Creating Workflows

Learn how to create workflows from scratch.

Workflow JSON Structure

Every workflow has this structure:

{
  "name": "Workflow Name",
  "nodes": [],
  "connections": {},
  "settings": {},
  "active": false
}

Adding Nodes

Nodes are the building blocks:

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "node-1",
      "name": "Start",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.start",
      "position": [250, 300],
      "parameters": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "node-2",
      "name": "HTTP Request",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      "position": [450, 300],
      "parameters": {
        "url": "https://api.example.com/data",
        "method": "GET"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Node Fields

Field	Type	Required	Description
id	string	Yes	Unique identifier
name	string	Yes	Display name
type	string	Yes	Node type
position	[x, y]	Yes	Visual position
parameters	object	Yes	Node configuration
disabled	boolean	No	Skip this node

Defining Connections

Connect nodes to define data flow:

{
  "connections": {
    "Start": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "HTTP Request",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    }
  }
}

Connection Format

"Source Node Name": {
  "main": [
    [  // Output index 0
      {
        "node": "Target Node Name",
        "type": "main",
        "index": 0  // Target input index
      }
    ]
  ]
}

Multiple Outputs

Some nodes (like Switch) have multiple outputs:

{
  "Switch": {
    "main": [
      [{"node": "Path A", "type": "main", "index": 0}],
      [{"node": "Path B", "type": "main", "index": 0}]
    ]
  }
}

Complete Example

A workflow that fetches data and sends a Slack notification:

{
  "name": "Data Notification",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "start",
      "name": "Start",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.start",
      "position": [250, 300],
      "parameters": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "fetch",
      "name": "Fetch Data",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      "position": [450, 300],
      "parameters": {
        "url": "https://api.example.com/status",
        "method": "GET"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "format",
      "name": "Format Message",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
      "position": [650, 300],
      "parameters": {
        "assignments": [
          {
            "name": "message",
            "value": "Status: {{ $json.status }}"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "notify",
      "name": "Send Slack",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
      "position": [850, 300],
      "parameters": {
        "webhookUrl": "https://hooks.slack.com/...",
        "text": "={{ $json.message }}"
      }
    }
  ],
  "connections": {
    "Start": {
      "main": [[{"node": "Fetch Data", "type": "main", "index": 0}]]
    },
    "Fetch Data": {
      "main": [[{"node": "Format Message", "type": "main", "index": 0}]]
    },
    "Format Message": {
      "main": [[{"node": "Send Slack", "type": "main", "index": 0}]]
    }
  },
  "settings": {},
  "active": false
}

Creating via API

curl -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/workflows \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <token>" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @workflow.json

Creating via CLI

m9m create --from workflow.json

Validating Workflows

Check before creating:

m9m validate workflow.json

Validates:

• Required fields present
• Valid node types
• No circular dependencies
• Connection targets exist

Tips

Node IDs

Use meaningful IDs:

{"id": "fetch-user-data"}  // Good
{"id": "node-1"}           // Less clear

Node Positioning

Space nodes for readability:

{"position": [250, 300]}   // First node
{"position": [450, 300]}   // 200px right
{"position": [450, 500]}   // 200px down (branch)

Comments

Add description to workflow:

{
  "name": "My Workflow",
  "description": "Fetches data daily and sends report"
}