---

name: n8n-workflow-builder description: Build n8n automation workflows using MCP tools. Use when creating workflows, configuring nodes, validating configurations, deploying templates, or integrating n8n with Rails apps. Supports Israeli market (Hebrew, WhatsApp Business, NIS payments).

n8n Workflow Builder

Build production-ready n8n workflows using the available MCP tools.

MCP Tool Decision Tree

Discovery Phase

Configuration Phase

Validation Phase

Deployment Phase (requires API)

Common Workflow Patterns

Pattern 1: Webhook -> Process -> Respond

CopyWebhook -> Code (validate) -> HTTP Request -> Respond

Template: assets/templates/workflows/webhook-processor.json

Pattern 2: Lead Capture -> CRM -> Notify

CopyWebhook -> IF (validate) -> CRM -> Slack -> Rails callback

Template: assets/templates/workflows/lead-capture-crm.json

Pattern 3: AI Agent with Tools

CopyChat Trigger -> AI Agent <- OpenAI Model
                   ^
                   |- HTTP Request Tool
                   |- Code Tool

Template: assets/templates/workflows/ai-agent-basic.json

Pattern 4: WhatsApp Bot (Israeli Market)

CopyWebhook -> Code (parse) -> Switch (msg type) -> HTTP Request (WhatsApp API)

Template: assets/templates/workflows/whatsapp-bot.json

Pattern 5: Scheduled Reports

CopySchedule Trigger -> HTTP (fetch data) -> Code (format) -> Email/Slack

Template: assets/templates/workflows/scheduled-report.json

Pattern 6: Rails Integration

CopyRails App -> Webhook -> Process -> HTTP (callback to Rails)

Template: assets/templates/workflows/rails-webhook-handler.json

MCP Tool Usage Examples

search_nodes - Finding Nodes

Copy// Find database nodes
search_nodes({query: "database"})

// Fuzzy search (typo-tolerant)
search_nodes({query: "slak", mode: "FUZZY"})

// With real examples
search_nodes({query: "webhook", includeExamples: true})

get_node - Node Configuration

Copy// Standard detail (recommended starting point)
get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.httpRequest", detail: "standard"})

// With real-world examples
get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack", detail: "standard", includeExamples: true})

// Documentation mode
get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.webhook", mode: "docs"})

// Search specific properties
get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.httpRequest", mode: "search_properties", propertyQuery: "header"})

// Version comparison
get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.httpRequest", mode: "compare", fromVersion: "1.0", toVersion: "2.0"})

validate_node - Pre-build Validation

Copy// Full validation with suggestions
validate_node({
  nodeType: "nodes-base.slack",
  config: {resource: "channel", operation: "create"},
  mode: "full",
  profile: "strict"
})

// Quick check
validate_node({
  nodeType: "nodes-base.httpRequest",
  config: {method: "POST", url: "https://api.example.com"},
  mode: "minimal"
})

validate_workflow - Full Workflow Validation

Copyvalidate_workflow({
  workflow: myWorkflowJson,
  options: {
    validateNodes: true,
    validateConnections: true,
    validateExpressions: true,
    profile: "strict"
  }
})

search_templates - Finding Templates

Copy// By task type
search_templates({searchMode: "by_task", task: "ai_automation"})
search_templates({searchMode: "by_task", task: "webhook_processing"})

// By nodes used
search_templates({searchMode: "by_nodes", nodeTypes: ["n8n-nodes-base.openAi", "n8n-nodes-langchain.agent"]})

// By complexity
search_templates({searchMode: "by_metadata", complexity: "simple", maxSetupMinutes: 15})

// Keyword search
search_templates({query: "slack notification"})

AI Agent Workflows

Connection Types (CRITICAL)

AI connections flow TO the consumer node:

Minimal AI Agent Setup

1. Add Chat Trigger (or Manual Trigger)
2. Add Language Model (OpenAI Chat Model / Anthropic)
3. Add AI Agent
4. Connect: Chat Trigger -> AI Agent (main connection)
5. Connect: Language Model -> AI Agent (ai_languageModel type)

Adding Tools to Agent

Copy// HTTP Request Tool - for API calls
{
  "name": "Call API Tool",
  "type": "@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.toolHttpRequest",
  "parameters": {
    "description": "Calls external API to fetch data"  // REQUIRED: 15+ chars
  }
}
// Connect: HTTP Tool -> AI Agent (ai_tool type)

Tool Description Requirements

• Minimum 15 characters
• Must clearly describe what the tool does
• Agent uses this to decide when to use the tool

See references/ai-agents-guide.md for advanced patterns.

Israeli Market Integration

WhatsApp Business API

Copy// Send text message
{
  "method": "POST",
  "url": "https://graph.facebook.com/v18.0/{{PHONE_ID}}/messages",
  "headers": {"Authorization": "Bearer {{ACCESS_TOKEN}}"},
  "body": {
    "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
    "to": "972501234567",
    "type": "text",
    "text": {"body": "\u200F" + hebrewText}  // RTL marker for Hebrew
  }
}

Hebrew RTL Handling

Copy// Add RTL marker for Hebrew text
const rtlText = "\u200F" + hebrewContent;  // Right-to-Left Mark

// Mixed content
const mixed = `\u200F${hebrewPart}\u200E${englishPart}`;  // LTR mark for English

Rate Limits by Tier

See references/israeli-market-integrations.md for WhatsApp templates and payment patterns.

Rails Integration

Triggering n8n from Rails

Copy# app/services/n8n_service.rb
def trigger_webhook(webhook_url, payload)
  HTTParty.post(webhook_url, {
    body: payload.to_json,
    headers: {'Content-Type' => 'application/json', 'X-Webhook-Secret' => ENV['N8N_SECRET']}
  })
end

Receiving n8n Callbacks

Copy# Verify signature
signature = request.headers['X-N8N-Signature']
expected = OpenSSL::HMAC.hexdigest('sha256', ENV['N8N_SECRET'], request.raw_post)
unless ActiveSupport::SecurityUtils.secure_compare(signature.to_s, expected)
  render json: {error: 'Unauthorized'}, status: 401
end

Selling Automations

• Automation model with workflow_json, price, demo_webhook_url
• Purchase model with Stripe integration
• Delivery: JSON download, hosted deploy, or embedded viewer

See references/rails-integration-patterns.md for full implementation.

Validation Checklist

Before Building

• Run search_nodes to find correct node type
• Run get_node with detail: "standard" to understand config
• Check for required credentials

Node Level

• validate_node({..., mode: "full"}) passes
• All required fields populated
• Credentials configured (not hardcoded)
• Error handling configured

Workflow Level

• validate_workflow({...}) passes
• All nodes connected (no orphans)
• Error Trigger node present
• Webhook paths unique

AI Workflows

• Language model connected BEFORE AI Agent
• All tools have descriptions (15+ chars)
• Memory node if conversation history needed
• Streaming: no main outputs from AI Agent

Pre-Deployment

• Test with sample data
• Environment variables for sensitive data
• Rate limiting considered

Workflow JSON Structure

Copy{
  "name": "Workflow Name",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "uuid",
      "name": "Node Name",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.webhook",
      "typeVersion": 2,
      "position": [250, 300],
      "parameters": {}
    }
  ],
  "connections": {
    "Node Name": {
      "main": [[{"node": "Next Node", "type": "main", "index": 0}]]
    }
  },
  "settings": {
    "executionOrder": "v1"
  }
}

Scripts

Validate Before Deploy

Copypython scripts/validate_before_deploy.py workflow.json

Generate Workflow Skeleton

Copypython scripts/generate_workflow_skeleton.py --type webhook --name "My Workflow"
python scripts/generate_workflow_skeleton.py --type ai-agent --name "Support Bot"

References

Templates

Workflows

• assets/templates/workflows/webhook-processor.json
• assets/templates/workflows/lead-capture-crm.json
• assets/templates/workflows/whatsapp-bot.json
• assets/templates/workflows/ai-agent-basic.json
• assets/templates/workflows/scheduled-report.json
• assets/templates/workflows/rails-webhook-handler.json

Nodes

• assets/templates/nodes/webhook-trigger.json
• assets/templates/nodes/http-request-auth.json
• assets/templates/nodes/code-transform.json
• assets/templates/nodes/if-conditions.json
• assets/templates/nodes/error-handler.json

Israeli Market

• assets/templates/israel/whatsapp-message-types.json
• assets/templates/israel/hebrew-templates.json
• assets/templates/israel/payment-webhook.json