Building AI Agents with n8n: An Introduction

Course Description

Learn how to build intelligent AI agents using n8n, a powerful workflow automation platform. This introductory course covers the fundamentals of n8n, workflow automation, and how to implement practical AI solutions without complex coding.

Intended Learners

• Bootstrapped founders and entrepreneurs

• Small business owners

• Software developers

• IT professionals

• Automation enthusiasts with basic technical knowledge

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you'll be able to:

• Understand n8n's core components and functionality

• Create basic automated workflows

• Use and customize n8n templates

• Set up a self-hosted n8n environment

• Implement simple AI-powered automation

Course Outline

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1: Introduction (5 min)

• Welcome to the course

• Instructor introduction

• Course overview and structure

• What you'll be able to do after completing this course

• How to get the most out of this course

Lecture 2: What is n8n? (8 min)

• Introduction to n8n as a workflow automation platform

• Key features and capabilities

• Comparison with other tools (Zapier, Make, etc.)

• The advantages of n8n's open-source approach

• Overview of the n8n interface

Lecture 3: Basics of Workflow (10 min)

• What is workflow automation

• The concept of "if this, then that" in automation

• Components of an effective workflow

• Data flow fundamentals

• Examples of simple but powerful workflows

• Common business use cases for automation

Quiz: Introduction to n8n

• 5 multiple-choice questions covering:

  • n8n basics

  • Workflow concepts

  • Platform capabilities

  • Use case identification

Section 2: Intro to n8n

Lecture 4: What are Triggers? (7 min)

• Understanding triggers as workflow starting points

• Types of triggers available in n8n

  • Scheduled triggers

  • Webhook triggers

  • Application-specific triggers

• Setting up your first trigger

• Best practices for reliable trigger configuration

Lecture 5: Components of a Workflow (12 min)

• Node types and their specific functions

• Connecting nodes to create logical sequences

• Data mapping between nodes

• Using IF nodes for conditional logic

• Function nodes for custom operations

• Working with data transformations

• Understanding node execution order

Lecture 6: What is the Final Output Layer? (8 min)

• Options for workflow outputs

• Sending data to external systems

• Setting up notification systems

• Storing results in databases

• Creating data visualizations

• Error handling in the output layer

• Testing and debugging your output

Hands-on Exercise: Basic Workflow Creation

• Step-by-step instructions to create a simple workflow that:

  • Uses a manual trigger

  • Processes data with a function node

  • Outputs results via email or notification

• Includes troubleshooting tips and validation steps

Section 3: Templates & Workflows

Lecture 7: How to Find n8n Workflow Templates? (6 min)

• Navigating the n8n templates library

• Understanding template descriptions and requirements

• Filtering templates by category and use case

• Evaluating templates for your specific needs

• Importing templates to your workspace

• Template documentation best practices

Lecture 8: Social Media Trend Finder <> Discord Notifier (15 min)

• Detailed walkthrough of the template

• Setting up required accounts and credentials

• Configuring social media monitoring parameters

• Setting up keyword and trend detection

• Customizing Discord notification format

• Testing the workflow with real data

• Troubleshooting common issues

Project Assignment: Template Customization

• Instructions for customizing the Social Media Trend Finder template:

  • Changing monitored keywords

  • Modifying notification format

  • Adding additional filtering criteria

  • Creating custom alerts based on specific metrics

• Submission requirements and success criteria

Section 4: Self-hosting & Templates

Lecture 9: How to Self-host n8n on Your Computer? (10 min)

• Requirements for local installation

• Step-by-step installation process for:

  • Windows

  • Mac

  • Linux

• Setting up environment variables

• Database configuration options

• Securing your local instance

• Troubleshooting installation issues

Lecture 10: Using Templates with Self-hosting (8 min)

• Importing templates to your self-hosted instance

• Managing credentials securely

• Local vs. cloud template differences

• Adapting cloud templates for local use

• Backing up your workflows

• Upgrading your self-hosted instance

• Performance considerations

Setup Exercise: Local n8n Installation

• Comprehensive guide for installing n8n on your local machine

• Verification steps to ensure proper installation

• Importing your first template to test functionality

• Configuration tasks to customize your installation

• Documentation requirements for assignment completion