Workflow Tools vs Agents in vs code

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Dear all, I am relatively new to n8n and attended a lot of coding bootcamps last year. While working with another workflow tool (not n8n) I often found that it was faster to build a simple workflow in vs code vs. getting a functioning flow in the tool.. So that brings me to the general question, is there anyone here coming from programming corner, now using workfow automation and what is your opinion on when to use a workflow tools vs building from scratch? Thank you in advance

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Hey @Jennifer_Kiunke Totally get this, many devs switch to tools like n8n from coding and wonder when it makes sense to use a workflow platform versus writing custom code.

Use a workflow tool like n8n when:

  • You want to automate repetitive tasks and connect apps quickly without building everything yourself. Workflow tools reduce manual work, errors, and speed things up.

  • You need integrations, triggers, retries, scheduling, logging, etc. out of the box.

  • Other people (non-coders) need to view and maintain your logic easily.

Write code from scratch when:

  • You’re building a core feature or complex algorithm that doesn’t fit into a node-based flow.

  • You need full control, tests, performance optimizations, and custom logic that’s easier to express in code than a visual tool.

Most people use both: workflow tools for glue and orchestration, and code where precision and control matter. Personally i use n8n for my AI integration tasks where i don’t need to worry about APIs, i just use WebHook+AI-Agents and it gets the job done, and there is so much more in n8n!

Let me know if you want this tailored to your experience!

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