Machina Profile picture
Jun 19 22 tweets 8 min read Read on X
most people struggle with n8n because they try to learn every single node...

here are the 20 nodes that will handle 95% of your automations:

a thread 🧵
1/ HTTP Request Node

this is your gateway to connect with any API

basic setup:
- method: GET/POST/PUT
- URL: the API endpoint
- headers: usually "Content-Type: application/json"
- body: your data payload

master this node and you can connect n8n to literally anything Image
2/ IF Node

your automation's decision maker

think of it as "if this happens, do that"

setup:
- condition type: string, number, boolean
- operation: equal, contains, greater than
- value 1: the data you're checking
- value 2: what you're comparing it to Image
3/ Set Node

transforms and cleans your data

use it to:
- rename fields
- add new properties
- format data for the next step
- clean messy API responses

setup:
- operation: "set"
- name: new field name
- value: {{ $json.old_field_name }} Image
4/ Gmail Node

automate your entire email workflow

can:
- send emails
- read incoming messages
- search for specific emails
- mark as read/unread

setup requires:
- google oauth connection
- proper scopes enabled
- recipient/subject/body fields Image
5/ Google Sheets Node

turn spreadsheets into databases

operations:
- append: add new rows
- lookup: find specific data
- update: modify existing rows
- read: get spreadsheet data

setup:
- google service account
- sheet ID from URL
- range (like A1:Z1000) Image
6/ Webhook Node

triggers your automation from external sources

types:
- webhook trigger: starts workflows
- webhook response: sends data back

setup:
- copy the webhook URL
- paste into external app
- configure HTTP method
- set response format Image
7/ Schedule Trigger Node

runs automations on autopilot

options:
- interval: every X minutes/hours
- cron expression: specific times
- timezone settings

setup:
- choose interval or cron
- set timezone
- enable/disable as needed Image
8/ Slack Node

automate team communication

can:
- send messages to channels
- direct message users
- create channels
- upload files

setup:
- slack app token
- channel ID or username
- message content
- formatting options Image
9/ Code Node (JavaScript)

write custom logic when nodes aren't enough

use for:
- complex data transformations
- custom calculations
- API response parsing
- conditional logic

setup:
- write JavaScript code
- use $input.all() for data
- return array of objects Image
10/ Merge Node

combines data from multiple sources

types:
- append: stack data vertically
- merge: combine by key
- multiplex: cross-join data

setup:
- choose merge mode
- set input names
- configure join conditions Image
11/ Split In Batches Node

processes large datasets efficiently

prevents timeouts and API limits

setup:
- batch size: items per batch
- reset: start fresh each run
- input data: your large dataset Image
12/ Wait Node

adds delays between actions

prevents API rate limiting

types:
- wait for time: fixed delay
- wait for webhook: external trigger

setup:
- delay duration
- unit (seconds/minutes/hours) Image
13/ Filter Node

removes unwanted data from your workflow

conditions:
- keep items that match
- remove items that match
- pass through all

setup:
- condition type
- field to check
- comparison value Image
14/ Error Trigger Node

catches workflow failures

handles:
- API timeouts
- authentication errors
- data validation issues

setup:
- connect to main workflow
- add error handling logic
- send notifications or retry Image
15/ NoOp Node

placeholder that does nothing

useful for:
- workflow organization
- temporary connections
- testing purposes

setup:
- just connect it

sometimes you need a node that literally does nothing Image
16/ FTP Node

transfers files between servers

operations:
- upload files
- download files
- list directory contents

setup:
- FTP server credentials
- file paths
- transfer mode Image
17/ Switch Node

multiple conditional branches

like IF node but with many options

setup:
- routing mode
- multiple conditions
- fallback route

when you need more than simple if/else logic Image
18/ Execute Workflow Node

runs other workflows from inside workflows

creates:
- modular automations
- reusable workflow components
- complex orchestration

setup:
- target workflow ID
- input data
- wait for completion Image
19/ Agent Node (AI Tools)

connects AI models to your automations

can:
- call OpenAI, Claude, or local models
- use tools and function calling
- chain AI responses together
- process unstructured data

setup:
- choose AI model (OpenAI/Anthropic/etc)
- add API credentials
- configure tools and prompts
- set temperature and max tokensImage
20/ MySQL Node

connects to real databases

operations:
- execute SQL queries
- insert/update/delete records
- run stored procedures

setup:
- database credentials
- connection string
- SQL query with parameters Image
master these 20 nodes and you can build 95% of business automations

(let me know if i forgot one)

start with the first 5:
- HTTP Request
- IF
- Set
- Gmail
- Google Sheets

then gradually add the others as you need them

don't try to learn all 200+ nodes at once

focus on these core ones and you'll build some great automations

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More from @EXM7777

Jun 20
i’m tired of seing fake gurus farming engagement with n8n automations they FAKE or STEAL

today i’m exposing all of them by sharing every workflow available online and the exact place you can find them



here are +3100 n8n files ready to import for FREE (bookmark this for later)

a thread 🧵
#1 let's start with the most obvious place:

the official n8n templates -

+2669 automations available
you just have to import them inside one of your project
built by the n8n team and trusted builders

you even get some small guides on how to set them upn8n.io/workflows/
#2 then we will take a look into a github called "awesome-n8n-templates"

i've selected the best folders and filtered them so you don't have to

starting with gmail and email automations:

- email response system
- ai-powered email autoresponder
- analyze suspicious email content
- auto categorize emails
- compose reply draft in gmail with openai
- send specific pdf files using chatgpt

and much more

github.com/enescingoz/awe…
Read 20 tweets
Jun 18
i reverse-engineered how a banned columbia student turned controversy into 17 million views...

here's the viral psychology blueprint that made @cluely go viral:

a thread 🧵 Image
#1 cluely's CEO @im_roy_lee got kicked out of columbia for using AI in interviews...

instead of hiding it, he made it his entire brand

this is the tweet that broke twitter:
"cluely is out. cheat on everything."

- 11 million views
- thousands of reposts
- instantly viral

controversy = attention
#2 the psychological triggers they exploited

curiosity gap: "cheat on everything" is vague but provocative
outrage: framing AI as "cheating" creates a debate
FOMO: implies a revolutionary tool you can't ignore

they turned haters into distributors

every rage quote tweet spread their message further, making them viral
Read 21 tweets

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