--- name: n8n-hub description: Centralized n8n hub for designing reliable flows (idempotency, retries, HITL) and operating them via the public REST API. Use for planning, JSON output, and lifecycle actions like list/publish/debug. ---

n8n Hub

This skill merges two tracks: 1) Design: plan dependable workflows and optionally emit workflow.json. 2) Operate: handle workflows/executions via the public REST API.

Availability

• Public API access is disabled on free trial plans.
• An upgraded plan is required to use the API.

Configuration

Suggested environment variables (or store in .n8n-api-config):

export N8N_API_BASE_URL="https://your-instance.app.n8n.cloud/api/v1"  # or http://localhost:5678/api/v1
export N8N_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

Create an API key at: n8n Settings → n8n API → Create an API key.

Use this skill when

• You want a workflow built for idempotency, retries, logging, and review queues.
• You need importable workflow.json plus a runbook template.
• You want to list, publish, deactivate, or debug workflows/executions via API.

Do not use when

• You need pure code automation without n8n.
• You want to bypass security controls or conceal audit trails.

Inputs

Required

• Trigger type + schedule/timezone
• Success criteria and destinations (email/Drive/DB)

Optional

• Existing workflow JSON
• Sample payloads/records
• Dedup keys

Outputs

• Default: design spec (nodes, data contracts, failure modes)
• On request: workflow.json + workflow-lab.md (from assets/workflow-lab.md)

Auth header

All requests must include:

X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY

Quick actions (API)

Workflows: list

curl -s -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" "$N8N_API_BASE_URL/workflows" \
  | jq '.data[] | {id, name, active}'

Workflows: details

curl -s -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" "$N8N_API_BASE_URL/workflows/{id}"

Workflows: activate or deactivate

# Activate (publish)
curl -s -X POST -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"versionId":"","name":"","description":""}' \
  "$N8N_API_BASE_URL/workflows/{id}/activate"

# Deactivate
curl -s -X POST -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" \
  "$N8N_API_BASE_URL/workflows/{id}/deactivate"

Webhook trigger

curl -s -X POST "$N8N_API_BASE_URL/../webhook/{webhook-path}" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"key":"value"}'

Executions: list

curl -s -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" \
  "$N8N_API_BASE_URL/executions?limit=10" \
  | jq '.data[] | {id, workflowId, status, startedAt}'

Executions: retry

curl -s -X POST -H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"loadWorkflow":true}' \
  "$N8N_API_BASE_URL/executions/{id}/retry"

Design workflow checklist

1. Confirm trigger type and schedule/timezone.
2. Define inputs, outputs, and validation rules.
3. Choose dedup keys to keep runs idempotent.
4. Add observability (run_id, logs, status row).
5. Add retry policy and error branches.
6. Send failures to a review queue.
7. Add guardrails to prevent silent failure.

Endpoint index

See assets/endpoints-api.md for the complete endpoint list.

Notes and tips

• The API playground is available only on self-hosted n8n and uses real data.
• The n8n API node can call the public API from within workflows.
• Webhook URLs do not require the API key header.
• Execution data can be pruned by retention settings.