n8n Tutorial #6 - Using Community Nodes and Custom Code

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AI Summary

Summary of n8n Video Transcript

• n8n’s Coding Capabilities: The video highlights n8n’s ability to incorporate custom code into workflows, which is a significant advantage over competitors. This feature allows for extensive customization and functionality beyond the built-in features of n8n.

• Background of Presenter: The presenter has experience building automations for the Canadian federal government and now teaches others to create automations using n8n.

• Key Points Covered:

  • How to use the code node in n8n and its importance.
  • Installing and using external JavaScript packages or modules.
  • Installing pre-built Community nodes to extend n8n’s functionality.

• Advantages of n8n Over Competitors:

  • No need for third-party services to run code.
  • No sandboxed resource limitations since n8n is self-hosted.
  • Ability to add any external library or package.

• Community Nodes:

  • Community nodes are custom-built by n8n users to add new functionalities.
  • The video demonstrates how to install a community node for fetching YouTube video transcripts.

• Code Node:

  • The code node allows running custom JavaScript or Python code.
  • It requires the code to return an object and access data through the input object.

• Using AI to Write Code:

  • The presenter suggests using AI, like ChatGPT, to generate code snippets for n8n if the user lacks coding expertise.

• Installing External npm Packages:

  • The video shows how to install an npm package (get-a-joke) and use it within an n8n workflow.

• Conclusion:

  • The video concludes by emphasizing the power of n8n when combined with code and invites viewers to join the AI integrators Community for access to saved workflows and AI prompts used in the video.

Detailed Instructions and Tips Extracted

• Installing Community Nodes:
  1. Go to Settings in n8n.
  2. Click on Community Nodes at the bottom of the sidebar.
  3. Press the “Install a community node” button.
  4. Enter the npm package name for the Community node or browse the npm registry.
  5. Acknowledge the risks of installing unverified code and click install.
• Using the Code Node:
  • Data items can be accessed through the input object.
  • The code must always return an object, even if it’s an empty one.
• Installing External npm Packages:
  1. Find the default folder for n8n (e.g., which n8n on Mac or the specified path on Windows).
  2. Navigate to the node_modules/n8n directory.
  3. Install the npm package using npm install -i package-name.
  4. Set the environment variable to allow the external package with export NODE_FUNCTION_ALLOW_EXTERNAL=package-name.
  5. Start n8n and use the package in the code node.
• Using AI for Code Generation:
  • Provide AI with specific instructions and criteria for generating code snippets suitable for n8n workflows.

URLs Mentioned

• No URLs were provided in the transcript for direct access to resources or websites.