n8n v2.0 Workflow Development

Overview

Comprehensive reference for building n8n workflows using v2.0 patterns and best practices. This skill provides complete documentation for nodes, expressions, patterns, troubleshooting, and production-ready examples.

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Quick Start Guide

1. Test APIs First

curl -X GET "https://api.example.com/endpoint" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN"

2. Create Workflow JSON

Generate workflow JSON with nodes and connections.

3. Import into n8n

n8n UI > Settings > Import from File

4. Configure & Fix

• Replace Execute Sub-Workflow nodes (if needed)
• Configure credentials
• Test each node

5. Test Execution

Use MCP server mcp__n8n__execute_workflow or manual trigger

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Core Concepts

n8n MCP Server Integration

What it CAN do:

• ✅ Search workflows
• ✅ View workflow details
• ✅ Execute workflows

What it CANNOT do:

• ❌ Create workflows
• ❌ Modify workflows
• ❌ Manage credentials

Workaround: Generate JSON files, import via UI

📖 Deep dive: references/mcp-limitations.md

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Node Library

Complete reference for all n8n nodes:

Trigger Nodes: Manual Trigger, Execute Workflow Trigger Data Processing: Code, Set, Merge, Filter, Split in Batches Flow Control: IF, Wait Integration: HTTP Request, RSS Feed Read Action: Execute Workflow, Respond to Webhook

Each node documented with configuration examples, parameters, and patterns.

📖 Complete reference: references/node-library.md

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Expression Syntax

Dynamic values in node parameters using ={{ expression }}:

{{ $json.field }}                      // Current item
{{ $('Node Name').first().json.field }} // Cross-node
{{ $json.url || 'default' }}           // Fallback
{{ new Date().toISOString() }}         // Date/time
`urn:li:person:${$json.sub}`          // Template literal

📖 Complete guide: references/expression-syntax.md

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Common Workflows

Human-in-the-Loop Approval

Use Wait nodes with forms (NOT respondToWebhook):

Trigger → Generate Content → Wait Node (form) → IF → Action

📖 Complete patterns: references/wait-nodes-guide.md

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Multi-Workflow Orchestration

Orchestrator coordinates sub-workflows:

Main Orchestrator
├── Trigger
├── Execute Sub-Workflow: Data Fetcher
├── Wait Node: Review
├── Execute Sub-Workflow: Processor
└── Execute Sub-Workflow: Output

📖 All patterns: references/workflow-patterns.md

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News Aggregation

Multi-source data fetch, normalize, merge, deduplicate, rank:

Trigger
├── HTTP Request: Source 1 → Normalize
├── HTTP Request: Source 2 → Normalize
└── RSS Feed: Source 3 → Normalize
    → Merge → Deduplicate → Rank

📖 Detailed patterns: references/workflow-patterns.md

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AI Content Generation

Sub-workflow pattern for AI content:

Execute Workflow Trigger
→ Code: Build Prompt
→ HTTP Request: AI API
→ Code: Extract Response

📖 Implementation: references/workflow-patterns.md

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Critical Issues & Solutions

Execute Sub-Workflow "Out of Date" Error

Problem: Imported nodes show error after import

Solution:

1. Delete old Execute Sub-Workflow nodes
2. Add fresh nodes from palette
3. Select "Database" and choose workflow

📖 Detailed troubleshooting: references/execute-sub-workflow-issues.md

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Wait Node Not Pausing

❌ Wrong: respondToWebhook, Set nodes, IF on unset fields ✅ Correct: Wait node with resume: "form"

📖 Complete guide: references/wait-nodes-guide.md

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LinkedIn unauthorized_scope_error

❌ Turn OFF both: "Organization Support" and "Legacy" toggles

📖 All auth issues: references/api-credentials.md

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Templates & Examples

Basic Templates

Starting points for common structures:

• assets/templates/wait-node-approval-template.json
• assets/templates/orchestrator-template.json
• assets/templates/sub-workflow-template.json

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Complete Workflow Examples

Production-ready workflows you can import and use:

• News Aggregation - Multi-source fetch, normalize, deduplicate, rank assets/examples/news-aggregation-workflow.json

• Content Generation - AI-powered content creation sub-workflow assets/examples/content-generation-workflow.json

• LinkedIn Member ID - Retrieve your LinkedIn member URN assets/examples/linkedin-member-id-workflow.json

• Multi-Source Deduplication - Merge and deduplicate pattern assets/examples/multi-source-deduplication-workflow.json

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Code Snippet Library

Reusable JavaScript for Code nodes:

• Deduplication - Remove duplicates by URL, title, ID, or multiple fields code-snippets/deduplication.js

• Ranking Algorithms - Multi-factor ranking (relevance, recency, engagement) code-snippets/ranking-algorithms.js

• Data Normalization - Unify data from different API sources code-snippets/data-normalization.js

• Form Data Preparation - Format data for Wait node forms code-snippets/form-data-preparation.js

• Cross-Node Data Access - Reference data from other nodes code-snippets/cross-node-data-access.js

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API Credentials Quick Reference

LinkedIn OAuth2:

• Scopes: openid, profile, w_member_social
• ❌ OFF: Organization Support, Legacy
• URN format: urn:li:person:{id}

Anthropic API:

• Header: x-api-key
• Model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022
• Temp: 0.7, Max tokens: 400

NewsAPI:

• Header: X-Api-Key
• Endpoints: /v2/everything, /v2/top-headlines
• Free tier: 100 requests/day

📖 Complete setup: references/api-credentials.md

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Reference Documentation

Core References

• node-library.md - Comprehensive node documentation
• expression-syntax.md - Complete expression guide
• workflow-patterns.md - Common workflow architectures
• wait-nodes-guide.md - Human-in-the-loop patterns
• api-credentials.md - Authentication setup
• mcp-limitations.md - MCP server constraints
• execute-sub-workflow-issues.md - Sub-workflow troubleshooting
• troubleshooting.md - Common issues and solutions

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Official n8n Documentation

• n8n Documentation
• Execute Sub-Workflow Node
• Sub-workflows Guide
• Wait Node