n8n is a powerful open source platform for workflow automation and systems integration. With n8n, you can automate repetitive tasks, integrate diverse applications and services, and create custom workflows without having to write complex code. This article explores the key benefits of n8n and provides a detailed guide to installing it using Docker Compose.
Why choose n8n?
1. Open Source and Free
n8n is completely open source, which means you can use, modify and customise the platform at no cost. You can visit the n8n GitHub repository to access the source code, contribute to the project or report bugs.
2. Intuitive Visual Interface
n8n offers a user-friendly graphical interface for designing your workflows. You can easily create automations by connecting visual blocks representing actions and triggers, without the need for programming skills.
3. Multiple integrations
With over 200 integrations available, n8n lets you connect a wide range of services and applications, including CRM, messaging platforms, databases and more. This makes it easy to synchronise data between different tools and systems.
4. Flexibility and scalability
n8n is designed to be flexible and extensible. You can add custom functions and specific integrations thanks to its modular structure and its ability to execute custom JavaScript code in workflows.
5. Advanced automation
n8n allows you to create complex automations with conditions, loops and data transformations, offering great flexibility to meet specific needs.
Installing n8n with Docker Compose
Installing n8n via Docker Compose is quick and easy. Here’s a step-by-step guide to configuring n8n on your server.
Prerequisites
Before you start, make sure that Docker and Docker Compose are installed on your server. You can install them using the following commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker.io docker-compose -y
Creating the Docker Compose file
Create a docker-compose.yml file in a directory of your choice. This file will contain the configuration required to deploy n8n. Use the following code to configure n8n:
version: '3'
services:
n8n:
image: n8n/n8n:latest
container_name: n8n
ports:
- "5678:5678"
volumes:
- ./n8n_data:/data
restart: always
environment:
- N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true
- N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin
- N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=your_password
Explanations
- image: Indicates the official Docker image for n8n.
- container_name: Name of the container for easy identification.
- ports: Maps port 5678 on the container to port 5678 on the host to access the n8n web interface.
- volumes: Create a local directory to store persistent n8n data. Create the
n8n_datadirectory in the same directory as yourdocker-compose.ymlfile. - environment: Defines the environment variables needed to enable basic authentication and protect access to the n8n interface. Replace
your_passwordwith a secure password.
Launch n8n
Once you have created the docker-compose.yml file, run n8n with the following command:
sudo docker-compose up -d
This command downloads the Docker image, creates the container, and starts n8n in the background. You can access the n8n web interface by opening a browser and navigating to http://:5678.
Initial configuration
When you first connect to the n8n interface, you will need to log in using the credentials defined in the environment variables. You can then configure your workflows, add integrations and create custom automations.
Conclusion
n8n is a flexible and powerful platform for automating workflows and integrating various services. With its easy installation via Docker Compose and its many features, n8n is an ideal tool for optimising your processes and automating complex tasks.
Useful links
Share your experiences with n8n and ask your questions in the comments section!
