n8n-conventions

name	n8n:conventions
description	Quick reference for n8n patterns. Full docs /AGENTS.md

n8n Quick Reference

📚 Full Documentation:

• General: /AGENTS.md - Architecture, commands, workflows
• Frontend: /packages/frontend/AGENTS.md - CSS variables, timing

Use this skill when you need quick reminders on critical patterns.

Critical Rules (Must Follow)

Technical writing (comments, PRs, issues, docs):

• Write in ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English: short sentences, the active voice, one instruction for each sentence

TypeScript:

• Never any → use unknown
• Prefer satisfies over as (except tests)
• Shared types in @n8n/api-types

Error Handling:

import { UnexpectedError } from 'n8n-workflow';
throw new UnexpectedError('message', { extra: { context } });
// DON'T use deprecated ApplicationError

Frontend:

• Vue 3 Composition API (<script setup lang="ts">)
• CSS variables (never hardcode px) - see /packages/frontend/AGENTS.md
• All text via i18n ($t('key'))
• data-testid for E2E (single value, no spaces)

Backend:

• Controller → Service → Repository
• Dependency injection via @n8n/di
• Config via @n8n/config
• Zod schemas for validation

Testing:

• Vitest (unit), Playwright (E2E)
• Mock external dependencies
• Work from package directory: pushd packages/cli && pnpm test

Database:

• SQLite/PostgreSQL only (app DB)
• Exception: DB nodes (MySQL Node, etc.) can use DB-specific features

GitHub Workflows:

• Every workflow declares a least-privilege top-level permissions: block (usually contents: read); jobs needing more override at job level

Commands:

pnpm build > build.log 2>&1  # Always redirect
pnpm typecheck               # Before commit
pnpm lint                    # Before commit

Secrets: pnpm command lines may be recorded verbatim (opt-in dev metrics) — pass sensitive values via env vars, never inline on the command line.

Key Packages

Package	Purpose
packages/cli	Backend API
packages/frontend/editor-ui	Vue 3 frontend
packages/@n8n/api-types	Shared types
packages/@n8n/db	TypeORM entities
packages/workflow	Core interfaces

Common Patterns

Pinia Store:

import { STORES } from '@n8n/stores';
export const useMyStore = defineStore(STORES.MY_STORE, () => {
  const state = shallowRef([]);
  return { state };
});

Vue Component:

<script setup lang="ts">
type Props = { title: string };
const props = defineProps<Props>();
</script>

Service:

import { Service } from '@n8n/di';
import { Config } from '@n8n/config';

@Service()
export class MyService {
  constructor(private readonly config: Config) {}
}

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📖 Need more details? Read /AGENTS.md and /packages/frontend/AGENTS.md