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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Self-host LiveContext, an n8n alternative
LiveContext CE is a seven 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.
What the n8n Sustainable Use License allows
The n8n Sustainable Use License in plain words: internal business purposes, consulting for clients, paid hosting, white labelling, and where Embed starts.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Run one Ansible playbook from another
import_playbook, import_tasks and include_tasks do different jobs. See which one your site.yml needs, and prove it with ansible-playbook --list-tasks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Connect Gmail to self-hosted n8n
Connect Gmail to self-hosted n8n behind a reverse proxy, then stop the seven-day Google token expiry that kills Gmail workflows a week after setup.
Ansible facts: when to turn gather_facts off
Learn what Ansible facts cost, when gather_facts: false is the right call, and how gather_subset and JSON fact caching cut the wait on every run.
Ansible reboot: only when the server needs it
Gate the reboot on evidence the host reports: the Ubuntu marker file, the Red Hat exit code, then reboot in slices so the whole fleet stays up.
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.
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.