What is this?
n8n is a fair-code workflow automation platform for building and deploying AI agents and automations. It combines a visual canvas with custom code and connects to 1500+ integrations.
n8n is a fair-code workflow automation platform for building and deploying AI agents and automations. It combines a visual canvas with custom code and connects to 1500+ integrations.Is this a no-code tool, or can I still write real code?It's a visual, node-based builder (low-code/no-code), but you can drop in JavaScript, Python, and npm packages directly inside workflows when you need more control.
It's a visual, node-based builder (low-code/no-code), but you can drop in JavaScript, Python, and npm packages directly inside workflows when you need more control.How do I get it running?The quickest path is the install script, which requires Docker; you can also deploy it manually with Docker directly. After starting it, you access the visual editor in your browser.
The quickest path is the install script, which requires Docker; you can also deploy it manually with Docker directly. After starting it, you access the visual editor in your browser.Do I need Docker to run this?Docker is required for the official install script and the standard manual deployment path. Running the project from source instead needs Node.js 24+ and pnpm 12.3.4+.
Docker is required for the official install script and the standard manual deployment path. Running the project from source instead needs Node.js 24+ and pnpm 12.3.4+.Is this fully open source, or is there a licensing catch?n8n is 'fair-code', not standard open source: the source is always visible and self-hostable, but it's distributed under the Sustainable Use License plus a separate Enterprise License for extra features and support.
n8n is 'fair-code', not standard open source: the source is always visible and self-hostable, but it's distributed under the Sustainable Use License plus a separate Enterprise License for extra features and support.Can I keep my workflow data entirely on my own infrastructure?Yes, n8n is designed to be self-hosted so sensitive data and AI workflows stay on your own systems, with role-based access and audit trails for enterprise needs.
Yes, n8n is designed to be self-hosted so sensitive data and AI workflows stay on your own systems, with role-based access and audit trails for enterprise needs.What's the deal with the license name?n8n isn't a typical open-source project; it uses the Sustainable Use License plus an n8n Enterprise License for advanced features and support.
n8n isn't a typical open-source project; it uses the Sustainable Use License plus an n8n Enterprise License for advanced features and support.Am I locked into one AI provider?No, n8n lets you connect to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or open-source models and switch providers without changing your workflow architecture.
No, n8n lets you connect to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or open-source models and switch providers without changing your workflow architecture.Where do the integrations come from?n8n ships with over 1500 built-in integrations and 9,000+ community workflow templates you can reuse instead of building from scratch.
n8n ships with over 1500 built-in integrations and 9,000+ community workflow templates you can reuse instead of building from scratch.Where does the name n8n come from?It's short for 'nodemation' (node + automation), referencing Node.js and the project's node-based visual editor, shortened to the numeronym n8n.
It's short for 'nodemation' (node + automation), referencing Node.js and the project's node-based visual editor, shortened to the numeronym n8n.Can agents in a workflow require human approval?Yes, n8n supports multi-step AI workflows with logic, tool use, human approvals, and full observability from prototype through production.
Yes, n8n supports multi-step AI workflows with logic, tool use, human approvals, and full observability from prototype through production.What are similar projects?pipedream, n8n-workflows, awesome-n8n-templates, nocobase, automatisch, budibase, ToolJet, Flowise
pipedream, n8n-workflows, awesome-n8n-templates, nocobase, automatisch, budibase, ToolJet, FlowiseWhich topics is it in?integrations, apis, automation-tools, development, n8n, mcp-client, low-code, no-code, langchain, workflow, workflow-automation, orchestration
integrations, apis, automation-tools, development, n8n, mcp-client, low-code, no-code, langchain, workflow, workflow-automation, orchestration