Intro to N8N Agents: Automate Work Effortlessly | Udemy

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