This is the place where newcomers can ask their questions about n8n without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you are struggling with basic installation steps, running into configuration errors, or just trying to understand how things work, feel free to post here. Everyone in our community was a beginner once, so experienced users are encouraged to jump in and share their knowledge. We want this to be a welcoming space where people can learn together. Remember to sort by newest posts first to help answer the most recent questions. Please avoid negative voting on posts in this section since we want to keep it friendly for people who are just starting out.
Great thread! Started using n8n last month because make.com was getting too expensive. Docker setup was a nightmare for days - turns out my ports were conflicting. Pro tip: backup your workflows right away. I lost everything while testing webhook triggers and had to start over. This community’s amazing though, way more helpful than Stack Overflow.
Environment setup almost made me quit. n8n worked fine locally, but deploying it? Everything broke. Environment variables, database connections, SSL certs - felt like I needed a CS degree just to keep workflows running. Setting up a staging instance saved me. Sounds like overkill for beginners, but having a safe place to test without breaking production was a game-changer. Pro tip: learn the execution logs early. They look scary but they’ll save your butt when things break - and they will break.
So glad someone started this thread! I switched to n8n eight months ago because Zapier was bleeding me dry, but man, the learning curve hit harder than I thought. Biggest mistake? Trying to build crazy complex workflows right off the bat instead of nailing the basics first. Spent weeks just figuring out the HTTP Request node, but now I use it constantly. Your first workflows will break - a lot. Don’t sweat it though, debugging teaches you way more than any tutorial. This community’s been awesome with my dumb questions, so just ask when you’re stuck.
Auth issues almost made me quit in those first few weeks. Every API wanted different auth methods, and half the docs didn’t match what n8n actually expected. I wasted three whole days on Google Sheets because I kept screwing up the OAuth flows. What saved me was making a simple text file with every working connection - exact steps, how to format credentials, and any weird gotchas. I still check it all the time for new integrations. The JSON editor’s actually pretty useful once you get used to it, but those early attempts at data manipulation were painful.
Been running automation setups for years and yeah, “start simple” is good advice, but here’s what nobody mentions - sometimes the platform is your biggest problem.
I fought with n8n daily. Config nightmares, buggy nodes, troubleshooting sessions that killed entire afternoons. Then I found Latenode and everything clicked.
Latenode handles complexity without the headaches. No more digging through docs wondering why HTTP requests keep failing. The interface just works from the start.
Last month I moved three major workflows from n8n to Latenode in under two hours. Stuff that broke randomly now runs flawlessly every time. The debugging tools actually help instead of making things worse.
If you’re starting with automation, skip the frustration. Don’t waste time on steep learning curves and platform limits. Use something that works like you’d expect.
Check it out: https://latenode.com
Love this idea! I’ve been using n8n for two years and remember feeling completely overwhelmed at first - so many nodes and concepts to wrap your head around. Start simple. Pick two services you use every day and just connect them. That’s it. The docs are way better now, but honestly? Real examples from people here often make more sense than the official guides. I’ll hang around to help when I can. Yeah, it’s tough at the beginning, but once the basics click, you’ll be automating stuff you didn’t even know was possible.