Forem: Etienne Lescot

The bisect: the debugging method AIs haven't learned yet

Etienne Lescot — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:18:32 +0000

Had a weird bug yesterday. Instead of asking an AI to list 15 possible causes, I did a bisect: cut the code in half, tested, eliminated the working half, repeated. Found it in 5 minutes.

Bisecting (binary search debugging) is O(log n) instead of O(n). It's what experienced devs do instinctively: git bisect for regressions, disable half the CSS rules, cut a pipeline in two, simplify an API request by half.

Current LLMs do the opposite: analyze everything, propose 10 hypotheses, explain each in detail. Useful for understanding, inefficient for isolating.

Why? They're trained on code and explanations, not interactive debugging traces. Their pattern is "exhaustive analysis" instead of "hypothesis → minimal test → elimination → iteration".

For an AI to actually help debug, it should propose binary tests and iterate based on results. Training datasets should include git bisect sessions and divide & conquer patterns applied to code.

Until then, your dev brain is still more efficient at methodically isolating problems.

Unlock Unlimited AI for n8n with VS Code (No Quotas, No Cloud Required)

Etienne Lescot — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:27:30 +0000

n8n is an incredible tool for automation. But its native AI assistant has a few drawbacks: it usually requires a specific Cloud subscription, it has usage quotas, and ultimately, it’s a "black box."

I previously explored the concept of "n8n as code" in my article Stop Clicking. Start Coding. Back then, it was a CLI only approach.

Today, the concept has evolved.

I am excited to introduce the n8n-as-code VS Code Extension. This tool allows you to build and manage your workflows using your own AI agents directly inside your IDE.

Whether you use Roo Code, Cline, or Cursor, you can now choose your own model, avoid quotas, and work locally.

📺 Watch the Demo

See how fast it is to generate workflows using VS Code and AI in this 2 minute overview:

📝 The Tutorial: How to set it up

Here is the step-by-step guide to connecting your local AI agents to n8n using the extension.

Step 1: Get your n8n Credentials

First, you need to allow VS Code to talk to your n8n instance.

Open your n8n dashboard.
Go to Settings > API.
Click Create New API Key and copy it.

Step 2: Configure VS Code

Now, let's set up the environment.

Install the Extension: Search for n8n-as-code\ in the Visual Studio Marketplace and install it.
Configure: Open the extension settings.
Paste your API Key and your n8n Instance URL.

Step 3: Let the Magic Happen (The AI Part)

This is where the workflow changes completely.

Open your workflow file (JSON) in VS Code.
Open your AI Agent on the side (e.g., Roo Code or Cline).
Simply ask the AI to modify the workflow using natural language.

Example prompt:

"Add a Google Sheets node that reads the last row and connect it to the Slack node."

Because the file is just text, the agent writes the code directly in front of your eyes. It is instant.

Why this is a Game Changer

No Quotas: You are not limited by n8n's cloud tiers. You use your own API keys (OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek, etc.).
No Limits: Work on complex logic without hitting arbitrary walls.
Local & Cloud: This works whether your n8n is hosted on the official Cloud or self-hosted on your own server.

🔗 Get Started

Ready to liberate your n8n productivity?

Download the Extension: n8n-as-code on VS Marketplace

Stop clicking. Start creating.

🚀 Stop Clicking. Start Coding. How to Supercharge n8n with VS Code and AI

Etienne Lescot — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 17:03:10 +0000

If you love n8n for automation but feel like you could be moving faster, this tutorial is for you.

We all know the scenario: n8n is incredible. But sometimes, building complex logic with a mouse takes time. You find yourself thinking: "If only I could copy-paste this workflow like code..."

Good news: Now you can.

By connecting n8n to your code editor (VS Code), you shift paradigms. You are no longer limited by the graphical interface. You unlock a superpower:

Open VS Code (or an AI editor like Cursor).
Ask an AI Agent: "Create a workflow that scrapes Google News every morning and sends it to Slack".
The AI writes the JSON code.
Boom. The workflow appears instantly in your n8n interface, ready to run.

No need to be a DevOps expert. Let's set up this "magic bridge" in 2 minutes using a ready-made open-source tool.

🛠 How does it work?

The idea is simple. Instead of viewing your workflows as graphical boxes, we treat them as source files.

We use a tool called n8n-as-code\ that acts as a transparent intermediary:

👀 It watches what you (or the AI) write on your computer.
🔄 It pushes everything to n8n instantly.
🛡 It sanitizes the code automatically to prevent bugs and keep your Git history clean.

(Caption: Your new workspace: Code on the left, n8n Execution on the right)

⚡️ Quick Start (2 minutes)

You need Node.js installed and an active n8n instance (local or cloud).

Step 1: Clone and Link

Don't reinvent the wheel. Clone the repo and install the CLI globally:

\bash git clone https://github.com/EtienneLescot/n8n-as-code.git cd n8n-as-code npm install && npm run build npm link \\

Note: npm link\ allows you to run the n8n-as-code\ command from anywhere in your terminal.

Step 2: Configuration

Forget manual configuration files. Run the interactive setup wizard:

\bash n8n-as-code init \\

The wizard will ask for your n8n URL and API Key.

Security Note: Your API key is stored securely on your machine (Global Storage) and is never saved inside your project folder. This keeps your Git history clean and safe.

Step 3: Launch

First, download your existing workflows:

\bash n8n-as-code pull \\

Then, start the sync engine in real-time mode:

\bash n8n-as-code watch \\

You are ready!

🚀 Demo: Let the AI Work

Here is where the magic happens. Now that n8n-as-code watch\ is running:

Open the folder in VS Code. You will see your existing workflows.
Option A (Edit): Open an existing file, change a node parameter (e.g. rename a node), and Save. Watch n8n update instantly.
Option B (Create): Create a new file My_New_Bot.json\. Ask your AI: > "Generate the JSON for an n8n workflow. It should run every day at 9 AM, fetch a joke from a public API, and send it to a Slack channel."
Save (CTRL + S\).
Boom. The workflow is created in n8n!

💡 Why You'll Love It

10x Speed: AI is much faster at writing JSON boilerplate than you are at dragging and dropping 10 nodes.
GitOps: Your workflows are now clean files. You can finally commit them to GitHub and work in teams.
Reliability: The tool handles the bidirectional sync and cleanup for you, so you don't break your workflows.

Ready to try?

Get the open-source code here: github.com/EtienneLescot/n8n-as-code

Happy coding! 🚀

🚀 Arrêtez de cliquer. Commencez à coder : Comment booster n8n avec VS Code et l'IA

Etienne Lescot — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 17:01:24 +0000

Si vous aimez n8n pour l'automatisation mais que vous sentez que vous pourriez aller plus vite, ce tutoriel est pour vous.

Version anglaise ici : [https://dev.to/etienne_lescot_728112921e/stop-clicking-start-coding-how-to-supercharge-n8n-with-vs-code-and-ai-2oai]

Nous connaissons tous ce scénario : n8n est incroyable. Mais parfois, construire une logique complexe à la souris prend du temps. Et on se dit : "Si seulement je pouvais copier-coller ce workflow comme du code..."

Bonne nouvelle : C'est désormais possible.

En connectant n8n à votre éditeur de code (VS Code), vous changez de paradigme. Vous n'êtes plus limité par l'interface graphique. Vous débloquez un super-pouvoir :

Vous ouvrez VS Code (ou l'éditeur IA Cursor).
Vous demandez à une IA : "Crée-moi un workflow qui scrape Google News tous les matins et l'envoie sur Slack".
L'IA écrit le code JSON.
Boum. Le workflow apparaît instantanément dans votre interface n8n, prêt à tourner.

Pas besoin d'être un expert en DevOps. Nous allons mettre en place ce "pont magique" en 2 minutes grâce à un outil open-source prêt à l'emploi.

🛠 Comment ça marche ?

L'idée est simple. Au lieu de voir vos workflows comme des boîtes graphiques, nous allons les manipuler comme des fichiers sources.

Nous utilisons l'outil n8n-as-code qui fait l'intermédiaire de manière transparente :

👀 Il surveille ce que vous (ou l'IA) écrivez sur votre ordinateur.
🔄 Il envoie le tout à n8n instantanément.
🛡 Il nettoie automatiquement le code (suppression des métadonnées inutiles) pour éviter les bugs et garder un historique Git propre.

⚡️ Installation Rapide (2 minutes)

Vous avez besoin de Node.js installé sur votre ordinateur et d'un n8n (sur votre machine ou dans le cloud).

Étape 1 : Cloner le Repo

Ne réinventons pas la roue. J'ai créé un repo GitHub avec tout le script de synchronisation configuré et sécurisé.

git clone https://github.com/EtienneLescot/n8n-as-code.git
cd n8n-as-code
npm install

Étape 2 : La Connexion

Créez un fichier nommé .env à la racine pour dire au script où se trouve votre n8n.

# .env
N8N_HOST=http://localhost:5678
# Récupérez votre clé dans n8n > Settings > Developer API
N8N_API_KEY=votre_api_key_ici

Étape 3 : Lancement

Lancez le moteur de synchro :

node sync.js

Le script va télécharger automatiquement tous vos workflows existants dans le dossier ./synced_workflows. Vous êtes prêt !

🚀 La Démo : Laissez l'IA travailler

C'est ici que la magie opère. Maintenant que node sync.js tourne :

Créez un nouveau fichier vide Mon_Bot_IA.json dans le dossier ./synced_workflows (qui vient d'apparaître).
Ouvrez ce fichier dans VS Code.
Dans votre panneau de Chat IA (Copilot, Cursor, etc.), tapez ce prompt : "Génère-moi le JSON pour un workflow n8n. Il doit se lancer tous les jours à 9h, récupérer une blague sur une API publique, et l'envoyer dans un channel Slack."
L'IA écrit le code JSON pour vous.
Sauvegardez (CTRL + S).

Regardez le terminal : ✅ Succès ! Allez sur votre n8n : Le workflow est apparu, tout connecté, prêt à être activé ! 🎉

💡 Pourquoi vous allez adorer ?

Vitesse décuplée : L'IA est bien plus rapide pour écrire du JSON ("boilerplate") que vous pour glisser-déposer 10 nœuds.
GitOps : Vos workflows sont maintenant des fichiers propres. Vous pouvez enfin les commiter sur GitHub et travailler en équipe.
Robustesse : L'outil gère pour vous la synchronisation bidirectionnelle sans casser vos versions.

Prêt à essayer ?

Tout est open-source et disponible ici : github.com/EtienneLescot/n8n-as-code

À vous de jouer ! 🚀