectivity between services

Debugging¶

# Check container logs
docker logs n8n-changemaker

# Access container shell
docker exec -it n8n-changemaker sh

# Check workflow executions in the UI
# Visit http://localhost:5678 → Executions

Official Documentation¶

For comprehensive n8n documentation: - n8n Documentation - Community Workflows - Node Reference - GitHub Repository