Canvas contrast/UI feedback after update to 2.20.9

Feedback
1

Hi n8n team and agents of n8n PMs!

I just upgraded my self-hosted n8n from 2.13.2 to 2.20.9 and would like to share my feedback with you.

Improved

The green arrows that were missing between nodes (reported on this forum, on github) are now back. Thanks! That closes the autoclosed topic at Green arrows between executes nodes not showing (v2.3.6)

I also had weird warning icons on my HTTP nodes about credentials not being set up, while they were actually set up via the node UI fetching from the stored credentials, and accepted properly. These warning icons are now gone.

Worsened

That update came with a high-contrast UI. I think the new canvas looks worse than the previous version. I liked the background dots and the softer color contrast allowing better readability of text, better visibility of node icons and arrows. Here are 2 screenshots side by side, IMO the left version was much better:

2.13.2 vs 2.20.9
2.13.2 vs 2.20.91540Ă—984 132 KB

Unfortunately, it seems I would have to update the color of all sticky notes one by one, and the color picker only offers by default high contrast colors. Personally I don’t care about environment customization, have a slight preference for dark modes. I like when the default colors “just works” and I hate spending time clicking around to change colors and such tasks with no outcome other than prettiness.

Neutral

I never got the point of the embedded Chat. With the upgrade, it went from Beta to Preview.

I decided to try it again. On one of my workflow, which had recent execution errors, I asked a simple question, and received a totally unexpected answer:

Giving a chance to the embedded chatbot but not seeing the point
Giving a chance to the embedded chatbot but not seeing the point2055Ă—292 35.8 KB

If it doesn’t do more than a chatbot inside Gemini/OpenAI websites themselves, I don’t see the point. Aren’t they supposed to have access to your execution data and workflows? (or at least ask for it). I can imagine a Chatbot inside n8n could do wonders, if the UX is decent enough. It didn’t work for me and I don’t have a strong need to justify investigating how to make the n8n chat useful. Please do correct me if I’m missing the point!

Thanks for reading. If you have a hack or workaround for the degraded canvas contrast and sticky notes colors I’d appreciate.

jb

2

No, most likely you have to setup n8n API access as well. Without that, your workflow will be inaccessible to the agent

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