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n8n Workflow Management

n8n is used for workflow automation in the MOOD MNKY ecosystem. This guide covers workflow creation, management, and best practices.

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Overview

n8n provides visual workflow automation for:
  • Data Synchronization: Sync data between systems (Shopify, Notion, Supabase)
  • User Onboarding: Automate user registration and welcome processes
  • Notifications: Multi-channel notification delivery
  • Content Processing: Automated content ingestion and processing

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Getting Started

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Local Development Setup

  1. Start n8n service: 
    cd infra/docker-compose/n8n
docker-compose up -d
  2. Access n8n UI: http://localhost:5678
  3. Login: Use credentials from .env file

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Configuration

Configure n8n via environment variables: 
# Authentication
N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin
N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=your-password

# AI Integration
N8N_AI_OPENAI_API_KEY=your-openai-key

# SMTP
N8N_SMTP_HOST=smtp.example.com
N8N_SMTP_PORT=587
N8N_SMTP_USER=your-user
N8N_SMTP_PASS=your-password

# Webhooks
WEBHOOK_URL=http://localhost:5678

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Core Workflows

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User Onboarding Workflow

Automates user registration and onboarding: 
Webhook (New User Registration)
  ↓
Fetch User Profile
  ↓
Create Supabase Record
  ↓
Synchronize with Shopify
  ↓
Send Welcome Email
  ↓
Initialize User Preferences
Key Features:
  • Real-time processing
  • Multi-system integration
  • Personalized communications
  • Error handling

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Data Synchronization Workflow

Keeps data consistent across systems: 
Schedule (Hourly)
  ↓
Fetch Shopify Orders
  ↓
IF (New Orders)
  ↓
Update Supabase Database
  ↓
Enrich Customer Profiles
  ↓
Trigger Notification Workflow
Key Features:
  • Scheduled execution
  • Conditional processing
  • Error handling and retries
  • Audit logging

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Notification System Workflow

Manages multi-channel notifications: 
Webhook (Notification Trigger)
  ↓
Load User Preferences
  ↓
Switch (Notification Type)
  ├→ Email Branch
  ├→ SMS Branch
  └→ In-App Branch
Key Features:
  • Channel-specific formatting
  • User preference-based delivery
  • Delivery status tracking
  • Throttling

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Workflow Design Principles

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Best Practices

  1. Single Responsibility: Each workflow should have one clear purpose
  2. Modularity: Break complex processes into smaller workflows
  3. Error Handling: Include error handling at critical steps
  4. Logging: Log important events for debugging
  5. Testing: Test workflows in development before production

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Workflow Structure

Trigger Node
  ↓
Validation Node
  ↓
Processing Nodes
  ↓
Action Nodes
  ↓
Error Handling Node

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Creating Workflows

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Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Create New Workflow: Click “New Workflow” in n8n UI
  2. Add Trigger: Choose trigger type (webhook, schedule, manual)
  3. Add Nodes: Add processing and action nodes
  4. Connect Nodes: Connect nodes to define flow
  5. Configure Nodes: Set node parameters and credentials
  6. Test Workflow: Execute workflow manually to test
  7. Activate Workflow: Activate for automatic execution

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Common Node Types

  • HTTP Request: Make API calls
  • Supabase: Database operations
  • Shopify: E-commerce operations
  • Notion: Content management
  • Email: Send emails via SMTP
  • Code: Custom JavaScript/Python code
  • IF: Conditional logic
  • Switch: Multi-branch routing

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Workflow Management

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Version Control

  • Export Workflows: Export workflows as JSON for version control
  • Import Workflows: Import workflows from JSON files
  • Backup: Regularly backup workflow configurations

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Monitoring

  • Execution History: Review workflow execution history
  • Error Logs: Monitor error logs for failed executions
  • Performance Metrics: Track execution time and resource usage

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Maintenance

  • Regular Updates: Keep n8n updated to latest version
  • Credential Rotation: Rotate API credentials regularly
  • Workflow Optimization: Optimize workflows for performance

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API Integration

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n8n API

Use n8n API for programmatic workflow management: 
# List workflows
curl -X GET http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows \
  -u admin:password

# Execute workflow
curl -X POST http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows/{id}/execute \
  -u admin:password \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"data": {}}'
See n8n API Documentation for full API reference.

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Troubleshooting

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Common Issues

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Workflow Not Executing

  • Issue: Workflow not triggering automatically
  • Solution: Verify workflow is activated. Check trigger configuration.

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API Errors

  • Issue: API calls failing
  • Solution: Verify API credentials. Check rate limits. Review API logs.

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Data Format Errors

  • Issue: Data format mismatch between nodes
  • Solution: Use “Set” node to transform data. Check data types.

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Debugging Tips

  1. Use Manual Execution: Test workflows manually first
  2. Check Node Output: Review output of each node
  3. Enable Debug Mode: Enable debug logging for detailed information
  4. Review Execution History: Check execution history for errors