fix: remove faulty auto-generated examples from MCP tools

- Remove examples from get_node_essentials responses
- Remove examples from validate_node_operation when errors occur
- Update documentation to reflect removal of examples
- Keep helpful format hints in get_node_for_task (different purpose)

The auto-generated examples were misleading AI agents with incorrect
configurations (e.g., Slack "channel" vs "select" property). Tools
now focus on validation and error messages instead of examples.

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.ai/code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>

package-lock.json

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "n8n-mcp",
-  "version": "2.7.11",
+  "version": "2.7.17",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "n8n-mcp",
-      "version": "2.7.11",
+      "version": "2.7.17",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk": "^1.13.2",

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "n8n-mcp",
-  "version": "2.7.16",
+  "version": "2.7.17",
   "description": "Integration between n8n workflow automation and Model Context Protocol (MCP)",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
   "bin": {

src/mcp/server.ts

@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import { logger } from '../utils/logger';
 import { NodeRepository } from '../database/node-repository';
 import { DatabaseAdapter, createDatabaseAdapter } from '../database/database-adapter';
 import { PropertyFilter } from '../services/property-filter';
-import { ExampleGenerator } from '../services/example-generator';
 import { TaskTemplates } from '../services/task-templates';
 import { ConfigValidator } from '../services/config-validator';
 import { EnhancedConfigValidator, ValidationMode, ValidationProfile } from '../services/enhanced-config-validator';
@@ -1061,9 +1060,6 @@ Full documentation is being prepared. For now, use get_node_essentials for confi
     // Get essential properties
     const essentials = PropertyFilter.getEssentials(allProperties, node.nodeType);
     
-    // Generate examples
-    const examples = ExampleGenerator.getExamples(node.nodeType, essentials);
-    
     // Get operations (already parsed by repository)
     const operations = node.operations || [];
     
@@ -1082,7 +1078,7 @@ Full documentation is being prepared. For now, use get_node_essentials for confi
         action: op.action,
         resource: op.resource
       })),
-      examples,
+      // Examples removed - use validate_node_operation for working configurations
       metadata: {
         totalProperties: allProperties.length,
         isAITool: node.isAITool,

src/mcp/tool-docs/configuration/get-node-essentials.ts

@@ -4,48 +4,54 @@ export const getNodeEssentialsDoc: ToolDocumentation = {
   name: 'get_node_essentials',
   category: 'configuration',
   essentials: {
-    description: 'Returns only the most commonly-used properties for a node (10-20 fields) with working examples. Response is 95% smaller than get_node_info (5KB vs 100KB+). Essential properties include required fields, common options, and authentication settings.',
+    description: 'Returns only the most commonly-used properties for a node (10-20 fields). Response is 95% smaller than get_node_info (5KB vs 100KB+). Essential properties include required fields, common options, and authentication settings. Use validate_node_operation for working configurations.',
     keyParameters: ['nodeType'],
     example: 'get_node_essentials({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack"})',
     performance: '<10ms, ~5KB response',
     tips: [
       'Always use this before get_node_info',
-      'Includes ready-to-use examples',
+      'Use validate_node_operation for examples',
-      'Perfect for configuring nodes quickly'
+      'Perfect for understanding node structure'
     ]
   },
   full: {
-    description: 'Returns a curated subset of node properties focusing on the most commonly-used fields. Essential properties are hand-picked for each node type and include: required fields, primary operations, authentication options, and the most frequent configuration patterns. Each response includes working examples you can copy and modify.',
+    description: 'Returns a curated subset of node properties focusing on the most commonly-used fields. Essential properties are hand-picked for each node type and include: required fields, primary operations, authentication options, and the most frequent configuration patterns. NOTE: Examples have been removed to avoid confusion - use validate_node_operation to get working configurations with proper validation.',
     parameters: {
       nodeType: { type: 'string', description: 'Full node type with prefix, e.g., "nodes-base.slack", "nodes-base.httpRequest"', required: true }
     },
     returns: `Object containing:
 {
   "nodeType": "nodes-base.slack",
-  "essentialProperties": {
+  "displayName": "Slack",
-    "resource": ["channel", "message", "user"],
+  "description": "Consume Slack API",
-    "operation": ["post", "update", "delete"],
+  "category": "output",
-    "authentication": ["accessToken", "oAuth2"],
+  "version": "2.3",
-    "channel": "Channel ID or name",
+  "requiredProperties": [],  // Most nodes have no strictly required fields
-    "text": "Message content",
+  "commonProperties": [
-    "blocks": "Advanced formatting (optional)"
+    {
-  },
+      "name": "resource",
-  "examples": {
+      "displayName": "Resource",
-    "postMessage": {
+      "type": "options",
-      "resource": "message",
+      "options": ["channel", "message", "user"],
-      "operation": "post", 
+      "default": "message"
-      "channel": "#general",
-      "text": "Hello from n8n!"
     },
-    "withBlocks": {
+    {
-      "resource": "message",
+      "name": "operation",
-      "operation": "post",
+      "displayName": "Operation", 
-      "blocks": [{"type": "section", "text": {"type": "mrkdwn", "text": "Hello"}}]
+      "type": "options",
-    }
+      "options": ["post", "update", "delete"],
-  },
+      "default": "post"
-  "authentication": {
+    },
-    "required": true,
+    // ... 10-20 most common properties
-    "options": ["accessToken", "oAuth2"]
+  ],
+  "operations": [
+    {"name": "Post", "description": "Post a message"},
+    {"name": "Update", "description": "Update a message"}
+  ],
+  "metadata": {
+    "totalProperties": 121,
+    "isAITool": false,
+    "hasCredentials": true
   }
 }`,
     examples: [
@@ -55,18 +61,18 @@ export const getNodeEssentialsDoc: ToolDocumentation = {
       '// Workflow: search → essentials → validate',
       'const nodes = search_nodes({query: "database"});',
       'const mysql = get_node_essentials({nodeType: "nodes-base.mySql"});',
-      'validate_node_minimal("nodes-base.mySql", mysql.examples.select);'
+      'validate_node_operation("nodes-base.mySql", {operation: "select"}, "minimal");'
     ],
     useCases: [
-      'Quickly configure nodes without information overload',
+      'Quickly understand node structure without information overload',
-      'Get working examples for common operations',
+      'Identify which properties are most important',
       'Learn node basics before diving into advanced features',
       'Build workflows faster with curated property sets'
     ],
     performance: '<10ms response time, ~5KB payload (vs 100KB+ for full schema)',
     bestPractices: [
       'Always start with essentials, only use get_node_info if needed',
-      'Copy examples as configuration starting points',
+      'Use validate_node_operation to get working configurations',
       'Check authentication requirements first',
       'Use search_node_properties if specific property not in essentials'
     ],

src/services/enhanced-config-validator.ts

@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 
 import { ConfigValidator, ValidationResult, ValidationError, ValidationWarning } from './config-validator';
 import { NodeSpecificValidators, NodeValidationContext } from './node-specific-validators';
-import { ExampleGenerator } from './example-generator';
 
 export type ValidationMode = 'full' | 'operation' | 'minimal';
 export type ValidationProfile = 'strict' | 'runtime' | 'ai-friendly' | 'minimal';
@@ -78,10 +77,7 @@ export class EnhancedConfigValidator extends ConfigValidator {
     // Deduplicate errors
     enhancedResult.errors = this.deduplicateErrors(enhancedResult.errors);
     
-    // Add examples from ExampleGenerator if there are errors
+    // Examples removed - use validate_node_operation for configuration guidance
-    if (enhancedResult.errors.length > 0) {
-      this.addExamplesFromGenerator(nodeType, enhancedResult);
-    }
     
     // Generate next steps based on errors
     enhancedResult.nextSteps = this.generateNextSteps(enhancedResult);
@@ -253,16 +249,7 @@ export class EnhancedConfigValidator extends ConfigValidator {
     const { resource, operation } = result.operation || {};
     
     if (resource === 'message' && operation === 'send') {
-      // Add example for sending a message
+      // Examples removed - validation focuses on error detection
-      result.examples?.push({
-        description: 'Send a simple text message to a channel',
-        config: {
-          resource: 'message',
-          operation: 'send',
-          channel: '#general',
-          text: 'Hello from n8n!'
-        }
-      });
       
       // Check for common issues
       if (!config.channel && !config.channelId) {
@@ -274,15 +261,6 @@ export class EnhancedConfigValidator extends ConfigValidator {
           channelError.fix = 'Add channel: "#general" or use a channel ID like "C1234567890"';
         }
       }
-    } else if (resource === 'user' && operation === 'get') {
-      result.examples?.push({
-        description: 'Get user information by email',
-        config: {
-          resource: 'user',
-          operation: 'get',
-          user: 'user@example.com'
-        }
-      });
     }
   }
   
@@ -296,17 +274,7 @@ export class EnhancedConfigValidator extends ConfigValidator {
     const { operation } = result.operation || {};
     
     if (operation === 'append') {
-      result.examples?.push({
+      // Examples removed - validation focuses on configuration correctness
-        description: 'Append data to a spreadsheet',
-        config: {
-          operation: 'append',
-          sheetId: '1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms',
-          range: 'Sheet1!A:B',
-          options: {
-            valueInputMode: 'USER_ENTERED'
-          }
-        }
-      });
       
       // Validate range format
       if (config.range && !config.range.includes('!')) {
@@ -327,33 +295,7 @@ export class EnhancedConfigValidator extends ConfigValidator {
     config: Record<string, any>,
     result: EnhancedValidationResult
   ): void {
-    // Add common examples based on method
+    // Examples removed - validation provides error messages and fixes instead
-    if (config.method === 'GET') {
-      result.examples?.push({
-        description: 'GET request with query parameters',
-        config: {
-          method: 'GET',
-          url: 'https://api.example.com/users',
-          queryParameters: {
-            parameters: [
-              { name: 'page', value: '1' },
-              { name: 'limit', value: '10' }
-            ]
-          }
-        }
-      });
-    } else if (config.method === 'POST') {
-      result.examples?.push({
-        description: 'POST request with JSON body',
-        config: {
-          method: 'POST',
-          url: 'https://api.example.com/users',
-          sendBody: true,
-          bodyContentType: 'json',
-          jsonBody: JSON.stringify({ name: 'John Doe', email: 'john@example.com' })
-        }
-      });
-    }
   }
   
   /**
@@ -383,56 +325,13 @@ export class EnhancedConfigValidator extends ConfigValidator {
       steps.push('Consider addressing warnings for better reliability');
     }
     
-    if (result.examples && result.examples.length > 0 && result.errors.length > 0) {
+    if (result.errors.length > 0) {
-      steps.push('See examples above for working configurations');
+      steps.push('Fix the errors above following the provided suggestions');
     }
     
     return steps;
   }
   
-  /**
-   * Add examples from ExampleGenerator to help fix validation errors
-   */
-  private static addExamplesFromGenerator(
-    nodeType: string,
-    result: EnhancedValidationResult
-  ): void {
-    const examples = ExampleGenerator.getExamples(nodeType);
-    
-    if (!examples) {
-      return;
-    }
-    
-    // Add minimal example if there are missing required fields
-    if (result.errors.some(e => e.type === 'missing_required')) {
-      result.examples?.push({
-        description: 'Minimal working configuration',
-        config: examples.minimal
-      });
-    }
-    
-    // Add common example if available
-    if (examples.common) {
-      // Check if the common example matches the operation context
-      const { operation } = result.operation || {};
-      const commonOp = examples.common.operation || examples.common.action;
-      
-      if (!operation || operation === commonOp) {
-        result.examples?.push({
-          description: 'Common configuration pattern',
-          config: examples.common
-        });
-      }
-    }
-    
-    // Add advanced example for complex validation errors
-    if (examples.advanced && result.errors.length > 2) {
-      result.examples?.push({
-        description: 'Advanced configuration with all options',
-        config: examples.advanced
-      });
-    }
-  }
   
   /**
    * Deduplicate errors based on property and type