n8n: End-to-End Workflow Automation & AI Orchestration
Course Curriculum
12 modules designed to master the subject.
Module 1: Introduction to n8n
Foundations of node-based automation and architecture.
Module 1 Lesson 1: What is n8n?
Enter the world of low-code. Learn what n8n is, how it differs from Zapier, and why it's the preferred choice for engineers who want total control over their data.
Module 1 Lesson 2: Cloud vs. Self-Hosted
Choose your path. Compare n8n Cloud to the various self-hosted options (Desktop, Docker, npm) to find the best setup for your needs and budget.
Module 1 Lesson 3: Key Features of n8n
The engine under the hood. Discover the powerful features that make n8n different, from its massive node library to its advanced data mapping and branching logic.
Module 1 Lesson 4: The n8n UI & Node Anatomy
Learn your way around the canvas. Master the n8n interface, the sidebar, the execution logs, and exactly what happens inside a single 'Node'.
Module 1 Lesson 5: Common Automation Use-Cases
What should you automate first? Explore high-impact automation patterns used by businesses to save hundreds of hours every month.
Module 2: Self-Hosting n8n (Docker & Cloud)
Learn how to install, secure, and scale your own n8n instance.
Module 2 Lesson 1: Running n8n with Docker
The preferred way. Learn how to pull the n8n Docker image and setup a persistent container using Docker Compose for your home or business server.
Module 2 Lesson 2: Reverse Proxy (SSL)
Secure your connection. Learn how to put n8n behind a reverse proxy like Nginx or Traefik to enable HTTPS and clean domain names (e.g., n8n.mycompany.com).
Module 2 Lesson 3: n8n Configuration
Master the hidden settings. Explore the most important environment variables to control n8n's performance, security, and integration capabilities.
Module 2 Lesson 4: Scaling n8n
Handle the load. Learn how to switch from a 'Main' process to 'Queue Mode' using Redis workers to handle thousands of concurrent automations.
Module 2 Lesson 5: Backups & Migrations
Protect your logic. Learn how to export your workflows, backup your database, and move your n8n instance from one server to another without losing work.
Module 3: The n8n Workflow: Triggers and Nodes
Mastering the flow: Trigger nodes, action nodes, and power user tools.
Module 3 Lesson 1: Trigger Nodes
The spark of creation. Learn the 3 main ways to start an n8n workflow: On a Schedule, On an Event (Webhook), and On a Change in an external app.
Module 3 Lesson 2: Core Action Nodes
The workers of the workflow. Explore the most commonly used action nodes, from simple HTTP requests to complex data manipulation and file handling.
Module 3 Lesson 3: Power User Nodes
Break the limits. Learn how to run shell commands on your server and write custom JavaScript functions directly inside n8n to handle complex data scenarios.
Module 3 Lesson 4: Connections & Branching
Direct the flow. Master the art of connecting nodes, using the IF node for decision making, and merging data streams back together.
Module 3 Lesson 5: Testing & Debugging
Fail fast. Learn how to test individual nodes in isolation, read the execution JSON, and find the 'Needle in the haystack' when a workflow fails.
Module 4: Working with Data (JSON, Strings, Math)
Data manipulation, formatting, and mathematical operations in n8n.
Module 4 Lesson 1: Understanding JSON
Data basics. Learn the structure of JSON, how n8n arrays work, and how to access deep nested data inside your automation payloads.
Module 4 Lesson 2: String Manipulation
Master the text. Learn how to uppercase, lowercase, trim, and use Regular Expressions (Regex) to extract specific information from strings like emails or phone numbers.
Module 4 Lesson 3: Math in n8n
Numbers don't lie. Learn how to perform calculations, handle currencies, and use the 'Aggregate' nodes to sum up values across multiple items.
Module 4 Lesson 4: Working with Dates
Master the fourth dimension. Learn how to format dates, add/subtract time, and handle timezone conversions using the world-class Luxon library inside n8n.
Module 4 Lesson 5: Sorting & Filtering
Slice and dice. Learn how to use the 'Sort' and 'Filter' nodes to ensure you only process the most relevant data and keep your workflows efficient.
Module 5: Advanced Logical Flow
Complex branching, batch processing, and error handling patterns.
Module 5 Lesson 1: Complex IF Logic
Master multi-condition decisions. Learn how to use AND and OR logic in n8n expressions to build 'Smart' workflows that react to complex real-world scenarios.
Module 5 Lesson 2: Split In Batches
Handle the many. Learn how to process thousands of items in small chunks to avoid hitting API rate limits or crashing your server's memory.
Module 5 Lesson 3: Error Handling
Prepare for the worst. Learn how to catch errors, retry failing nodes, and setup a 'Global Error Workflow' to notify you whenever something goes wrong.
Module 5 Lesson 4: Loop Mechanisms
Round and round. Compare the different ways to iterate in n8n, from automated node-level loops to advanced manual loops for pagination.
Module 5 Lesson 5: Global Workflows
Libraries of logic. Learn how to create 'Sub-Workflows' that can be called by multiple other workflows, making your automation standard and easy to maintain.
Module 6: Connecting to APIs and Webhooks
Protessional API integration, authentication, and custom endpoints.
Module 6 Lesson 1: Professional API Requests
Master the HTTP Request node. Learn how to handle different request methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE), custom headers, and query parameters for any API.
Module 6 Lesson 2: API Authentication
The two keys to the city. Understand the difference between simple API Keys (Header/Query) and the secure OAuth2 flow, and how to manage them in n8n.
Module 6 Lesson 3: Building Webhooks
Turn n8n into a server. Learn how to create custom HTTP endpoints that other apps can call, including how to respond with status codes and custom JSON.
Module 6 Lesson 4: Pagination & Rate Limits
Master the large-scale API dance. Learn the patterns for exhausting paginated API results and how to use the 'Loop' and 'Wait' nodes to stay within legal speed limits.
Module 6 Lesson 5: Debugging API Failures
Why did it fail? Learn how to read HTTP error codes (400, 401, 403, 404, 500) and use the n8n execution log to find exactly what went wrong in your API call.
Module 7: Using the Google Workspace Nodes
Automating Gmail, Sheets, Drive, Calendar, and Forms.
Module 7 Lesson 1: Google Sheets Automation
The world's favorite database. Learn how to read, append, update, and delete rows in Google Sheets using n8n, turning a simple spreadsheet into a powerful application backend.
Module 7 Lesson 2: Gmail Automation
Zero inbox on autopilot. Learn how to search for emails, download attachments, send personalized replies, and manage labels automatically using n8n.
Module 7 Lesson 3: Google Drive Automation
The digital archive. Learn how to upload, download, share, and organize files and folders in Google Drive, bridging the gap between your local server and the cloud.
Module 7 Lesson 4: Google Calendar Automation
Master of time. Learn how to create events, check for availability, and sync your calendar with external tools like Zoom or Notion using n8n.
Module 7 Lesson 5: Google Forms Automation
Listen to the user. Learn how to trigger n8n workflows immediately when a Google Form is submitted, enabling instant lead processing and feedback handling.
Module 8: CRM Automation
Syncing contacts, managing deals, and enriching lead data.
Module 8 Lesson 1: HubSpot Automation
Master of deals. Learn how to create contacts, update deal stages, and sync your marketing data between HubSpot and your other internal tools using n8n.
Module 8 Lesson 2: Avoiding CRM Duplicates
Keep it clean. Learn the architectural patterns of 'Search -> If -> Update/Create' to ensure your CRM stays free of duplicate contacts and messy data.
Module 8 Lesson 3: Pipedrive & Salesforce
Enterprise and agile. Learn the specific nuances of automating Salesforce and Pipedrive, focusing on custom objects, lead conversion, and pipeline management.
Module 8 Lesson 4: Data Enrichment
Know your customer. Learn how to use external enrichment APIs like Clearbit, Hunter, and Apollo to automatically find company names, LinkedIn profiles, and verified emails for your leads.
Module 8 Lesson 5: Lead Scoring Systems
Identify the winners. Build an automated scoring engine in n8n that evaluates leads based on their company size, job title, and activity, filtering the best opportunities for your team.
Module 9: Production Readiness & Reliability
Backups, version control, and health monitoring strategies.
Module 9 Lesson 1: Wait & Backoff Strategies
Patience pays off. Learn how to use the 'Wait' node for more than just pauses, including how to implement custom backoff strategies to handle intermittent API failures.
Module 9 Lesson 2: Debugging Binary Data
See the unseeable. Learn how to inspect files, images, and PDFs inside your workflows, and how to troubleshoot 'Broken File' errors when moving data between nodes.
Module 9 Lesson 3: Version Control (Git)
Workflows as code. Learn how to automatically backup your n8n work directly to a GitHub or GitLab repository, enabling version history and easy collaboration.
Module 9 Lesson 4: Health Monitoring
Is n8n alive? Learn how to setup heartbeat monitors and healthcheck endpoints to ensure your automation server is always ready for work.
Module 9 Lesson 5: Documentation & Notes
Leave a map for others. Learn how to use the 'Sticky Notes' and 'Node Comments' inside n8n to make your complex workflows easy to understand for your teammates.
Module 10: AI and Large Language Models (LLM)
Building AI agents and RAG systems with LangChain and OpenAI.
Module 10 Lesson 1: AI & LangChain in n8n
The intelligent workflow. Learn how n8n uses LangChain to connect AI models to your data, enabling 'Smart' automations that can read, think, and decide.
Module 10 Lesson 2: OpenAI & Anthropic
Connecting the brains. Learn how to setup your credentials for the world's most powerful AI models and how to choose the right model for your specific task.
Module 10 Lesson 3: RAG with n8n
Chat with your data. Learn how to build a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) system that allows an AI to answer questions using your company's private PDF or Google Doc files.
Module 10 Lesson 4: Summarization & Extraction
From mess to structure. Learn how to use AI to summarize long meetings or emails and, more importantly, how to extract structured JSON from unstructured text.
Module 10 Lesson 5: n8n AI Agents
The autonomous assistant. Learn how to build 'Agents' that can decide which tools to use to solve a user's request, from searching the web to updating your CRM.
Module 11: Security and User Management
RBAC, webhook security, and compliance best practices.
Module 11 Lesson 1: n8n User Management
Divide and protect. Learn how to manage teams within n8n, assigning different roles and permissions to ensure that everyone has the access they need, but no more.
Module 11 Lesson 2: Securing Webhooks
Protect your entry points. Learn how to prevent unauthorized people from triggering your workflows by adding Basic Auth, Header Auth, and IP filtering to your n8n webhooks.
Module 11 Lesson 3: Security Environment Variables
DNA level security. Learn the critical environment variables that control n8n's encryption, session management, and external command blocking.
Module 11 Lesson 4: Auditing & Logging
Who did what? Learn how to use n8n's execution history and audit logs to track credential usage, data flow, and potential security incidents.
Module 11 Lesson 5: Compliance & Privacy
Rules of the road. Learn how to build n8n workflows that comply with GDPR, HIPAA, and other privacy regulations by minimizing data storage and anonymizing sensitive info.
Module 12: Capstone Project: Automated Business Assistant
Building a complex, end-to-end business automation system.
Capstone Part 1: Architecture & Requirements
The Blueprint. Plan your final n8n project: 'Nexus-One', an automated business assistant that handles leads, customer support, and social media reporting.
Capstone Part 2: The Lead & CRM Engine
Hands-on implementation. Build the first module of Nexus-One: A high-performance lead capture system with deduplication and HubSpot integration.
Capstone Part 3: AI Support Brain
Adding intelligence. Build the second module of Nexus-One: An AI-powered email listener that summarizes support tickets and categorizes their urgency.
Capstone Part 4: Resilience & Reporting
Hardening the system. Build the final reporting module of Nexus-One and implement global error handling to ensure your assistant never misses a beat.
Final Review & Conclusion
Mission complete. Review your progress, explore advanced community resources, and receive your roadmap for becoming a professional automation consultant.
Course Overview
Format
Self-paced reading
Duration
Approx 6-8 hours
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