> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/czlonkowski/n8n-skills/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Get n8n-skills running in 4 steps — from zero to building production-ready n8n workflows with Claude.

This guide gets you to a working state as quickly as possible. You'll install the n8n-mcp MCP server, configure it, install the skills, and verify everything works.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install the n8n-mcp server">
    The n8n-mcp server provides Claude with access to n8n's node library, validation engine, and workflow templates. Install it globally with npm:

    ```bash theme={null}
    npm install -g n8n-mcp
    ```

    Verify the installation:

    ```bash theme={null}
    npx n8n-mcp --version
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure .mcp.json">
    Create or update `.mcp.json` in your project root (or home directory) to register the n8n-mcp server with Claude:

    ```json .mcp.json theme={null}
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "n8n-mcp": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["n8n-mcp"],
          "env": {
            "MCP_MODE": "stdio",
            "LOG_LEVEL": "error",
            "DISABLE_CONSOLE_OUTPUT": "true",
            "N8N_API_URL": "https://your-n8n-instance.com",
            "N8N_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    <Note>
      `N8N_API_URL` and `N8N_API_KEY` are optional. Without them, read-only tools (node search, validation, templates) still work. Add them to enable workflow creation and management.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install the skills">
    Install n8n-skills as a Claude Code plugin with a single command:

    ```bash theme={null}
    /plugin install czlonkowski/n8n-skills
    ```

    That's it — all 7 skills are installed and will activate automatically.

    <Tip>
      Prefer browsing before installing? Use the marketplace method instead:

      ```bash theme={null}
      /plugin marketplace add czlonkowski/n8n-skills
      /plugin install
      ```

      Then select **n8n-mcp-skills** from the list.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test it">
    Open Claude Code and try a query that exercises multiple skills at once:

    ```
    Build and validate a webhook to Slack notification workflow
    ```

    You should see Claude:

    * Search for webhook and Slack nodes using `search_nodes`
    * Apply the webhook processing pattern
    * Configure each node with correct properties
    * Map data using `{{$json.body.message}}` syntax
    * Validate the complete workflow

    To verify individual skills, try these targeted queries:

    ```
    How do I access webhook data in n8n expressions?
    ```

    Expected: The **Expression Syntax** skill activates and explains `$json.body.*` access.

    ```
    Find me a Slack node using n8n-mcp
    ```

    Expected: The **MCP Tools Expert** skill activates and uses `search_nodes({query: "slack"})`.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What happens automatically

Once installed, skills activate based on your query — no configuration or manual invocation needed. The more specific your request, the more skills collaborate:

| Your query                                     | Skills that activate                 |
| ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| `"How do I write n8n expressions?"`            | Expression Syntax                    |
| `"Find me a Slack node"`                       | MCP Tools Expert                     |
| `"Build a webhook workflow"`                   | Workflow Patterns + MCP Tools Expert |
| `"Why is validation failing?"`                 | Validation Expert                    |
| `"How do I configure the HTTP Request node?"`  | Node Configuration                   |
| `"Write JavaScript to transform webhook data"` | Code: JavaScript                     |
| `"Can I use pandas in a Python Code node?"`    | Code: Python                         |

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Skills overview" icon="grid" href="/skills/overview">
    See all 7 skills, their activation triggers, and how they compose
  </Card>

  <Card title="Usage guide" icon="book-open" href="/guides/usage">
    Example queries, best practices, and advanced usage patterns
  </Card>

  <Card title="Full installation guide" icon="download" href="/installation">
    All installation methods: manual, Claude.ai web, and Claude API/SDK
  </Card>

  <Card title="Workflow patterns" icon="diagram-project" href="/guides/workflow-patterns-overview">
    The 5 proven n8n workflow architectural patterns with real examples
  </Card>
</CardGroup>