The workflow JSON
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{
"name": "backup-git",
"nodes": [
{
"parameters": {},
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.manualTrigger",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
-368,
0
],
"id": "ea0997c4-8813-4cff-95c9-4d6bb1f463b9",
"name": "When clicking \u2018Execute workflow\u2019"
},
{
"parameters": {
"assignments": {
"assignments": [
{
"id": "c32dc889-644e-430e-8c00-6b5da5cc18b6",
"name": "username",
"value": "",
"type": "string"
},
{
"id": "337d3a7d-ad9a-4623-99bb-be1c8fbfa300",
"name": "token",
"value": "",
"type": "string"
},
{
"id": "b3071962-5e1a-4b61-8b94-c0e851bbe26c",
"name": "repository",
"value": "n8n-backups",
"type": "string"
},
{
"id": "bd7909d1-045d-4e27-a77a-6cbc09e84b1d",
"name": "email",
"value": "",
"type": "string"
}
]
},
"options": {}
},
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
"typeVersion": 3.4,
"position": [
-160,
0
],
"id": "87e3dc42-6b40-4d89-9d19-1c7d1ab49e71",
"name": "Data"
},
{
"parameters": {},
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.noOp",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
1712,
176
],
"id": "794b87b5-3656-4411-a4a3-80fd00c77f29",
"name": "No Operation, do nothing"
},
{
"parameters": {
"command": "ls .git"
},
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.executeCommand",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
48,
0
],
"id": "12919793-a216-472f-9db7-240d699c3d89",
"name": "Check For Repository",
"alwaysOutputData": true,
"onError": "continueRegularOutput"
},
{
"parameters": {
"conditions": {
"options": {
"caseSensitive": true,
"leftValue": "",
"typeValidation": "strict",
"version": 2
},
"conditions": [
{
"id": "29342b56-0257-4162-a26e-4149b0420028",
"leftValue": "={{ $json.error }}",
"rightValue": "",
"operator": {
"type": "string",
"operation": "exists",
"singleValue": true
}
}
],
"combinator": "and"
},
"options": {}
},
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"typeVersion": 2.2,
"position": [
256,
0
],
"id": "56b1887f-b824-46b1-99a8-10bf51c4905d",
"name": "Error"
},
{
"parameters": {
"command": "=export GITHUB_USER={{ $('Data').first().json.username }}\nexport GITHUB_TOKEN={{ $('Data').first().json.token }}\n\ngit init\ngit config user.name \"{{ $('Data').first().json.username }}\"\ngit config user.email \"{{ $('Data').first().json.email }}\"\necho \"# n8n Backups\" > README.md\ngit add README.md\ngit commit -m \"initial commit\"\ngit branch -M main\ngit remote add origin \"https://${GITHUB_USER}:${GITHUB_TOKEN}@github.com/${GITHUB_USER}/{{ $('Data').first().json.repository }}\"\ngit push -u origin main\necho \".gitconfig\" > .gitignore\necho \".n8n/\" >> .gitignore\necho \".npm/\" >> .gitignore\ngit add .gitignore"
},
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.executeCommand",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
528,
-128
],
"id": "eacbac42-3160-412a-ad96-1d6e6ead8522",
"name": "Create New Repository"
},
{
"parameters": {
"command": "=npx n8n export:workflow --backup --output project/workflows/"
},
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.executeCommand",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
752,
16
],
"id": "bf0e8b47-0d66-4b94-b5e2-7e22481b7b19",
"name": "Export Workflows"
},
{
"parameters": {
"command": "=npx n8n export:credentials --backup --output project/credentials/"
},
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.executeCommand",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
944,
16
],
"id": "2f83e7dd-3d19-46f6-96b8-5f5fa7aeab3f",
"name": "Export Credentials"
},
{
"parameters": {
"command": "=git -C . add project"
},
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.executeCommand",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
1120,
16
],
"id": "f356c823-8848-442c-bd7c-a08377ca52d6",
"name": "Git Add"
},
{
"parameters": {
"command": "=if git -C project diff --staged --quiet; then\n echo \"CLEAN\"\nelse\n echo \"CHANGED\"\nfi\n"
},
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.executeCommand",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
1296,
16
],
"id": "982a6282-f2fd-46a6-9d38-b9cc0867e0c7",
"name": "Get Diff"
},
{
"parameters": {
"conditions": {
"options": {
"caseSensitive": true,
"leftValue": "",
"typeValidation": "strict",
"version": 2
},
"conditions": [
{
"id": "0da6f7c0-0931-4570-b6a5-6446aa4a7868",
"leftValue": "={{ $json.stdout }}",
"rightValue": "CHANGED",
"operator": {
"type": "string",
"operation": "equals",
"name": "filter.operator.equals"
}
}
],
"combinator": "and"
},
"options": {}
},
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"typeVersion": 2.2,
"position": [
1456,
16
],
"id": "ba06a1b0-0bde-47c3-b74d-d2a20663cdde",
"name": "Changed"
},
{
"parameters": {
"command": "=git -C project commit -m \"Auto backup ({{ $now }})\""
},
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.executeCommand",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
1712,
0
],
"id": "c5ab8031-4ebc-4231-8e69-1b88a8a68cd5",
"name": "Git Commit"
},
{
"parameters": {
"command": "=git -C project push"
},
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.executeCommand",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
1872,
0
],
"id": "15806f5b-dceb-41f8-b0cd-1788f0d65c45",
"name": "Git Push"
}
],
"connections": {
"When clicking \u2018Execute workflow\u2019": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Data",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Data": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Check For Repository",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Check For Repository": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Error",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Error": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Create New Repository",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "Export Workflows",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Create New Repository": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Export Workflows",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Export Workflows": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Export Credentials",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Export Credentials": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Git Add",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Git Add": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Get Diff",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Get Diff": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Changed",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Changed": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Git Commit",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "No Operation, do nothing",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Git Commit": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Git Push",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
}
},
"active": false,
"settings": {
"executionOrder": "v1"
},
"versionId": "727a001c-6177-4fa3-bef4-a4677f9bb090",
"id": "GFfo6wM9jCStdB92",
"tags": []
}
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About this workflow
backup-git. Uses executeCommand. Event-driven trigger; 13 nodes.
Source: https://github.com/gustavoylc/n8n-workflow-templates/blob/main/create-backups-on-github/backup-with-git-commands/backup-git.json — original creator credit. Request a take-down →
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