Backup to GitHub
This workflow is designed to automatically back up workflow configurations to a specified GitHub repository, ensuring data security and version management. It supports both scheduled and manual triggers, intelligently assesses the backup status to avoid duplicate writes, thereby optimizing storage efficiency. By utilizing a sub-workflow design, it reduces memory usage and enhances execution stability, helping users effectively mitigate the risk of data loss. It meets the needs of team collaboration and compliance auditing, making it an important tool for automated management.
Workflow Name
Backup to GitHub
Key Features and Highlights
This workflow automatically backs up all workflow configurations from an n8n instance to a specified GitHub repository, ensuring data security and version control. It supports scheduled backups as well as manual execution. The workflow intelligently handles different backup states (identical, modified, or new files) to avoid redundant writes, optimizing storage and update efficiency. Designed with sub-workflows to reduce memory usage and enhance execution stability.
Core Problems Addressed
Many n8n users face issues with losing workflow configurations or lacking version tracking. This workflow automates the backup of workflow JSON configurations to GitHub, enabling reliable version control and disaster recovery. It significantly reduces the risk of data loss caused by accidental operations or system failures.
Use Cases
- n8n users who want to automatically back up and manage workflow versions
- Teams requiring centralized management and review of workflow changes
- Organizations needing periodic workflow snapshots for compliance or auditing purposes
- Users aiming to integrate workflow configurations into code repositories for continuous integration
Main Process Steps
- Trigger: Supports manual execution or scheduled runs every 2 hours.
- Retrieve All Workflows: Calls the n8n API to fetch all workflows from the current instance.
- Sequential Backup Execution: Processes each workflow individually via a sub-workflow.
- Fetch Corresponding File from GitHub: Checks if the workflow file already exists in the backup repository.
- Determine File Status: Compares the current workflow configuration with the GitHub file content to classify as "identical," "modified," or "new."
- File Operations Based on Status:
- Skip if identical (no action)
- Update file content on GitHub if modified
- Create a new backup file if new
- Commit Changes: Generates corresponding commits to keep the backup repository up to date.
- Completion Mark: Marks the task as complete after execution.
Systems and Services Involved
- n8n API: To retrieve current workflow configuration data
- GitHub API: To read, create, and edit backup files
- Scheduled Trigger: Enables periodic automatic backups
- Manual Trigger: Supports immediate manual execution
Target Users and Value
- n8n Developers and Administrators: Ensures workflow configuration safety, preventing data loss due to accidental deletion or errors.
- Automation Teams: Facilitates team collaboration and version management, enhancing workflow maintainability.
- IT Operations and Compliance Personnel: Meets backup and audit requirements, ensuring automation processes comply with enterprise standards.
This workflow enables automated backups with minimal configuration, reducing maintenance overhead while enhancing the security and reliability of n8n workflows. It is an indispensable tool for n8n users.