What is n8n? Workflow automation explained
n8n is a workflow automation tool you run on your own server. What it is, how it is pronounced, what a workflow looks like, and when to use it.
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Is n8n free? Community vs enterprise limits
Self-hosted n8n is free under a fair-code licence with real limits. What you may do, which features need a paid key, and where cloud plans fit.
Ansible templates and handlers, by example
Render an nginx config from a Jinja2 template, notify a handler so it reloads only on a real change, then run the play twice to prove idempotence.
Ansible check mode and --diff dry runs
Ansible check mode explained: what --check and --diff really prove, and where a dry run gives you a wrong answer before you apply for real.
Ansible inventory files explained
Your Ansible inventory decides which host gets which variable: INI and YAML forms, groups, group_vars, host_vars, connection settings and precedence.
Ansible Vault: encrypt secrets in git
Keep passwords and API tokens in a playbook repo safely: encrypt a vars file or one inline string, split staging from production, and rekey cleanly.
Ansible: ignore unreachable hosts
Ansible treats an unreachable host differently from a failed task. Use ignore_unreachable, serial and max_fail_percentage, and still see what was missed.
n8n Timezones and Schedule Triggers
A self-hosted n8n reads three timezone settings, so a schedule trigger can fire hours off. Set TZ, GENERIC_TIMEZONE and the workflow zone right.
Claude Code Hooks Explained
Claude Code hooks run whether the model agrees or not. Where they live, which events fire, what exit code 2 does to a tool call, and the security cost.
Run a headless browser for AI agents on a VPS
Headless Chromium on a VPS breaks in known ways: tiny /dev/shm, sandbox flags, missing fonts, leaked processes. Set the limits before your agent hits them.
Self-host LiveContext, an n8n alternative
LiveContext CE is a six container Docker stack with a Java backend that wants 8 GB. Size it, pin the version, put Traefik in front, and back up both stores.
The types of AI agents, explained
Simple reflex, goal-based, utility-based, learning, multi-agent: what each type of AI agent is for, and which ones you can honestly self-host.
Ansible vs Terraform: which do you need?
Terraform creates the VPS, Ansible configures it. The real split, why provisioners fight both tools, the handoff commands, and when you need only Ansible.
Ansible playbook vs role: when to use each
When a flat Ansible playbook is enough and when a role earns its directories: the role layout, ansible-galaxy init, role calls, and variable precedence.
What is loop engineering? A definition
Loop engineering means designing the trigger, boundary, verification and budget an AI agent repeats, instead of writing one clever prompt. A plain definition.
n8n AI agent: build one on your own VPS
Build a working AI agent in n8n: the AI Agent node, a Claude model credential, an HTTP Request tool, memory, a trigger, and the settings that cap cost.
n8n vs Zapier vs Make: the self-host math
Zapier and Make bill per task. Self-hosted n8n bills a flat server cost. Work a real month of volume, find the crossover, and read the n8n license.
Ansible tutorial: your first playbook on a VPS
Install Ansible with pipx on Ubuntu 24.04, write an inventory and a first playbook that hardens a fresh VPS, plus fixes for Permission denied and sudo errors.
Claude + n8n: build AI workflows on a VPS
Connect Claude to n8n on your own VPS: an integration guide with credentials, model choice per node, three worked AI workflows, cost math, and common errors.
Self-host n8n on a VPS: Docker + HTTPS
Run n8n on a VPS with Docker Compose, Postgres, and HTTPS behind a reverse proxy: the WEBHOOK_URL and encryption-key traps, plus every error string.