The workflow JSON
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{
"id": "2NhqmUqW3KruEkaE",
"name": "Exponential Backoff for Google APIs",
"tags": [
{
"id": "nezaWFCGa7eZsVKu",
"name": "Utility",
"createdAt": "2024-11-13T18:08:08.207Z",
"updatedAt": "2024-11-13T18:08:08.207Z"
}
],
"nodes": [
{
"id": "5d6b1730-33c5-401c-b73f-2b7ea8eedfe3",
"name": "When clicking \u2018Test workflow\u2019",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.manualTrigger",
"position": [
-580,
-80
],
"parameters": {},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "6726b630-597c-46cf-8839-75cd80108f2f",
"name": "Exponential Backoff",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
"position": [
160,
120
],
"parameters": {
"mode": "runOnceForEachItem",
"jsCode": "// Define the retry count (coming from a previous node or set manually)\nconst retryCount = $json[\"retryCount\"] || 0; // If not present, default to 0\nconst maxRetries = 5; // Define the maximum number of retries\nconst initialDelay = 1; // Initial delay in seconds (1 second)\n\n// If the retry count is less than the max retries, calculate the delay\nif (retryCount < maxRetries) {\n const currentDelayInSeconds = initialDelay * Math.pow(2, retryCount); // Exponential backoff delay in seconds\n \n // Log the delay time for debugging\n console.log(`Waiting for ${currentDelayInSeconds} seconds before retry...`);\n \n return {\n json: {\n retryCount: retryCount + 1, // Increment retry count\n waitTimeInSeconds: currentDelayInSeconds, // Pass the delay time in seconds\n status: 'retrying',\n }\n };\n} else {\n // If max retries are exceeded, return a failure response\n return {\n json: {\n error: 'Max retries exceeded',\n retryCount: retryCount,\n status: 'failed'\n }\n };\n}\n"
},
"typeVersion": 2
},
{
"id": "605b8ff0-aa19-42dd-8dbb-aa12380ac4bc",
"name": "Stop and Error",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stopAndError",
"position": [
760,
120
],
"parameters": {
"errorMessage": "Google Sheets API Limit has been triggered and the workflow has stopped"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "97818e8b-e0cc-4a49-8797-43e02535740f",
"name": "Loop Over Items",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.splitInBatches",
"position": [
-360,
-80
],
"parameters": {
"options": {}
},
"typeVersion": 3
},
{
"id": "0583eabd-bd97-4330-8a38-b2aed3a90c37",
"name": "Google Sheets",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
"onError": "continueErrorOutput",
"position": [
-120,
20
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"sheetName": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "name",
"value": "Sheet1"
},
"documentId": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "url",
"value": "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_gxZl6n_AYPHRFRTWfhy7TZnhEYuWzh8UvGdtWCD3sU/edit?gid=0#gid=0"
},
"authentication": "serviceAccount"
},
"credentials": {
"googleApi": {
"name": "<your credential>"
}
},
"typeVersion": 4.5
},
{
"id": "0d8023f8-f7ac-4303-b18e-821690cc9f94",
"name": "Wait",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.wait",
"position": [
360,
120
],
"parameters": {
"amount": "={{ $json[\"waitTime\"] }}"
},
"typeVersion": 1.1
},
{
"id": "72e0001e-f99b-4d57-9006-4a4dd5d3d8d5",
"name": "Check Max Retries",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"position": [
560,
120
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"conditions": {
"options": {
"version": 2,
"leftValue": "",
"caseSensitive": true,
"typeValidation": "strict"
},
"combinator": "and",
"conditions": [
{
"id": "51e191cb-af20-423b-9303-8523caa4ae0d",
"operator": {
"type": "number",
"operation": "gt"
},
"leftValue": "={{ $('Exponential Backoff').item.json[\"retryCount\"] }}",
"rightValue": 10
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 2.2
},
{
"id": "2ea14bb0-4313-4595-811d-729ca6d37420",
"name": "Sticky Note",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
100,
-80
],
"parameters": {
"color": 3,
"width": 820,
"height": 460,
"content": "# Exponential Backoff for Google APIs \n## Connect these nodes to any Google API node such as the Google Sheets node example in this workflow"
},
"typeVersion": 1
}
],
"active": false,
"settings": {
"executionOrder": "v1"
},
"versionId": "729e3a54-6238-4e4c-833e-8e37dba16dbb",
"connections": {
"Wait": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Check Max Retries",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Google Sheets": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Loop Over Items",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "Exponential Backoff",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Loop Over Items": {
"main": [
[],
[
{
"node": "Google Sheets",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Check Max Retries": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Stop and Error",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "Google Sheets",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Exponential Backoff": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Wait",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
},
{
"node": "Check Max Retries",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"When clicking \u2018Test workflow\u2019": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Loop Over Items",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
}
}
}
Credentials you'll need
Each integration node will prompt for credentials when you import. We strip credential IDs before publishing — you'll add your own.
googleApi
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About this workflow
Exponential Backoff for Google APIs. Uses manualTrigger, stopAndError, splitInBatches, googleSheets. Event-driven trigger; 8 nodes.
Source: https://github.com/Zie619/n8n-workflows — original creator credit. Request a take-down →
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