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Update self‐hosted instance via GitHub, Coolify and Mattermost

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Update self‐hosted instance via GitHub, Coolify and Mattermost preview
Open on n8n.io

1. Workflow Overview

Who is it for Self hosters running n8n on Coolify who want to keep their instance up to date without manual checks or downtime surprises. How it works The workflow runs on a weekly schedule and use...

Best for

  • DevOps automation workflows
  • intermediate n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.stickynote, n8n-nodes-base.scheduletrigger, n8n-nodes-base.noop, n8n-nodes-base.n8n, n8n-nodes-base.httprequest, n8n-nodes-base.if

Source and attribution

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

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title
Update self‐hosted instance via GitHub, Coolify and Mattermost
Workflow name
Update self‐hosted instance via GitHub, Coolify and Mattermost

Who is it for

Self-hosters running n8n on Coolify who want to keep their instance up to date without manual checks or downtime surprises.

How it works

The workflow runs on a weekly schedule and uses the built-in n8n Security Audit to check whether your instance is outdated. If a newer version is available, it fetches the latest stable release tag from the GitHub API and triggers a service restart via the Coolify API — pulling the latest image automatically. A Mattermost notification confirms the successful update.

Requirements

  • Self-hosted n8n instance (managed via Coolify)
  • n8n API key (Settings → API → Generate Key)
  • Coolify API token (Settings → API Tokens)
  • Mattermost instance (optional — replace or remove the last node)

How to set up

  1. Create an n8n API credential and assign it to the GET audit node.
  2. Create an HTTP Bearer Auth credential with your Coolify token and assign it to the CALL Coolify node.
  3. Replace <your-coolify-domain> and <APP_UUID> in the Coolify node URL.
  4. Optionally configure the Mattermost node with your URL, token and channel ID.

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 • Overview

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

Block 2 - Sticky • Audit

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

Block 3 - Sticky • IF

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

Block 4 - Sticky • GitHub

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

Block 5 - Sticky • Deploy

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

Block 6 - Sticky • Notify

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

Block 7 - Run weekly update check

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger - scheduleTrigger
Config choices
Version 1.2

Block 8 - Already up to date

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

Block 9 - GET audit

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

Block 10 - GET latest n8n release

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices
Version 4.2

Block 11 - CALL Coolify to update image

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices
Version 4.2

Block 12 - post to channel

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices
Version 4.2

Block 13 - Is instance up to date?

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.if - if
Config choices
Version 2.3

3. Summary Table

Workflow Update self‐hosted instance via GitHub, Coolify and Mattermost
Complexity intermediate
Nodes 13
Categories DevOps
Author Joe Castle
Published 15 May 2026

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

  1. 1. Download the workflow JSON

    Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/15740/15740.json as the source template for this automation.

  2. 2. Import the template into n8n

    Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.

  3. 3. Configure credentials and variables

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

  4. 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. 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.

Frequently asked questions

What does Update self‐hosted instance via GitHub, Coolify and Mattermost do?

Who is it for Self hosters running n8n on Coolify who want to keep their instance up to date without manual checks or downtime surprises. How it works The workflow runs on a weekly schedule and use...

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 DevOps use case.