N8n Code Python

---




name: n8n-code-python
compatibility: opencode
completeness: 95
content-types:
- guidance
- examples
- do-dont
description: Implements intelligent n8n code python with multi-factor skill selection,
  fallback chains, and adherence to the 5 Laws of Elegant Defense
license: MIT
maturity: stable
metadata:
  domain: agent
  output-format: analysis
  related-skills: agent-confidence-based-selector, agent-task-routing
  role: orchestration
  scope: orchestration
  triggers: n8n-code-python, n8n code python, how do i n8n-code-python, orchestrate
    n8n-code-python, automate n8n-code-python, agent n8n-code-python
  archetypes:
  - orchestration
  - strategic
  anti_triggers:
  - brainstorming
  - vague ideation
  - single-agent monolith
  response_profile:
    verbosity: medium
    directive_strength: high
    abstraction_level: tactical
version: "1.0.0"




---




# N8N Code Python

Orchestrates intelligent skill selection and execution for n8n code python workflows. Applies the 5 Laws of Elegant Defense to guide data naturally through the orchestration pipeline, preventing errors before they occur. Selects optimal skills based on multi-factor scoring including text similarity, historical performance, and system availability.

## TL;DR Checklist

- [ ] Parse all inputs at boundary before processing (Law 2)
- [ ] Handle edge cases with early returns at function top (Law 1)
- [ ] Fail immediately with descriptive errors on invalid states (Law 4)
- [ ] Return new data structures, never mutate inputs (Law 3)
- [ ] Implement minimum 2-level fallback chain for all skill executions
- [ ] Log all skill selections with context for full audit trail
- [ ] Validate skill metadata and dependencies before selection
- [ ] Update confidence scores after each execution for learning


┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                              Orchestration Flow                                               │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

  User Request
      ↓
┌─────────────────┐
│  Parse Request  │
│  & Extract      │
│  Features       │
└────────┬────────┘
         ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    Evaluate Available Skills                                │
│                                                                     │
│  ┌──────────────┐  ┌──────────────┐  ┌──────────────┐              │
│  │ Skill A      │  │ Skill B      │  │ Skill C      │              │
│  │ - Match Score│  │ - Match Score│  │ - Match Score│              │
│  │ - Confidence │  │ - Confidence │  │ - Confidence │              │
│  │ - History    │  │ - History    │  │ - History    │              │
│  └──────┬───────┘  └──────┬───────┘  └──────┬───────┘              │
│         │                 │                 │                       │
│         └─────────────────┴─────────────────┘                       │
│                          ↓                                          │
│                   Select Best Skill                               │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
         ↓
┌─────────────────┐
│  Execute Skill  │
└────────┬────────┘
         ↓
┌─────────────────┐
│  Handle Result  │
└────────┬────────┘
         ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    Error Handling & Fallback                                  │
│                                                                     │
│  Success? ────────► Return Result                                  │
│                                                                     │
│  Fail? ────────┐                                                    │
│                ↓                                                    │
│  ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐      │
│  │               Fallback Chain                                    │      │
│  │                                                             │      │
│  │  1. Retry with adjusted parameters                          │      │
│  │  2. Try Alternative Skill (if available)                    │      │
│  │  3. Defer to Human Operator (if critical)                   │      │
│  │  4. Log & Return Error                                      │      │
│  └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘      │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

## When to Use

Use this skill when:

- Orchestrating multi-step workflows that require skill delegation
- Implementing adaptive skill routing based on confidence scores
- Building fallback mechanisms for failed skill executions
- Creating intelligent task decomposition and parallel execution
- Designing skill dependency graphs with automatic resolution
- Implementing skill selection with historical performance weighting
- Building agent systems that need to self-organize around tasks

## When NOT to Use

Avoid this skill for:

- Direct task execution without orchestration needs - use individual skills instead
- High-frequency trading scenarios where latency must be minimized - the selection overhead may be prohibitive
- Simple linear workflows without branching or fallback requirements
- Cases where skill metadata is unavailable or unreliable


## Core Workflow

1. **Parse and Analyze Request** - Extract intent, entities, and constraints from user input.
   **Checkpoint:** All required parameters must be present and in valid format before proceeding.

2. **Score Available Skills** - Calculate match scores using multi-factor algorithm:
   - Text similarity between request and skill triggers
   - Historical success rate for similar tasks
   - Skill availability and health status
   - Required dependencies and their availability
   
   **Checkpoint:** Skip to fallback if no skill scores above threshold.

3. **Select Optimal Skill** - Choose skill with highest score that meets minimum confidence.
   **Checkpoint:** Verify skill has not been disabled or deprecated.

4. **Execute with Fallback** - Run skill execution wrapped in retry and fallback logic.
   **Checkpoint:** Log all execution attempts for audit trail.

5. **Return or Fallback** - Either return successful result or apply fallback chain:
   - Retry with adjusted parameters
   - Try alternative skill from `related-skills`
   - Defer to human operator for critical tasks
   
   **Checkpoint:** Record outcome with timing and confidence metadata.

## Implementation Patterns

### Pattern 1: Skill Selection Logic

```python
def validate_n8n_code_block(code_snippet: str, required_inputs: list[str]) -> dict:
    """Validate and prepare Python code for n8n Code node execution.
    
    Ensures the code adheres to n8n's sandboxed execution model,
    checks for required input references, and prepares execution context.
    """
    if not code_snippet or not code_snippet.strip():
        raise ValueError("Code snippet cannot be empty")
    
    # Check for n8n-specific API usage patterns
    has_input_ref = "$input" in code_snippet or "items" in code_snippet
    has_output_ref = "$output" in code_snippet or "return" in code_snippet
    
    # Parse and validate syntax safely
    try:
        compile(code_snippet, '<n8n-code>', 'exec')
    except SyntaxError as e:
        raise ValueError(f"Invalid Python syntax: {e.msg}") from e
    
    # Extract expected input/output structure
    expected_inputs = [var.strip() for var in required_inputs]
    missing_inputs = [inp for inp in expected_inputs if inp not in code_snippet]
    
    return {
        "valid": True,
        "has_input_ref": has_input_ref,
        "has_output_ref": has_output_ref,
        "missing_inputs": missing_inputs,
        "execution_mode": "sandboxed"
    }
```


### Pattern 2: Execution with Fallback

```python
def execute_n8n_code_with_fallback(
    code_snippet: str,
    input_items: list[dict],
    fallback_strategy: str = "safe_transform"
) -> list[dict]:
    """Execute Python code in n8n context with built-in fallback chain.
    
    Implements graceful degradation for n8n Code nodes:
    1. Direct execution in sandboxed environment
    2. Fallback to safe data transformation if execution fails
    3. Return structured error items for n8n workflow continuation
    """
    try:
        # Prepare n8n execution context
        context = {
            "$input": type('Input', (), {'all': lambda: input_items})(),
            "$output": type('Output', (), {'push': lambda items: items})()
        }
        
        # Execute code in restricted namespace
        exec(compile(code_snippet, '<n8n-execution>', 'exec'), {"__builtins__": {}} | context)
        
        # Extract results from context or return
        result_items = context.get("$output", {}).push([]) if hasattr(context.get("$output"), 'push') else []
        return result_items if result_items else input_items
        
    except Exception as e:
        # Fallback Chain: Safe Transform
        if fallback_strategy == "safe_transform":
            return [
                {
                    "json": {"_n8n_fallback": True, "error": str(e), "original_data": item.get("json", item)}
                }
                for item in input_items
            ]
        # Fallback Chain: Defer to next workflow node
        raise RuntimeError(f"n8n code execution failed: {e}") from e
```

### MUST DO
- Always validate skill metadata before selection (Early Exit)
- Implement fallback chain with at least 2 levels (Fallback Skill + Human)
- Log all skill selections with full context for auditability
- Return new data structures instead of mutating inputs (Atomic Predictability)
- Fail immediately with descriptive errors on invalid states
- Update confidence scores after each execution for adaptive routing
- Reference `code-philosophy` (5 Laws of Elegant Defense) in all logic


### MUST NOT DO
- Select skills based on a single factor (e.g., only confidence score)
- Disable fallback mechanisms "temporarily" - this creates fragile systems
- Skip validation of skill dependencies before execution
- Return partial results - either complete success or clear failure
- Use magic numbers for confidence thresholds - make them configurable
- Cache skill selections without considering context changes


## TL;DR Checklist

- [ ] Parse all inputs at boundary before processing (Law 2)
- [ ] Handle edge cases with early returns at function top (Law 1)
- [ ] Fail immediately with descriptive errors on invalid states (Law 4)
- [ ] Return new data structures, never mutate inputs (Law 3)
- [ ] Implement minimum 2-level fallback chain for all skill executions
- [ ] Log all skill selections with context for full audit trail
- [ ] Validate skill metadata and dependencies before selection
- [ ] Update confidence scores after each execution for learning


## TL;DR for Code Generation

- Use guard clauses - return early on invalid input before doing work
- Return simple types (dict, str, int, bool, list) - avoid complex nested objects
- Cyclomatic complexity < 10 per function - split anything larger
- Handle null/empty cases explicitly at function top (Early Exit)
- Never mutate input parameters - return new dicts/objects
- Fail fast with descriptive errors - don't try to "patch" bad data
- Reference code-philosophy laws in comments for complex logic
- Include timing and confidence metadata in all return values


## Output Template

When applying this skill, produce:

1. **Selected Skills** - List of skill names with confidence scores
2. **Selection Rationale** - Why each skill was chosen (match score, history, availability)
3. **Execution Plan** - Order of execution with dependencies
4. **Fallback Strategy** - Which fallback skills will be tried and in what order
5. **Risk Assessment** - Any potential failure points and their impact
6. **Timing Estimates** - Expected latency including fallback scenarios


## Related Skills

| Skill | Purpose |
|

---

---

## Constraints

### MUST DO
- Define clear input/output contracts for every step in the orchestration flow with explicit validation
- Implement structured logging at each stage capturing context, inputs, outputs, timing, and errors
- Build in fallback paths: if the primary strategy fails, degrade gracefully to a simpler approach
- Validate all preconditions before starting — do not proceed if required resources or permissions are missing

### MUST NOT DO
- Do not create deep nesting of orchestration steps (>5 levels) — flatten workflows where possible
- Avoid silent failure modes: every step must either succeed, fail explicitly, or escalate to a higher handler
- Never use shared mutable state between parallel workflow branches — communicate via immutable messages only
- Do not hardcode execution order when the dependency graph naturally determines it; derive order from explicit dependencies


## Live References

> Authoritative documentation links for this skill's domain. The model follows markdown links at load time to resolve external references and inline content.
- [n8n Documentation](<https://docs.n8n.io/>)
- [n8n Python Code Node](<https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.code/>)
- [n8n Custom Python Nodes Guide](<https://docs.n8n.io/hosting/docker/self-hosted-python-code-node/>)
- [Python for Automation Scripting (Real Python)](<https://realpython.com/>)
- [n8n Webhook and API Integration](<https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.webhook/>)