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https://github.com/8dvibes/n8n-cli

Zero-dependency Python CLI for the n8n REST API. 80+ commands for workflows, executions, credentials, nodes, webhooks. Auto-updating catalog of 543+ nodes. Multi-instance profiles. pip install, no npm/Node.js required. Works with n8n Cloud and self-hosted. Built for AI agents and automation scripts.
https://github.com/8dvibes/n8n-cli

ai-agents api automation claude-code cli devtools n8n n8n-api n8n-cloud no-dependencies python self-hosted workflow workflow-automation

Last synced: 2 months ago
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Zero-dependency Python CLI for the n8n REST API. 80+ commands for workflows, executions, credentials, nodes, webhooks. Auto-updating catalog of 543+ nodes. Multi-instance profiles. pip install, no npm/Node.js required. Works with n8n Cloud and self-hosted. Built for AI agents and automation scripts.

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README 

          
# n8n-cli



[![Python 3.9+](https://img.shields.io/badge/python-3.9+-blue.svg)](https://www.python.org/downloads/)

[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-green.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)

[![GitHub release](https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/8Dvibes/n8n-cli)](https://github.com/8Dvibes/n8n-cli/releases)

[![No Dependencies](https://img.shields.io/badge/dependencies-zero-brightgreen.svg)](https://github.com/8Dvibes/n8n-cli)



**Scriptable, pipeable CLI for the n8n REST API. Zero external dependencies.**



80+ commands. Auto-updating node catalog (543+ nodes). Multi-instance profiles. Works with n8n Cloud and self-hosted. Ships with 33 Claude Code skills.



![n8n-cli demo](demo.gif)



```

$ n8n-cli workflows list --active

ID                   Active   Name

----------------------------------------------------------------------

0NGypLmiqvKIpwrz     Yes      Gmail: Untrash Email (Multi-Account)

11zReJylAUZeh2ev     Yes      Update Event - Team

1Et6fk45FStEU5qc     Yes      Gmail: Remove Label (Multi-Account)



$ n8n-cli nodes search slack

Node                           Display Name              Description

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

slack                          Slack                     Consume Slack API

slackTrigger                   Slack Trigger             Handle Slack events via webhooks



$ n8n-cli --json executions list --status error --limit 3 | jq '.[].id'

"7322"

"7316"

"7310"

```



Built by [AI Build Lab](https://aibuildlab.com) -- teaching context engineering for agentic systems.



## Install



```bash

# From PyPI

pip install n8n-toolkit



# From GitHub

pip install git+https://github.com/8Dvibes/n8n-cli.git



# From source

git clone https://github.com/8Dvibes/n8n-cli.git

cd n8n-cli

pip install .

```



## Quick Start



```bash

# Configure your n8n instance

n8n-cli config set-profile cloud --url "https://your-instance.app.n8n.cloud/api/v1" --key "your-api-key" --default



# Or use environment variables

export N8N_API_URL="https://your-instance.app.n8n.cloud/api/v1"

export N8N_API_KEY="your-api-key"



# Check connection

n8n-cli health



# List workflows

n8n-cli workflows list

n8n-cli workflows list --active

n8n-cli wf ls --tag "production"



# Get workflow details

n8n-cli workflows get 



# Export / Import

n8n-cli workflows export  -o workflow.json

n8n-cli workflows import workflow.json --activate

```



## Claude Code Skills



n8n-cli ships with **33 [Claude Code skills](https://docs.claude.com/claude-code)** -- pre-built slash commands that teach Claude Code how to drive n8n-cli for common workflows. Once installed, you can type `/n8n-cli-status`, `/n8n-cli-debug`, `/n8n-cli-create` etc. inside any Claude Code session and Claude will execute the right `n8n-cli` commands for you.



```bash

# See what's bundled and what's already installed

n8n-cli skills list



# Install all 33 into ~/.claude/skills/

n8n-cli skills install



# Install just one

n8n-cli skills install n8n-cli-status



# Overwrite existing

n8n-cli skills install --force



# Print the install target

n8n-cli skills path

```



After installing, restart Claude Code (or open a new session) and the slash commands appear in your skill picker.



### Core (the 11 originals)



| Skill | What it does |

|---|---|

| `/n8n-cli-status` | Health check, active workflows, recent errors -- one-shot dashboard |

| `/n8n-cli-debug` | Pull failed executions, analyze error patterns, suggest fixes |

| `/n8n-cli-create` | Describe a workflow in English, Claude builds it and imports it |

| `/n8n-cli-import` | Import a workflow JSON with guided credential mapping |

| `/n8n-cli-export` | Export workflows to JSON for git, backup, or migration |

| `/n8n-cli-monitor` | Watch the execution stream and alert on failures |

| `/n8n-cli-migrate` | Move workflows between cloud and self-hosted (with credential remapping) |

| `/n8n-cli-backup` | Full instance backup to a git-tracked directory |

| `/n8n-cli-diff` | Compare workflows between instances or against local JSON |

| `/n8n-cli-webhook-test` | Send test payloads to webhook workflows |

| `/n8n-cli-creds` | Credential gap analysis -- find what's missing for a workflow |



### Hygiene & governance



| Skill | What it does |

|---|---|

| `/n8n-cli-cleanup` | Find dead workflows, orphaned credentials, untagged junk -- triage list with safe-to-delete recommendations |

| `/n8n-cli-cost` | Execution cost analysis: top consumers, hourly distribution, suspected spammers |

| `/n8n-cli-schedule-audit` | Audit Schedule Triggers across all workflows, find collisions, suggest a rebalanced schedule |

| `/n8n-cli-tag-governance` | Find untagged workflows, propose tags based on content, bulk-apply |



### Authoring & refactoring



| Skill | What it does |

|---|---|

| `/n8n-cli-document` | Generate human-readable markdown docs from a workflow JSON |

| `/n8n-cli-template` | Convert a workflow into a reusable template, or instantiate a new workflow from one |

| `/n8n-cli-refactor` | Analyze a workflow for simplification opportunities and propose a refactor |

| `/n8n-cli-review` | PR-style code review of workflow changes with risk badges |



### Dependency mapping



| Skill | What it does |

|---|---|

| `/n8n-cli-deps` | Build a dependency graph: workflow → sub-workflow → credential → webhook. Output as tree, mermaid, or JSON |

| `/n8n-cli-impact` | "If I delete X, what breaks?" -- reverse blast-radius analysis |

| `/n8n-cli-node-usage` | Search across all workflows for usage of a specific node, credential, or pattern |



### Production ops



| Skill | What it does |

|---|---|

| `/n8n-cli-meta-monitor` | Generate a meta-workflow inside n8n that monitors all your other workflows and alerts on failures |

| `/n8n-cli-upgrade-preflight` | Pre-flight check before upgrading n8n: deprecated nodes, breaking changes, package compatibility |

| `/n8n-cli-bulk` | Safe bulk ops with mandatory dry-run: activate by tag, archive by age, swap credentials, etc. |



### Testing



| Skill | What it does |

|---|---|

| `/n8n-cli-test-fixtures` | Generate realistic test payloads for webhook workflows (happy path + edge + error + security) |

| `/n8n-cli-replay` | Pull a real failed execution, capture its input, replay it deliberately for debugging |

| `/n8n-cli-smoke` | Define and run a smoke-test suite that verifies critical workflows respond correctly |



### Bridge to other tools



| Skill | What it does |

|---|---|

| `/n8n-cli-from-mcp` | Convert an MCP server or Claude Code skill into the equivalent n8n workflow |

| `/n8n-cli-to-mcp` | Wrap an n8n workflow as an agent-callable tool (MCP, OpenAI function, Anthropic tool, or HTTP) |

| `/n8n-cli-from-cron` | Read a crontab and generate equivalent n8n workflows for each entry |

| `/n8n-cli-from-launchd` | macOS-specific: read launchd plists and generate equivalent n8n workflows |

| `/n8n-cli-from-zapier` | Migrate a Zapier zap to an equivalent n8n workflow |



The skills install to `~/.claude/skills/` by default. Override with `CLAUDE_SKILLS_DIR=/some/path n8n-cli skills install`.



## Commands



### Workflows (`workflows` / `wf`)



```

list [--active] [--inactive] [--tag TAG] [--name NAME] [--project-id ID] [--limit N]

get 

create 

update  

delete 

activate 

deactivate 

export  [-o file.json]

import  [--activate]

archive 

unarchive 

transfer  

tags 

set-tags   [tag-id...]

clear-tags 

```



### Executions (`executions` / `exec`)



```

list [--workflow-id ID] [--status error|success|waiting|running|new] [--limit N]

get 

retry 

delete 

stop 

```



### Credentials (`credentials` / `creds`)



```

list [--type TYPE] [--limit N]

get 

schema 

create 

delete 

transfer  

```



### Tags



```

list [--limit N]

create 

get 

update  

delete 

```



### Variables (`variables` / `vars`)



```

list [--limit N]

create  

get 

update  [--key KEY] [--value VALUE]

delete 

```



### Projects



```

list [--limit N]

get 

create 

update  

delete 

users 

```



### Users



```

list [--limit N]

get 

delete 

change-role  

```



### Community Packages (`packages` / `pkg`)



```

list

install 

get 

update 

uninstall 

```



### Nodes (local catalog, auto-updating)



```

search                         Search 543+ nodes by keyword

get  [--full]                   Get node details (--full for complete property schema)

list [--group G] [--category C] [--credential C] [--ai-tools] [--limit N]

update                                Force-refresh catalog from npm

info                                  Show cached catalog version

```



The node catalog downloads from official n8n npm packages and auto-checks for updates on every use. No n8n instance connection needed.



### Webhooks (`webhooks` / `wh`)



```

list                                  List all webhook URLs from active workflows

test  [--data '{}'] [--method POST]

```



### Skills (Claude Code)



```

list                                  List bundled skills + install status

install [name...] [--force]           Install skills into ~/.claude/skills/

uninstall  [name...]            Remove installed skills

path                                  Print install target directory

doctor                                Validate every bundled SKILL.md against the live CLI surface

```



### Other



```

health              Check n8n instance connectivity

audit               Generate security audit [--categories credentials,database,filesystem,instance,nodes]

source-control pull Source control pull [--force]

discover            Show API capabilities

config show         Show current profile

config set-profile  Create/update a profile

config list-profiles

config use    Switch default profile

config delete-profile 

```



## Multi-Instance Support



```bash

# Set up profiles

n8n-cli config set-profile cloud --url "https://instance.app.n8n.cloud/api/v1" --key "key1" --default

n8n-cli config set-profile selfhosted --url "https://n8n.myserver.com/api/v1" --key "key2"



# Switch between them

n8n-cli --profile selfhosted workflows list

n8n-cli --profile cloud health



# Or set default

n8n-cli config use selfhosted

```



## JSON Output



Add `--json` to any command for machine-readable output:



```bash

n8n-cli --json workflows list --active | jq '.[].name'

n8n-cli --json executions list --status error | jq length

```



## Config



Config stored at `~/.n8n-cli.json` (mode 600). Environment variables take priority:



| Variable | Description |

|----------|-------------|

| `N8N_API_URL` | n8n API base URL |

| `N8N_API_KEY` | API key |

| `N8N_PROFILE` | Profile name to use |



## Why n8n-cli?



| | n8n-cli | MCP Servers | n8n UI |

|---|---------|-------------|--------|

| Works from any terminal | Yes | No (needs MCP client) | No |

| Pipeable / scriptable | Yes | No | No |

| Multi-instance switching | Yes (`--profile`) | Manual config swap | One at a time |

| Node catalog with search | Yes (543+ nodes, auto-updating) | Depends on server | Built-in |

| Works with any AI agent | Yes (Bash) | Claude Code only | Manual |

| Dependencies | Zero | Node.js + npm | Browser |



## Example Prompts for AI Agents



Don't want to memorize commands? Just tell your AI agent what you need:



> "Check my n8n instance for any failed executions today and tell me what went wrong"



> "Export all my active workflows to a folder for git version control"



> "Build me a workflow that checks a Google Sheet every morning and posts a summary to Slack"



> "Run a security audit and tell me which credentials aren't being used"



See **[EXAMPLES.md](EXAMPLES.md)** for 13 more copy-paste prompts you can hand to Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, or any AI agent.



## Requirements



- Python 3.9+

- No external dependencies (stdlib only)

- Works with n8n Cloud and self-hosted instances



## Support the Project



If this is useful to you, here's how you can help:

- Star the repo (it helps with discoverability)

- Fork it and try it out

- Share it with your n8n community

- [Sponsor](https://github.com/sponsors/8Dvibes) if you want to support continued development

- File issues or PRs for features you'd like to see



## Contributing



Issues and PRs welcome. This project uses zero external dependencies by design -- please keep it that way.



## License



MIT -- see [LICENSE](LICENSE)



---



Built by **[AI Build Lab](https://aibuildlab.com)** | [Tyler Fisk](https://github.com/8Dvibes) | [@tyfisk](https://x.com/tyfisk)