# n8n-skills

**Expert Claude Code skills for building flawless n8n workflows using the n8n-mcp MCP server**

[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](LICENSE)
[![n8n-mcp](https://img.shields.io/badge/n8n--mcp-compatible-green.svg)](https://github.com/romualdczlonkowski/n8n-mcp)

---

## 🎯 What is this?

This repository contains 5 complementary **Claude Code skills** that teach AI assistants how to build production-ready n8n workflows using the [n8n-mcp](https://github.com/your-link-here) MCP server.

### Why These Skills Exist

Based on analysis of **447,557 real MCP tool usage events**, we identified:
- **20% failure rate** when using certain MCP tools incorrectly
- **15,107 validation feedback loops** due to configuration errors
- **813 searches for "webhook"** showing common workflow patterns
- **31,917 workflows created** revealing proven architectural patterns

These skills solve these problems by teaching Claude:
- ✅ Correct n8n expression syntax ({{}} patterns)
- ✅ How to use n8n-mcp tools effectively
- ✅ Proven workflow patterns from real-world usage
- ✅ Validation error interpretation and fixing
- ✅ Operation-aware node configuration

---

## 📚 The 5 Skills

### 1. **n8n Expression Syntax**
Teaches correct n8n expression syntax and common patterns.

**Activates when**: Writing expressions, using {{}} syntax, accessing $json/$node variables, troubleshooting expression errors.

**Key Features**:
- Core variables ($json, $node, $now, $env)
- **Critical gotcha**: Webhook data is under `$json.body`
- Common mistakes catalog with fixes
- When NOT to use expressions (Code nodes!)

### 2. **n8n MCP Tools Expert** (HIGHEST PRIORITY)
Expert guide for using n8n-mcp MCP tools effectively.

**Activates when**: Searching for nodes, validating configurations, accessing templates, managing workflows.

**Key Features**:
- Tool selection guide (which tool for which task)
- nodeType format differences (nodes-base.* vs n8n-nodes-base.*)
- Validation profiles (minimal/runtime/ai-friendly/strict)
- Smart parameters (branch="true" for IF nodes)
- Auto-sanitization system explained

**Impact**: **Fixes 20% MCP tool failure rate**

### 3. **n8n Workflow Patterns**
Build workflows using 5 proven architectural patterns from 31,917 real workflows.

**Activates when**: Creating workflows, connecting nodes, designing automation.

**Key Features**:
- 5 proven patterns (webhook processing, HTTP API, database, AI, scheduled)
- Workflow creation checklist
- Real examples from 2,653 templates
- Connection best practices
- Pattern selection guide

**Impact**: **Addresses 27.6% of all workflows (webhook processing)**

### 4. **n8n Validation Expert**
Interpret validation errors and guide fixing.

**Activates when**: Validation fails, debugging workflow errors, handling false positives.

**Key Features**:
- Validation loop workflow
- Real error catalog
- Auto-sanitization behavior explained
- False positives guide
- Profile selection for different stages

### 5. **n8n Node Configuration**
Operation-aware node configuration guidance.

**Activates when**: Configuring nodes, understanding property dependencies, setting up AI workflows.

**Key Features**:
- Property dependency rules (e.g., sendBody → contentType)
- Operation-specific requirements
- AI connection types (8 types for AI Agent workflows)
- Common configuration patterns

---

## 🚀 Installation

### Prerequisites

1. **n8n-mcp MCP server** installed and configured ([Installation Guide](https://github.com/romualdczlonkowski/n8n-mcp))
2. **Claude Code**, Claude.ai, or Claude API access
3. `.mcp.json` configured with n8n-mcp server

### Claude Code

```bash
# 1. Clone this repository
git clone https://github.com/czlonkowski/n8n-skills.git

# 2. Copy skills to your Claude Code skills directory
cp -r n8n-skills/skills/* ~/.claude/skills/

# 3. Reload Claude Code
# Skills will activate automatically
```

### Claude.ai

1. Download individual skill folders from `skills/`
2. Zip each skill folder
3. Upload via Settings → Capabilities → Skills

### API / SDK

See [docs/INSTALLATION.md](docs/INSTALLATION.md) for detailed instructions.

---

## 💡 Usage

Skills activate **automatically** when relevant queries are detected:

```
"How do I write n8n expressions?"
→ Activates: n8n Expression Syntax

"Find me a Slack node"
→ Activates: n8n MCP Tools Expert

"Build a webhook workflow"
→ Activates: n8n Workflow Patterns

"Why is validation failing?"
→ Activates: n8n Validation Expert

"How do I configure the HTTP Request node?"
→ Activates: n8n Node Configuration
```

### Skills Work Together

When you ask: **"Build and validate a webhook to Slack workflow"**

1. **n8n Workflow Patterns** identifies webhook processing pattern
2. **n8n MCP Tools Expert** searches for webhook and Slack nodes
3. **n8n Node Configuration** guides node setup
4. **n8n Expression Syntax** helps with data mapping
5. **n8n Validation Expert** validates the final workflow

All 5 skills compose seamlessly!

---

## 📖 Documentation

- [Installation Guide](docs/INSTALLATION.md) - Detailed installation for all platforms
- [Usage Guide](docs/USAGE.md) - How to use skills effectively
- [Development Guide](docs/DEVELOPMENT.md) - Contributing and testing
- [MCP Testing Log](docs/MCP_TESTING_LOG.md) - Real tool responses used in skills

---

## 🔬 Data-Driven Design

These skills are based on telemetry analysis of:
- **447,557** MCP tool usage events
- **31,917** workflows created
- **19,113** validation errors
- **15,107** validation feedback loops
- **2,653** workflow templates

Key insights:
- `search_nodes → get_node_essentials` is the most common pattern (9,835 occurrences, 18s avg)
- `n8n_update_partial_workflow` is the most-used tool (38,287 uses, 99.0% success)
- Validation loops average 23s thinking, 58s fixing
- Webhook workflows represent 27.6% of all workflows (813 searches)

---

## 🧪 Testing

Each skill includes 3+ evaluations for quality assurance:

```bash
# Run evaluations (if testing framework available)
npm test

# Or manually test with Claude
claude-code --skill n8n-expression-syntax "Test webhook data access"
```

---

## 🤝 Contributing

Contributions welcome! Please see [DEVELOPMENT.md](docs/DEVELOPMENT.md) for guidelines.

### Development Approach

1. **Evaluation-First**: Write test scenarios before implementation
2. **MCP-Informed**: Test tools, document real responses
3. **Iterative**: Test against evaluations, iterate until 100% pass
4. **Concise**: Keep SKILL.md under 500 lines
5. **Real Examples**: All examples from real templates/tools

---

## 📝 License

MIT License - see [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.

---

## 🙏 Credits

**Conceived by Romuald Członkowski**
- Website: [www.aiadvisors.pl/en](https://www.aiadvisors.pl/en)
- Part of the [n8n-mcp project](https://github.com/romualdczlonkowski/n8n-mcp)

---

## 🔗 Related Projects

- [n8n-mcp](https://github.com/romualdczlonkowski/n8n-mcp) - MCP server for n8n
- [n8n](https://n8n.io/) - Workflow automation platform

---

## 📊 Repository Stats

- **5** complementary skills
- **~3,220** lines of skill content
- **15-20** evaluation scenarios
- **88%** documentation coverage (from n8n-mcp)
- **537** nodes supported
- **2,653** templates available

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**Ready to build flawless n8n workflows? Get started now!** 🚀