n8n-node-configuration

What this skill does

# n8n Node Configuration

Expert guidance for operation-aware node configuration with property dependencies.

---

## Configuration Philosophy

**Progressive disclosure**: Start minimal, add complexity as needed

Configuration best practices:
- get_node_essentials is the most used discovery pattern
- 56 seconds average between configuration edits
- 91.7% success rate with essentials-based configuration

**Key insight**: Most configurations need only essentials, not full schema!

---

## Core Concepts

### 1. Operation-Aware Configuration

**Not all fields are always required** - it depends on operation!

**Example**: Slack node
```javascript
// For operation='post'
{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "post",
  "channel": "#general",  // Required for post
  "text": "Hello!"        // Required for post
}

// For operation='update'
{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "update",
  "messageId": "123",     // Required for update (different!)
  "text": "Updated!"      // Required for update
  // channel NOT required for update
}
```

**Key**: Resource + operation determine which fields are required!

### 2. Property Dependencies

**Fields appear/disappear based on other field values**

**Example**: HTTP Request node
```javascript
// When method='GET'
{
  "method": "GET",
  "url": "https://api.example.com"
  // sendBody not shown (GET doesn't have body)
}

// When method='POST'
{
  "method": "POST",
  "url": "https://api.example.com",
  "sendBody": true,       // Now visible!
  "body": {               // Required when sendBody=true
    "contentType": "json",
    "content": {...}
  }
}
```

**Mechanism**: displayOptions control field visibility

### 3. Progressive Discovery

**Use the right tool for the right job**:

1. **get_node_essentials** (91.7% success rate)
   - Quick overview
   - Required fields
   - Common options
   - **Use first** - covers 90% of needs

2. **get_property_dependencies** (for complex nodes)
   - Shows what fields depend on others
   - Reveals conditional requirements
   - Use when essentials isn't enough

3. **get_node_info** (full schema)
   - Complete documentation
   - All possible fields
   - Use when essentials + dependencies insufficient

---

## Configuration Workflow

### Standard Process

```
1. Identify node type and operation
   ↓
2. Use get_node_essentials
   ↓
3. Configure required fields
   ↓
4. Validate configuration
   ↓
5. If dependencies unclear → get_property_dependencies
   ↓
6. Add optional fields as needed
   ↓
7. Validate again
   ↓
8. Deploy
```

### Example: Configuring HTTP Request

**Step 1**: Identify what you need
```javascript
// Goal: POST JSON to API
```

**Step 2**: Get essentials
```javascript
const info = get_node_essentials({
  nodeType: "nodes-base.httpRequest"
});

// Returns: method, url, sendBody, body, authentication required/optional
```

**Step 3**: Minimal config
```javascript
{
  "method": "POST",
  "url": "https://api.example.com/create",
  "authentication": "none"
}
```

**Step 4**: Validate
```javascript
validate_node_operation({
  nodeType: "nodes-base.httpRequest",
  config,
  profile: "runtime"
});
// → Error: "sendBody required for POST"
```

**Step 5**: Add required field
```javascript
{
  "method": "POST",
  "url": "https://api.example.com/create",
  "authentication": "none",
  "sendBody": true
}
```

**Step 6**: Validate again
```javascript
validate_node_operation({...});
// → Error: "body required when sendBody=true"
```

**Step 7**: Complete configuration
```javascript
{
  "method": "POST",
  "url": "https://api.example.com/create",
  "authentication": "none",
  "sendBody": true,
  "body": {
    "contentType": "json",
    "content": {
      "name": "={{$json.name}}",
      "email": "={{$json.email}}"
    }
  }
}
```

**Step 8**: Final validation
```javascript
validate_node_operation({...});
// → Valid! ✅
```

---

## get_node_essentials vs get_node_info

### Use get_node_essentials When:

**✅ Starting configuration** (91.7% success rate)
```javascript
get_node_essentials({
  nodeType: "nodes-base.slack"
});
```

**Returns**:
- Required fields
- Common options
- Basic examples
- Operation list

**Fast**: ~18 seconds average (from search → essentials)

### Use get_node_info When:

**✅ Essentials insufficient**
```javascript
get_node_info({
  nodeType: "nodes-base.slack"
});
```

**Returns**:
- Full schema
- All properties
- Complete documentation
- Advanced options

**Slower**: More data to process

### Decision Tree

```
┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ Starting new node config?       │
├─────────────────────────────────┤
│ YES → get_node_essentials       │
└─────────────────────────────────┘
         ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ Essentials has what you need?   │
├─────────────────────────────────┤
│ YES → Configure with essentials │
│ NO  → Continue                  │
└─────────────────────────────────┘
         ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ Need dependency info?           │
├─────────────────────────────────┤
│ YES → get_property_dependencies │
│ NO  → Continue                  │
└─────────────────────────────────┘
         ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ Still need more details?        │
├─────────────────────────────────┤
│ YES → get_node_info             │
└─────────────────────────────────┘
```

---

## Property Dependencies Deep Dive

### displayOptions Mechanism

**Fields have visibility rules**:

```javascript
{
  "name": "body",
  "displayOptions": {
    "show": {
      "sendBody": [true],
      "method": ["POST", "PUT", "PATCH"]
    }
  }
}
```

**Translation**: "body" field shows when:
- sendBody = true AND
- method = POST, PUT, or PATCH

### Common Dependency Patterns

#### Pattern 1: Boolean Toggle

**Example**: HTTP Request sendBody
```javascript
// sendBody controls body visibility
{
  "sendBody": true   // → body field appears
}
```

#### Pattern 2: Operation Switch

**Example**: Slack resource/operation
```javascript
// Different operations → different fields
{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "post"
  // → Shows: channel, text, attachments, etc.
}

{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "update"
  // → Shows: messageId, text (different fields!)
}
```

#### Pattern 3: Type Selection

**Example**: IF node conditions
```javascript
{
  "type": "string",
  "operation": "contains"
  // → Shows: value1, value2
}

{
  "type": "boolean",
  "operation": "equals"
  // → Shows: value1, value2, different operators
}
```

### Using get_property_dependencies

**Example**:
```javascript
const deps = get_property_dependencies({
  nodeType: "nodes-base.httpRequest"
});

// Returns dependency tree
{
  "dependencies": {
    "body": {
      "shows_when": {
        "sendBody": [true],
        "method": ["POST", "PUT", "PATCH", "DELETE"]
      }
    },
    "queryParameters": {
      "shows_when": {
        "sendQuery": [true]
      }
    }
  }
}
```

**Use this when**: Validation fails and you don't understand why field is missing/required

---

## Common Node Patterns

### Pattern 1: Resource/Operation Nodes

**Examples**: Slack, Google Sheets, Airtable

**Structure**:
```javascript
{
  "resource": "<entity>",      // What type of thing
  "operation": "<action>",     // What to do with it
  // ... operation-specific fields
}
```

**How to configure**:
1. Choose resource
2. Choose operation
3. Use get_node_essentials to see operation-specific requirements
4. Configure required fields

### Pattern 2: HTTP-Based Nodes

**Examples**: HTTP Request, Webhook

**Structure**:
```javascript
{
  "method": "<HTTP_METHOD>",
  "url": "<endpoint>",
  "authentication": "<type>",
  // ... method-specific fields
}
```

**Dependencies**:
- POST/PUT/PATCH → sendBody available
- sendBody=true → body required
- authentication != "none" → credentials required

### Pattern 3: Database Nodes

**Examples**: Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB

**Structure**:
```javascript
{
  "operation": "<query|insert|update|delete>",
  // ... operation-specific fields
}
```