n8n v2.0 Workflow Development (Claude Code)

This is the Claude Code-specific version of the n8n-v2-workflow skill. References point to the shared references/ and ../code-snippets/ directories in the parent skill folder.

Critical: No Execute Command Node

The n8n-nodes-base.executeCommand node is NOT available in the default n8n container image. Do NOT use it in any workflow.

Instead, use Code nodes (JavaScript) with the Node.js fs module for all file operations:

• fs.readdirSync() instead of find / ls
• fs.readFileSync() instead of cat
• fs.writeFileSync() instead of echo >
• fs.renameSync() instead of mv
• fs.existsSync() instead of test -f

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LinkedIn unauthorized_scope_error

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

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

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

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

Code Snippet Library

Reusable JavaScript for Code nodes:

• File Operations - Read, write, move, list files using fs (replaces executeCommand)

../code-snippets/file-operations.js

• 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

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

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

Official n8n Documentation

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