What is n8n?

n8n is a workflow automation tool that lets you connect apps, APIs, and services together—without writing much code.

Think of it like:
a more flexible, developer-friendly alternative to tools like Zapier or Make

What Makes n8n Different?

• Node-based workflows (drag-and-drop logic)
• Open-source & self-hostable
• Highly customizable (you can write JavaScript inside workflows)
• Full control over data (important for enterprise use)

How It Works (Simple Example)

A workflow in n8n looks like this:

Trigger → Process → Action

Example:

1. New email arrives
2. Extract info (maybe using AI)
3. Save to database or send Slack message

Each step is a node, and you visually connect them.

Common Use Cases

• Automations
  • Send alerts, sync data between apps
• AI workflows
  • Connect LLMs (like OpenAI APIs)
  • Build simple AI agents
• ETL pipelines
  • Move and transform data
• RAG pipelines
  • Fetch data → send to LLM → return response

Example: AI Workflow in n8n

You can build something like:

1. User submits question
2. n8n calls vector database (e.g., Pinecone)
3. Retrieves relevant docs
4. Sends context to LLM
5. Returns answer

Basically a lightweight AI backend without writing a full server

Why People Use n8n

• Faster than building backend APIs from scratch
• More control than no-code tools
• Great for prototyping AND production

When NOT to Use It

• ❌ Ultra high-performance systems (millions of requests/sec)
• ❌ Very complex backend logic better suited for microservices

Simple Analogy

n8n = Lego blocks for backend automation

You snap together APIs, logic, and AI to build workflows visually.