How to use n8n: what you can do with it

3 use cases

• Self-host n8n with Docker in 5 minutes

  Run n8n in one Docker container with a persistent volume and open the editor in your browser.

  • REPO n8n-io/n8n
  • Work and operations
  • Beginner
  View prompt

  Self-host n8n-io/n8n with Docker on this machine using a named volume, confirm the editor loads on port 5678, and tell me how to back up the n8n_data volume.

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• Build an AI agent workflow with a human approval step

  Chain a trigger, a model step, tools and an approval so the agent drafts and a person signs off before anything goes out.

  • REPO n8n-io/n8n
  • Work and operations
  • Intermediate
  View prompt

  In my n8n-io/n8n instance, build a workflow that triggers on <event>, uses <model> to draft <output>, waits for my approval, then <final action>. Explain each node and where credentials are stored.

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• Add JavaScript or Python code where the visual nodes stop

  Drop a code step into a workflow to reshape data or call a library the integrations do not cover.

  • REPO n8n-io/n8n
  • Work and operations
  • Intermediate
  View prompt

  Add a code step to my n8n-io/n8n workflow <name> that <transformation> on each item, in <JavaScript or Python>, and test it on the last execution's data.

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Quick start with n8n

1. Check you have what it needs: Docker for the self-hosted quick start; Accounts or API keys for the apps and models you connect.
2. Open n8n-io/n8n on GitHub and read the README and license.
3. Install Docker
4. Create a volume: docker volume create n8n_data
5. Start n8n: docker run -it --rm --name n8n -p 5678:5678 -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n
6. Open the editor at http://localhost:5678 and create the owner account

These steps come from our top use case, Self-host n8n with Docker in 5 minutes, which also has a copy-paste agent prompt.

Using the Deduped MCP, get the setup steps for n8n-io/n8n

claude mcp add --transport http deduped https://dedupedai.com/mcp

n8n alternatives · Best AI repos for Work and operations

About this repo

• Who it is forOps people, founders and developers who want to automate multi-step work across their apps, with AI steps and approvals, on a server they control.
• Why it is hot209k stars, talked about in 2 AI sources we track
• LanguageTypeScript
• Sourcegithub.com/n8n-io/n8n · Back to Hot repos

Requirements

• Docker for the self-hosted quick start
• Accounts or API keys for the apps and models you connect

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