5 things I wish I learned before using n8n

This video shares key tips for learning n8n effectively. Start simple: test workflows with a Manual Trigger, pin data at each node to inspect JSON structures, and normalize using Set/IF before calling external services via HTTP Request—this approach solves most limitations in built-in nodes. Next, build a safety layer that includes retries, rate limits, timeouts, error branches with alerts and logs, credential protection, and separate environment variables for dev, staging, and production. Finally, adopt habits for workflow documentation and versioning so your workflows can be reused, shared with your team, and scaled while remaining stable over time.