I’m new to n8n, and honestly, my experience so far has been quite frustrating. I keep running into the same cycle: I explain an automation idea to an AI model (ChatGPT, DeepSeek, or Gemini), get a JSON workflow, then spend hours trying to make it actually work.
The troubleshooting advice usually feels like trial and error rather than a clear, systematic approach, which leaves me more confused than confident.
This doesn’t seem like the right or intended way to work with n8n. What am I missing? Is there a more structured way for beginners to approach automation and troubleshooting?
If you are using the Cloud version, you can give a try using the AI builder they have(but is good to know what you want to achieve).
Other AI out there, they are just “trying” to give you a workflow, but most if the time fails(either you need to give enough context or the ability to acces you workflows)…
But first, I would start with the core nodes and concepts by following this official courses:
Text
And here Video
Anyway, I would “approach” differently… once you know what you need to achieve, try explain what it happens in the procces, and then look which nodes can fulfill the goal(and use AI for reference to docs, explaining maybe what a certain node does etc… a more general information and not exactly the workflow itself… unless you prompt has “granular” steps on what thisbdoes)…