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n8n

This example shows a small, practical Docker Compose setup for n8n, the open-source workflow automation tool.

The stack includes:

  • A single n8n container
  • Persistent storage via a Docker volume
  • Local-only port binding for safety
  • Simple reverse-proxy instructions (Caddy example)

1. docker-compose.yml​

Create a folder and add:

services:
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n:latest
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "127.0.0.1:5678:5678"
    environment:
      - N8N_HOST=n8n.example.com
      - N8N_PORT=5678
      - N8N_PROTOCOL=https
    volumes:
      - n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n

volumes:
  n8n_data:

Start the stack:

docker compose up -d

2. Add a Reverse Proxy (Caddy example)​

If you want HTTPS, add a simple Caddyfile:

n8n.example.com {
    reverse_proxy localhost:5678
}

Reload Caddy:

systemctl reload caddy

3. Optional: Auto-Start with systemd​

# /etc/systemd/system/n8n.service
[Unit]
Description=n8n workflow automation (Docker Compose)
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=oneshot
WorkingDirectory=/root/n8n
ExecStart=/usr/bin/docker compose up -d
ExecStop=/usr/bin/docker compose down
RemainAfterExit=yes

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Enable it:

systemctl enable n8n
systemctl start n8n

4. Deploy on Hostim.dev Instead​

If you prefer not to maintain servers or proxies:

The platform handles HTTPS, domains, restarts, logs, and persistence automatically.