n8n: A Guide to Workflow Automation

Automation has become a critical part of modern software development and operations. From syncing data between tools to triggering complex business processes, teams increasingly rely on workflow automation platforms to reduce manual effort and errors. n8n (pronounced “n-eight-n”) is a powerful, open-source workflow automation tool that allows you to connect apps, services, and APIs to create flexible, scalable workflows.

Unlike many no-code or low-code automation tools, n8n is developer-friendly, highly customizable, and can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data and infrastructure. Whether you’re a solo developer, a startup, or an enterprise team, n8n can act as the backbone of your automation stack.

• n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool that connects apps, APIs, and services through visual workflows.
• It offers self-hosting, making it ideal for privacy-focused and enterprise use cases.
• n8n supports complex logic, branching, error handling, and custom code.
• It is well-suited for developers, DevOps teams, and AI/ML workflows.
• Compared to tools like Zapier, n8n provides greater flexibility and lower long-term cost.

n8n is an open-source, node-based workflow automation platform where each step in a workflow is represented as a node. It’s similar to tools like Zapier, but far more flexible and better suited for building advanced, AI-driven automation workflows. If you’re not using AI automation tools in your day-to-day work, you’re likely missing out on significant efficiency gains.

With n8n, you can easily connect apps, services, and APIs. Using DigitalOcean’s 1-Click App, n8n can be deployed instantly on a secure and scalable DigitalOcean Droplet, with no complex setup required. The visual workflow builder lets you create custom automations quickly and efficiently.

Each node can trigger actions, process and transform data, call APIs, or apply logic, allowing you to build powerful, end-to-end automation workflows.

N8n can help you with any type of automations, for example:

• Automate repetitive tasks
• Integrate multiple applications
• Orchestrate complex backend workflows
• Build automation pipelines without writing full applications

n8n workflows are built visually and executed sequentially or conditionally. Once you have successfully logged in, you can start building the automation workflow from scratch, or you can try an AI workflow as well.

Core Components

• Trigger Nodes: Triggers basically allow you to kick-start your workflows. You will be able to choose from different triggers. For example:

• Start a workflow

• Examples:

• On app event trigger

• On a schedule trigger

• On chat message trigger

Consider this as the starting point, and from here you can actually build all the connected actions once the trigger is activated.

• Action Nodes: Action nodes in n8n are basically the actions or steps in the workflow. These are the nodes that are the “do something” in your workflows. They perform an operation or task such as sending data, creating a record, updating a database, calling an API, or triggering an external service.

Trigger nodes start a workflow, and Action nodes execute the work.

• Perform tasks

• Examples:

• Send an email

• Create a on form submission

• Fill out an Excel sheet with details from a form submission

• Create a database record

• Call a REST API

• Logic Nodes: Logic nodes in n8n control how your workflow behaves. They decide which path to take, how data is combined, or when certain steps should run.

• Control workflow behavior

• Examples:

• IF conditions

• Switch

• Merge

• filter

• Looping

Example:

• If orderAmount > 5000 → Send premium email
• Else → Send standard email

How it works:

• Takes input data

• Evaluates if conditions

• Splits workflow into True and False paths

• Code Nodes: Code nodes in n8n let you write custom JavaScript inside your workflow. They are used when built-in nodes aren’t flexible enough to handle your logic or data transformation.

• Write custom JavaScript or Python

• Useful for:

• Data transformations

• Custom logic

• Advanced calculations

When Should You Use a Code Node?

Use a Code node when:

• Set node is not powerful enough
• Conditions are too complex for IF/Switch
• You need loops, math, or custom formatting
• API data needs heavy restructuring

Avoid it when a simple Set or IF node can do the job (Simpler workflows are easier to maintain.)

Each item looks like:

{
  "json": {
    "name": "Shaoni",
    "score": 82
  }
}

Log in & create a new user

• SSH into your Droplet as root
• Create a non-root user and grant sudo access

adduser <username>
usermod -aG sudo <username>

Set up SSH keys and log in as the new user

Clone the n8n Docker setup

git clone https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n-docker-caddy.git
cd n8n-docker-caddy

Create Docker volumes

sudo docker volume create caddy_data
sudo docker volume create n8n_data

Configure DNS & firewall

• Point a subdomain (e.g., n8n.example.com) to your Droplet IP
• Open required ports:

sudo ufw allow 80
sudo ufw allow 443

Configure n8n & Caddy

• Update environment variables:

nano .env

• Set your domain in Caddy:

nano caddy_config/Caddyfile

Start n8n

 sudo docker compose up -d

Access n8n

Open your subdomain in a browser and log in, This gives you a secure, self-hosted n8n instance on DigitalOcean with HTTPS and persistent data.

• Visit the n8n Website: Go to the n8n website and open the Product drop-down menu. Here, you’ll find a wide collection of pre-built workflow automation templates.

• Browse or Search for a Template: You can scroll through the available templates or use the search bar to find one that matches your specific use case.
• Select a Template: Click on a template to view its details. For example, the “Nutrition Tracker & Meal Logger with Telegram, Gemini AI, and Google Sheets” template.

• Review Connected Apps: Each template clearly shows which apps and services it connects to. In this case, the workflow uses Telegram, Gemini AI, and Google Sheets.
• Understand the Workflow Structure: Open the template to see a full description of how it works. You can zoom in and out to examine each workflow component and understand how data flows between nodes.
• Save Time with Pre-Built Logic: Building such workflows from scratch can be time-consuming and require advanced skills. These templates allow you to get started quickly by reusing proven automation logic.
• Use the Template: Click on “Use for Free” to begin importing the template.
• Copy the Template: Select “Copy template to clipboard” to copy the workflow configuration to your clipboard.

• Paste into Your n8n Dashboard: Open your self-hosted n8n dashboard and paste the copied template directly into your workflow canvas.
• Follow the Template Guide: Each template includes a user guide. Carefully read and follow the instructions to configure the workflow step by step.
• Configure Required API Keys: These advanced workflows often require multiple API keys and credentials. Add them as instructed to complete the setup.

It is also recommended to add the API keys to your account to actually start running things hassle-free.

Best Practices for Using n8n

• Keep workflows modular and reusable: Design workflows as small, independent units that handle a single responsibility. Modular workflows are easier to reuse, test, and maintain as your automation setup grows.
• Use descriptive node names: Rename nodes to clearly describe their function so workflows remain easy to read and understand. This is especially helpful when revisiting workflows or collaborating with others.
• Log critical steps for debugging: Log important inputs and outputs at key stages of the workflow to quickly identify where issues occur. This makes troubleshooting faster and more reliable.
• Enable error workflows for production: Use error workflows to automatically capture and handle failures in production environments. This helps with alerting, monitoring, and preventing silent workflow failures.
• Avoid hardcoding credentials: Always store API keys and secrets using n8n’s credential system instead of embedding them directly in workflows. This improves security and simplifies credential management.
• Version control your workflows when possible: Export workflows and store them in version control systems like Git to track changes and safely roll back updates when needed.

1. Is n8n free to use?

Yes. The open-source version of n8n is free and can be self-hosted without licensing fees. The cloud-hosted version follows a subscription model.

2. Do I need coding knowledge to use n8n?

Basic workflows require no coding, but having JavaScript or API knowledge helps when building advanced logic, custom transformations, or integrations.

3. How is n8n different from Zapier?

n8n differs from Zapier by offering significantly more flexibility and control. As an open-source platform, n8n allows self-hosting, giving users full ownership of their data and infrastructure, along with the ability to deeply customize workflows. It supports advanced logic, conditional flows, and custom code, making it well-suited for complex automation use cases. Zapier, on the other hand, is designed for simplicity and ease of use, which makes it accessible for beginners but limits deeper customization. Additionally, Zapier’s pricing can become expensive as workflow complexity and usage scale increase, whereas n8n is more cost-effective for advanced and large-scale automation needs.

4. Can n8n handle large-scale workflows?

Yes, n8n can handle large-scale workflows effectively. It supports queue-based execution, allowing workflows to be processed asynchronously and reliably at scale. With horizontal scaling, n8n can run across multiple instances to handle increased workload and traffic. Its ability to manage high-throughput automation makes it well-suited for production environments and enterprise-grade use cases where reliability and performance are critical.

5. Is n8n secure?

Yes, n8n is secure when properly deployed and configured. It encrypts stored credentials to protect sensitive information and supports secure authentication methods for connecting to third-party services. Additionally, the option to self-host n8n gives organizations full control over their data and infrastructure, ensuring greater data privacy and compliance with internal security requirements.

6. Can n8n be used for AI and LLM workflows?

Absolutely. n8n can be effectively used for AI and LLM workflows, making it a popular choice for modern automation use cases. It is well-suited for orchestrating large language models, building retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines, coordinating AI agent workflows, and automating batch inference processes. Its flexibility, support for custom code, and seamless integration with external APIs allow teams to design and scale complex AI-driven workflows with ease.

7. Does n8n support webhooks?

Yes. Webhooks are a core feature and are often used as workflow triggers for real-time automation.

8. Can I extend n8n with custom nodes?

Yes. Developers can create custom nodes to integrate internal tools or unsupported services.

9. Is n8n suitable for non-technical teams?

It can be, but n8n is best suited for technical users or teams with developer support, especially for complex workflows.

10. Where is n8n commonly used?

n8n is commonly used in:

• Startups
• SaaS platforms
• DevOps teams
• AI/ML infrastructure
• Data engineering pipelines

n8n is a powerful, flexible, and developer-first automation platform that bridges the gap between no-code tools and fully custom engineering solutions. Its open-source nature, scalability, and deep customization make it an excellent choice for teams building serious automation workflows, especially in modern AI-driven and cloud-native environments.

• Welcome to n8n Docs
• Hosting n8n on DigitalOcean
• How to Set Up n8n: A Step-by-Step Guide for Self-Hosted Workflow Automation