n8n runs smoothly via Docker Compose on local machines but hits a permission error (EACCES) on GitHub CI, preventing container startup and API access.
i think its a usr permision issue with differing uids in the ci env. try matching user id’s or adjusting the volume perms so the container gets the access it needs. may help resolve n8n startup issues.
Based on my experience, the issue in GitHub CI seems less about the n8n code and more about how the container environment handles volume mounts and file permissions. I once had a similar problem when migrating to a CI/CD pipeline where files were mounted with restrictive permissions. Adjustments to the Dockerfile to run as a non-root user, combined with explicit permission settings on bind mounts, were necessary. This approach helped ensure that the necessary resources were accessible during runtime, avoiding EACCES errors. It might be worthwhile to review your mount configurations in the CI environment.
I have encountered a similar issue previously where everything worked fine locally but failed in the CI pipeline due to permission problems. In my case, thoroughly checking the user IDs and file permissions for the volume mounts made a significant difference. Revisiting the Docker settings to ensure that the container runs with the appropriate privileges, or restructuring the mount process altogether, eventually resolved the EACCES error. Comparing the detailed environment configurations between local and CI workflows can reveal subtle differences that may lead to such errors.