How to install additional libraries on N8N

n8n is a popular open-source workflow automation tool that allows you to automate repetitive tasks and create custom workflows. However, sometimes you may need to install additional libraries to enhance its functionality. In this article, we'll walk you through the steps of how to install additional libraries for n8n using the command line interface (CLI).

Step 1: Add an Environment Variable

The first step is to add an environment variable. You can do this in the .env file in Visual Studio Code (VSCode) or from the Elestio Dashboard > Update config button. The environment variable you need to add is NODE_FUNCTION_ALLOW_EXTERNAL=*. This allows you to install additional libraries to n8n.

Step 2: Create a Dockerfile

Next, in VSCode, create a file named Dockerfile (capital "D" is important) in the /opt/app/ directory, near the docker-compose.yml file. The contents of the file should be as follows:

FROM n8nio/n8n:latest
USER root
RUN npm install -g bcrypt body-parser fcm-push
USER node

These two lines specify the base image and the additional libraries you want to install. In this case, we're installing the bcrypt, body-parser, and fcm-push libraries.

Step 3: Modify the Docker Compose File

Next, modify the docker-compose.yml file by disabling the default image and instead using the build process. Your docker-compose.yml file should look like this:

# image: n8nio/n8n:${SOFTWARE_VERSION_TAG}
build:
  context: .

Step 4: Run the Command

Finally, run the following command in the terminal to build and run the custom image:

cd /opt/app;
docker-compose down;
docker-compose build;
docker-compose up -d;

If you need to install more packages in the future, simply repeat Steps 2 and 4 to rebuild your custom image.

Step 5: Update the Auto Update Script

To automatically rebuild the image when n8n releases an update, run the following command in the terminal:

sed -i 's/--debug;/--debug;\ncd \/opt\/app;\nsource .env;\ndocker-compose pull;\ndocker-compose up -d --build;/' /opt/elestio/watchtower/watchtower-upgrade.sh

In conclusion, installing additional libraries for n8n is a straightforward process that involves adding an environment variable, creating a Dockerfile, modifying the Docker Compose file, and running a few commands. With these steps, you'll be able to enhance the functionality of n8n and automate even more tasks with ease.

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