## Problem
AI assistants were consistently connecting SplitInBatches node outputs backwards because:
- Output index 0 = "done" (runs after loop completes)
- Output index 1 = "loop" (processes items inside loop)
This counterintuitive ordering caused incorrect workflow connections.
## Solution
Enhanced the n8n-mcp system to expose and clarify output information:
### Database & Schema
- Added `outputs` and `output_names` columns to nodes table
- Updated NodeRepository to store/retrieve output information
### Node Parsing
- Enhanced NodeParser to extract outputs and outputNames from nodes
- Properly handles versioned nodes like SplitInBatchesV3
### MCP Server
- Modified getNodeInfo to return detailed output descriptions
- Added connection guidance for each output
- Special handling for loop nodes (SplitInBatches, IF, Switch)
### Documentation
- Enhanced DocsMapper to inject critical output guidance
- Added warnings about counterintuitive output ordering
- Provides correct connection patterns for loop nodes
### Workflow Validation
- Added validateSplitInBatchesConnection method
- Detects reversed connections and provides specific errors
- Added checkForLoopBack with depth limit to prevent stack overflow
- Smart heuristics to identify likely connection mistakes
## Testing
- Created comprehensive test suite (81 tests)
- Unit tests for all modified components
- Edge case handling for malformed data
- Performance testing with large workflows
## Impact
AI assistants will now:
- See explicit output indices and names (e.g., "Output 0: done")
- Receive clear connection guidance
- Get validation errors when connections are reversed
- Have enhanced documentation explaining the correct pattern
Fixes#97🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.ai/code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
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