Build self-improving agent skills with cognee

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1. Workflow Overview

Quick overview A self improving loop for agent skills, powered by the cognee Verified Node. When a skill's review scores below your threshold, it proposes a rewrite, and you approve the before/afte...

Best for

Engineering automation workflows
AI Summarization automation workflows
advanced n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.stickynote, n8n-nodes-base.manualtrigger, n8n-nodes-base.set, n8n-nodes-cognee.cognee, n8n-nodes-base.if, n8n-nodes-base.code

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by Andrej Milicevic.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title: Build self-improving agent skills with cognee
Workflow name: Build self-improving agent skills with cognee

Quick overview

A self-improving loop for agent skills, powered by the cognee Verified Node. When a skill's review scores below your threshold, it proposes a rewrite, and you approve the before/after diff before it's applied. No code required.

How it works

Execute your workflow.
Set the demo inputs (skill name, dataset name, skill procedure markdown, review task text, and the score threshold).
Ingest the skill into cognee.
Cognee reviews the skill’s performance and returns a JSON with a score and gaps.
If the score is below the threshold, the workflow requests a cognee improvement proposal for the skill.
The workflow retrieves the full proposal from cognee and builds a human-readable before/after diff.
If the proposal is approved, the workflow applies the improvement in cognee, fetches the updated skill, and outputs the updated procedure and diff.

Setup

Create a cognee API credential in n8n and use it in all cognee nodes (Ingest Skill, Review Skill, Propose Improvement, Get Proposal, Apply Improvement, Get Skill). Information for the credential (URL and API key) can be found in your Cognee Cloud account.
Update the skill parameters (skill_name, dataset_name, skill_markdown, task_text, score_threshold, and approved) to match your use case.
Ensure the referenced cognee dataset name exists so the skill can be stored and retrieved consistently.

1.2 Logical Blocks

This catalog entry is organized from the workflow JSON. The node-level section below shows the executable blocks available for review before importing the template.

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Sticky Note

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 2 - Sticky Note1

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 3 - Sticky Note2

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 4 - Sticky Note3

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 5 - Sticky Note4

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 6 - Sticky Note5

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 7 - Sticky Note6

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 8 - Initiate Manually

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.manualTrigger - manualTrigger
Config choices: Version 1

Block 9 - Set Skill Parameters

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices: Version 3.4

Block 10 - Ingest Skill Data

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-cognee.cognee - cognee
Config choices: Version 1

Block 11 - Review Skill Data

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-cognee.cognee - cognee
Config choices: Version 1

Block 12 - Evaluate Skill Improvement

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.if - if
Config choices: Version 2.2

Block 13 - Generate Improvement Proposal

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-cognee.cognee - cognee
Config choices: Version 1

Block 14 - Extract Proposal Data

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices: Version 2

Block 15 - Retrieve Improvement Proposal

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-cognee.cognee - cognee
Config choices: Version 1

Block 16 - Compile Review Packet

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices: Version 2

Block 17 - Check Approval Status

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.if - if
Config choices: Version 2.2

Block 18 - Implement Skill Enhancement

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-cognee.cognee - cognee
Config choices: Version 1

Block 19 - Retrieve Updated Skill

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-cognee.cognee - cognee
Config choices: Version 1

Block 20 - Display Skill Changes

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices: Version 2

Block 21 - Hold for Review Status

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices: Version 2

Block 22 - Confirm No Improvement Needed

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices: Version 2

3. Summary Table

Workflow	Build self-improving agent skills with cognee
Complexity	advanced
Nodes	22
Categories	Engineering, AI Summarization
Author	Andrej Milicevic
Published	24 Jun 2026

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/16609/16609.json as the source template for this automation.
2. Import the template into n8n

Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.
3. Configure credentials and variables

Replace placeholder credentials, API keys, webhook URLs, account IDs, and environment-specific values with your own settings.
4. Test with sample data

Run the workflow manually or in a staging workspace, inspect node output, and confirm downstream systems receive the expected data.
5. Activate and monitor

Enable the workflow only after testing, then monitor executions, errors, and rate limits during the first production runs.

5. General Notes & Resources

Review imported nodes carefully before activation. This catalog entry is intended to help you inspect the workflow structure, understand required services, and find related templates faster.

Node names, credentials, schedules, webhook paths, and external service limits may need adjustment for your workspace.

Download workflow JSON Original n8n.io source Engineering workflows AI Summarization workflows

Frequently asked questions

What does Build self-improving agent skills with cognee do?

What do I need before importing this workflow?

Review the workflow JSON, configure any required credentials in n8n, and test the automation in a safe workspace before using it in production.

Can I customize this workflow?

Yes. Use the block-by-block analysis and the downloadable JSON to inspect each node, then adjust credentials, prompts, schedules, filters, or destinations for your Engineering, AI Summarization use case.

Andrej Milicevic

1 workflow

Nodes

n8n-nodes-base.stickynote n8n-nodes-base.manualtrigger n8n-nodes-base.set n8n-nodes-cognee.cognee n8n-nodes-base.if n8n-nodes-base.code

Complexity

advanced

Published 24 Jun 2026

Likes 0

View on n8n.io Download Workflow

Install path: /data/workflows/16609/16609.json

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Build self-improving agent skills with cognee

Workflow preview

1. Workflow Overview

Best for

Tools used

Source and attribution

1.1 Workflow description

Quick overview

How it works

Setup

1.2 Logical Blocks

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Sticky Note

Block 2 - Sticky Note1

Block 3 - Sticky Note2

Block 4 - Sticky Note3

Block 5 - Sticky Note4

Block 6 - Sticky Note5

Block 7 - Sticky Note6

Block 8 - Initiate Manually

Block 9 - Set Skill Parameters

Block 10 - Ingest Skill Data

Block 11 - Review Skill Data

Block 12 - Evaluate Skill Improvement

Block 13 - Generate Improvement Proposal

Block 14 - Extract Proposal Data

Block 15 - Retrieve Improvement Proposal

Block 16 - Compile Review Packet

Block 17 - Check Approval Status

Block 18 - Implement Skill Enhancement

Block 19 - Retrieve Updated Skill

Block 20 - Display Skill Changes

Block 21 - Hold for Review Status

Block 22 - Confirm No Improvement Needed

3. Summary Table

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

2. Import the template into n8n

3. Configure credentials and variables

4. Test with sample data

5. Activate and monitor

5. General Notes & Resources

Frequently asked questions