n8n Self-Hosted Automation for ChatGPT Apps: Complete Guide

Building ChatGPT apps requires robust automation infrastructure that you control. n8n's self-hosted automation platform gives you the power to create custom workflows, integrate with any API, and manage credentials securely—all without vendor lock-in. This comprehensive guide shows you how to build production-ready n8n automation for ChatGPT apps with custom nodes, workflow templates, and enterprise-grade deployment.

Why n8n for ChatGPT App Automation
Architecture Overview
Custom Node Development
Workflow Templates
Credential Management
Webhook Handling
Docker Deployment
Database Persistence
Production Best Practices

Why n8n for ChatGPT App Automation {#why-n8n}

When building ChatGPT apps with MakeAIHQ, you need automation that scales with your business. n8n self-hosted automation provides several critical advantages over cloud-based alternatives:

Full Data Control: Your sensitive business data never leaves your infrastructure. Unlike cloud automation platforms, n8n runs entirely on your servers, giving you complete control over data privacy and compliance.

Unlimited Executions: No monthly execution limits or per-workflow pricing. Once deployed, your n8n instance handles unlimited workflows without additional costs—critical for high-volume ChatGPT app integrations.

Custom Node Extensibility: Build custom nodes tailored to your ChatGPT app's exact requirements. The MakeAIHQ platform generates apps that integrate seamlessly with n8n through custom nodes.

Enterprise Security: Self-hosting enables enterprise-grade security: VPC isolation, custom SSL certificates, and integration with your existing authentication systems.

According to n8n's official documentation, self-hosted instances power automation for companies processing millions of workflows monthly—proving the platform's reliability at scale.

Architecture Overview {#architecture}

A production n8n deployment for ChatGPT apps requires four core components:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│         ChatGPT App (MakeAIHQ)          │
│    https://your-app.chatgpt.com         │
└───────────────┬─────────────────────────┘
                │
                │ Webhook Triggers
                ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│         n8n Automation Server            │
│         (Self-Hosted Instance)           │
│                                          │
│  ┌────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│  │     Custom ChatGPT Nodes           │ │
│  │  - Authentication Node             │ │
│  │  - Tool Execution Node             │ │
│  │  - Response Formatter              │ │
│  └────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│                                          │
│  ┌────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│  │     Workflow Templates             │ │
│  │  - Lead Capture Automation         │ │
│  │  - CRM Integration                 │ │
│  │  - Email Sequences                 │ │
│  └────────────────────────────────────┘ │
└───────────────┬─────────────────────────┘
                │
                │ External Integrations
                ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│      Third-Party Services                │
│  - Stripe (Payments)                     │
│  - SendGrid (Email)                      │
│  - PostgreSQL (Database)                 │
│  - Google Sheets (Data Export)           │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

This architecture enables your ChatGPT app to trigger n8n workflows via webhooks, process data through custom nodes, and integrate with any external service—all while maintaining full control over your infrastructure.

Custom Node Development {#custom-nodes}

Custom nodes extend n8n's functionality to handle ChatGPT-specific operations. Here's a production-ready custom node for ChatGPT app authentication and tool execution:

Custom ChatGPT Node (120 lines)

// nodes/ChatGPTApp/ChatGPTApp.node.ts
import {
  IExecuteFunctions,
  INodeExecutionData,
  INodeType,
  INodeTypeDescription,
  NodeOperationError,
} from 'n8n-workflow';

export class ChatGPTApp implements INodeType {
  description: INodeTypeDescription = {
    displayName: 'ChatGPT App',
    name: 'chatGPTApp',
    icon: 'file:chatgpt.svg',
    group: ['transform'],
    version: 1,
    subtitle: '={{$parameter["operation"]}}',
    description: 'Integrate with MakeAIHQ ChatGPT apps',
    defaults: {
      name: 'ChatGPT App',
    },
    inputs: ['main'],
    outputs: ['main'],
    credentials: [
      {
        name: 'chatGPTAppApi',
        required: true,
      },
    ],
    properties: [
      {
        displayName: 'Operation',
        name: 'operation',
        type: 'options',
        noDataExpression: true,
        options: [
          {
            name: 'Execute Tool',
            value: 'executeTool',
            description: 'Execute a ChatGPT app tool',
            action: 'Execute a tool',
          },
          {
            name: 'Get App Info',
            value: 'getAppInfo',
            description: 'Retrieve ChatGPT app metadata',
            action: 'Get app information',
          },
          {
            name: 'Validate Session',
            value: 'validateSession',
            description: 'Validate user session token',
            action: 'Validate a session',
          },
        ],
        default: 'executeTool',
      },
      {
        displayName: 'App ID',
        name: 'appId',
        type: 'string',
        required: true,
        default: '',
        placeholder: 'app_abc123',
        description: 'Your MakeAIHQ app identifier',
      },
      {
        displayName: 'Tool Name',
        name: 'toolName',
        type: 'string',
        required: true,
        displayOptions: {
          show: {
            operation: ['executeTool'],
          },
        },
        default: '',
        placeholder: 'search_products',
        description: 'Name of the tool to execute',
      },
      {
        displayName: 'Tool Parameters',
        name: 'toolParameters',
        type: 'json',
        required: true,
        displayOptions: {
          show: {
            operation: ['executeTool'],
          },
        },
        default: '{}',
        description: 'JSON object of tool parameters',
      },
    ],
  };

  async execute(this: IExecuteFunctions): Promise<INodeExecutionData[][]> {
    const items = this.getInputData();
    const returnData: INodeExecutionData[] = [];

    const operation = this.getNodeParameter('operation', 0) as string;
    const credentials = await this.getCredentials('chatGPTAppApi');

    for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
      try {
        const appId = this.getNodeParameter('appId', i) as string;

        if (operation === 'executeTool') {
          const toolName = this.getNodeParameter('toolName', i) as string;
          const toolParameters = this.getNodeParameter('toolParameters', i) as string;

          const response = await this.helpers.request({
            method: 'POST',
            url: `${credentials.apiUrl}/apps/${appId}/tools/${toolName}`,
            headers: {
              'Authorization': `Bearer ${credentials.apiKey}`,
              'Content-Type': 'application/json',
            },
            body: {
              parameters: JSON.parse(toolParameters),
              sessionId: items[i].json.sessionId || null,
            },
            json: true,
          });

          returnData.push({
            json: {
              success: true,
              appId,
              toolName,
              result: response,
            },
          });
        } else if (operation === 'getAppInfo') {
          const response = await this.helpers.request({
            method: 'GET',
            url: `${credentials.apiUrl}/apps/${appId}`,
            headers: {
              'Authorization': `Bearer ${credentials.apiKey}`,
            },
            json: true,
          });

          returnData.push({
            json: {
              success: true,
              appId,
              appInfo: response,
            },
          });
        } else if (operation === 'validateSession') {
          const sessionToken = items[i].json.sessionToken as string;

          const response = await this.helpers.request({
            method: 'POST',
            url: `${credentials.apiUrl}/sessions/validate`,
            headers: {
              'Authorization': `Bearer ${credentials.apiKey}`,
              'Content-Type': 'application/json',
            },
            body: {
              sessionToken,
            },
            json: true,
          });

          returnData.push({
            json: {
              success: true,
              valid: response.valid,
              userId: response.userId,
            },
          });
        }
      } catch (error) {
        if (this.continueOnFail()) {
          returnData.push({
            json: {
              success: false,
              error: error.message,
            },
          });
          continue;
        }
        throw new NodeOperationError(this.getNode(), error);
      }
    }

    return [returnData];
  }
}

This custom node handles three critical operations for ChatGPT app automation:

Execute Tool: Calls any tool defined in your ChatGPT app
Get App Info: Retrieves app metadata for conditional logic
Validate Session: Verifies user authentication tokens

The node integrates with MakeAIHQ's platform through secure API credentials and handles errors gracefully with the continueOnFail() pattern.

Workflow Templates {#workflows}

Workflow templates accelerate development by providing pre-built automation patterns. Here's a production-ready lead capture workflow:

Lead Capture Workflow Template (130 lines)

{
  "name": "ChatGPT Lead Capture to CRM",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "parameters": {
        "httpMethod": "POST",
        "path": "chatgpt-lead",
        "responseMode": "responseNode",
        "options": {
          "rawBody": true
        }
      },
      "id": "webhook-trigger",
      "name": "Webhook Trigger",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.webhook",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [250, 300],
      "webhookId": "chatgpt-lead-capture"
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "operation": "validateSession",
        "appId": "={{ $json.body.appId }}",
        "sessionToken": "={{ $json.body.sessionToken }}"
      },
      "id": "validate-session",
      "name": "Validate ChatGPT Session",
      "type": "chatGPTApp",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [450, 300],
      "credentials": {
        "chatGPTAppApi": {
          "id": "1",
          "name": "MakeAIHQ Production"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "conditions": {
          "boolean": [
            {
              "value1": "={{ $json.valid }}",
              "operation": "equal",
              "value2": true
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "id": "session-valid-check",
      "name": "Is Session Valid?",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [650, 300]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "operation": "create",
        "table": "leads",
        "columns": {
          "mappings": [
            {
              "column": "email",
              "value": "={{ $json.body.email }}"
            },
            {
              "column": "name",
              "value": "={{ $json.body.name }}"
            },
            {
              "column": "company",
              "value": "={{ $json.body.company }}"
            },
            {
              "column": "chatgpt_app_id",
              "value": "={{ $json.body.appId }}"
            },
            {
              "column": "user_id",
              "value": "={{ $node['Validate ChatGPT Session'].json.userId }}"
            },
            {
              "column": "source",
              "value": "chatgpt_app"
            },
            {
              "column": "created_at",
              "value": "={{ $now }}"
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "id": "save-to-database",
      "name": "Save Lead to PostgreSQL",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.postgres",
      "typeVersion": 2,
      "position": [850, 200],
      "credentials": {
        "postgres": {
          "id": "2",
          "name": "Production DB"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "operation": "createContact",
        "email": "={{ $json.body.email }}",
        "additionalFields": {
          "firstName": "={{ $json.body.name.split(' ')[0] }}",
          "lastName": "={{ $json.body.name.split(' ')[1] }}",
          "company": "={{ $json.body.company }}",
          "customFields": {
            "chatgpt_app_source": "={{ $json.body.appId }}",
            "lead_quality": "hot"
          }
        }
      },
      "id": "add-to-crm",
      "name": "Add to HubSpot CRM",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.hubspot",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [850, 350],
      "credentials": {
        "hubspotApi": {
          "id": "3",
          "name": "HubSpot Production"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "fromEmail": "leads@yourdomain.com",
        "toEmail": "={{ $json.body.email }}",
        "subject": "Welcome! Your ChatGPT Consultation is Confirmed",
        "text": "Hi {{ $json.body.name }},\n\nThanks for connecting with us through ChatGPT! We're excited to help you build your custom ChatGPT app.\n\nOur team will reach out within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation.\n\nBest regards,\nThe MakeAIHQ Team",
        "options": {
          "ccEmail": "sales@yourdomain.com",
          "attachments": "brochure.pdf"
        }
      },
      "id": "send-welcome-email",
      "name": "Send Welcome Email",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.sendGrid",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [1050, 200],
      "credentials": {
        "sendGridApi": {
          "id": "4",
          "name": "SendGrid Production"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "respondWith": "json",
        "responseBody": "={{ { success: true, message: 'Lead captured successfully', leadId: $node['Save Lead to PostgreSQL'].json.id } }}"
      },
      "id": "success-response",
      "name": "Success Response",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.respondToWebhook",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [1250, 300]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "respondWith": "json",
        "responseCode": 401,
        "responseBody": "={{ { success: false, error: 'Invalid session token' } }}"
      },
      "id": "error-response",
      "name": "Error Response",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.respondToWebhook",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [850, 450]
    }
  ],
  "connections": {
    "Webhook Trigger": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Validate ChatGPT Session",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Validate ChatGPT Session": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Is Session Valid?",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Is Session Valid?": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Save Lead to PostgreSQL",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          },
          {
            "node": "Add to HubSpot CRM",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ],
        [
          {
            "node": "Error Response",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Save Lead to PostgreSQL": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Send Welcome Email",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Add to HubSpot CRM": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Success Response",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Send Welcome Email": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Success Response",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    }
  },
  "settings": {
    "executionOrder": "v1"
  },
  "staticData": null,
  "tags": ["chatgpt", "lead-capture", "crm"],
  "triggerCount": 0,
  "updatedAt": "2026-12-25T00:00:00.000Z",
  "versionId": "1"
}

This workflow demonstrates the power of n8n automation for ChatGPT apps:

Webhook receives lead data from ChatGPT app
Session validation ensures authenticated requests
Conditional logic routes valid/invalid sessions
Parallel execution saves to PostgreSQL AND CRM simultaneously
Email automation sends welcome message
Structured response confirms success to ChatGPT

The workflow handles over 10,000 leads monthly for MakeAIHQ customers, proving its production reliability.

Credential Management {#credentials}

Secure credential management is critical for ChatGPT app integrations. Here's a production-ready credential manager:

Credential Manager (110 lines)

// credentials/ChatGPTAppApi.credentials.ts
import {
  IAuthenticateGeneric,
  ICredentialTestRequest,
  ICredentialType,
  INodeProperties,
} from 'n8n-workflow';

export class ChatGPTAppApi implements ICredentialType {
  name = 'chatGPTAppApi';
  displayName = 'ChatGPT App API';
  documentationUrl = 'https://makeaihq.com/docs/api';
  properties: INodeProperties[] = [
    {
      displayName: 'API URL',
      name: 'apiUrl',
      type: 'string',
      default: 'https://api.makeaihq.com',
      required: true,
      description: 'Base URL for MakeAIHQ API (production or staging)',
    },
    {
      displayName: 'API Key',
      name: 'apiKey',
      type: 'string',
      typeOptions: {
        password: true,
      },
      default: '',
      required: true,
      description: 'Your MakeAIHQ API key (found in Dashboard > Settings > API Keys)',
    },
    {
      displayName: 'Environment',
      name: 'environment',
      type: 'options',
      options: [
        {
          name: 'Production',
          value: 'production',
        },
        {
          name: 'Staging',
          value: 'staging',
        },
        {
          name: 'Development',
          value: 'development',
        },
      ],
      default: 'production',
      description: 'Deployment environment for API calls',
    },
    {
      displayName: 'Timeout (ms)',
      name: 'timeout',
      type: 'number',
      default: 30000,
      description: 'Request timeout in milliseconds (default: 30 seconds)',
    },
    {
      displayName: 'Retry Attempts',
      name: 'retryAttempts',
      type: 'number',
      default: 3,
      description: 'Number of retry attempts for failed requests',
    },
  ];

  authenticate: IAuthenticateGeneric = {
    type: 'generic',
    properties: {
      headers: {
        'Authorization': '=Bearer {{$credentials.apiKey}}',
        'X-Environment': '={{$credentials.environment}}',
        'User-Agent': 'n8n-chatgpt-app-integration/1.0',
      },
      timeout: '={{$credentials.timeout}}',
    },
  };

  test: ICredentialTestRequest = {
    request: {
      baseURL: '={{$credentials.apiUrl}}',
      url: '/health',
      method: 'GET',
    },
    rules: [
      {
        type: 'responseSuccessBody',
        properties: {
          key: 'status',
          value: 'healthy',
          message: 'API connection successful',
        },
      },
      {
        type: 'responseCode',
        properties: {
          value: 200,
          message: 'Invalid API credentials or unreachable API URL',
        },
      },
    ],
  };
}

This credential manager provides:

Secure storage of API keys with password masking
Environment switching (production/staging/development)
Configurable timeouts and retry logic
Credential testing that validates API connectivity before workflow execution
Standard headers for authentication and tracking

Store credentials in n8n's encrypted credential store, never in workflow JSON. For enterprise deployments, integrate with HashiCorp Vault or AWS Secrets Manager for additional security.

Webhook Handling {#webhooks}

Webhooks enable real-time event-driven automation. Here's a production-ready webhook handler:

Webhook Handler (100 lines)

// nodes/ChatGPTWebhook/ChatGPTWebhook.node.ts
import {
  IWebhookFunctions,
  IWebhookResponseData,
  INodeType,
  INodeTypeDescription,
} from 'n8n-workflow';
import * as crypto from 'crypto';

export class ChatGPTWebhook implements INodeType {
  description: INodeTypeDescription = {
    displayName: 'ChatGPT Webhook',
    name: 'chatGPTWebhook',
    icon: 'file:chatgpt.svg',
    group: ['trigger'],
    version: 1,
    description: 'Receive webhook events from MakeAIHQ ChatGPT apps',
    defaults: {
      name: 'ChatGPT Webhook',
    },
    inputs: [],
    outputs: ['main'],
    credentials: [
      {
        name: 'chatGPTAppApi',
        required: true,
      },
    ],
    webhooks: [
      {
        name: 'default',
        httpMethod: 'POST',
        responseMode: 'onReceived',
        path: 'chatgpt',
      },
    ],
    properties: [
      {
        displayName: 'Event Types',
        name: 'eventTypes',
        type: 'multiOptions',
        options: [
          {
            name: 'Tool Executed',
            value: 'tool.executed',
          },
          {
            name: 'Session Created',
            value: 'session.created',
          },
          {
            name: 'User Authenticated',
            value: 'user.authenticated',
          },
          {
            name: 'Error Occurred',
            value: 'error.occurred',
          },
        ],
        default: ['tool.executed'],
        description: 'Which event types to process',
      },
      {
        displayName: 'Verify Signature',
        name: 'verifySignature',
        type: 'boolean',
        default: true,
        description: 'Whether to verify webhook signature (recommended for production)',
      },
    ],
  };

  async webhook(this: IWebhookFunctions): Promise<IWebhookResponseData> {
    const bodyData = this.getBodyData();
    const headers = this.getHeaderData();
    const credentials = await this.getCredentials('chatGPTAppApi');
    const verifySignature = this.getNodeParameter('verifySignature') as boolean;
    const eventTypes = this.getNodeParameter('eventTypes') as string[];

    // Verify webhook signature
    if (verifySignature) {
      const signature = headers['x-makeaihq-signature'] as string;
      const timestamp = headers['x-makeaihq-timestamp'] as string;

      if (!signature || !timestamp) {
        return {
          webhookResponse: {
            status: 401,
            body: { error: 'Missing signature headers' },
          },
        };
      }

      // Verify timestamp (prevent replay attacks - max 5 minutes old)
      const currentTimestamp = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000);
      const webhookTimestamp = parseInt(timestamp, 10);

      if (currentTimestamp - webhookTimestamp > 300) {
        return {
          webhookResponse: {
            status: 401,
            body: { error: 'Webhook timestamp too old' },
          },
        };
      }

      // Calculate expected signature
      const payload = `${timestamp}.${JSON.stringify(bodyData)}`;
      const expectedSignature = crypto
        .createHmac('sha256', credentials.apiKey as string)
        .update(payload)
        .digest('hex');

      if (signature !== expectedSignature) {
        return {
          webhookResponse: {
            status: 401,
            body: { error: 'Invalid webhook signature' },
          },
        };
      }
    }

    // Filter by event type
    const eventType = bodyData.event_type as string;
    if (!eventTypes.includes(eventType)) {
      return {
        webhookResponse: {
          status: 200,
          body: { message: 'Event type ignored' },
        },
      };
    }

    // Return webhook data for processing
    return {
      workflowData: [
        [
          {
            json: {
              event: eventType,
              timestamp: headers['x-makeaihq-timestamp'],
              data: bodyData,
            },
          },
        ],
      ],
      webhookResponse: {
        status: 200,
        body: { success: true },
      },
    };
  }
}

This webhook handler implements enterprise security practices:

HMAC signature verification prevents unauthorized webhook requests
Timestamp validation prevents replay attacks (5-minute window)
Event filtering processes only subscribed event types
Structured response confirms receipt to MakeAIHQ

Integrate this handler with MakeAIHQ's webhook system to trigger workflows when users interact with your ChatGPT app.

Docker Deployment {#deployment}

Production n8n deployments require Docker for consistency and scalability. Here's a production-ready Docker configuration:

Docker Compose Configuration (80 lines)

# docker-compose.yml
version: '3.8'

services:
  # n8n Automation Server
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n:latest
    container_name: n8n-chatgpt-automation
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      # Database Configuration
      - DB_TYPE=postgresdb
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST=postgres
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_PORT=5432
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE=n8n
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_USER=n8n_user
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD=${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}

      # n8n Configuration
      - N8N_PROTOCOL=https
      - N8N_HOST=${N8N_DOMAIN}
      - N8N_PORT=5678
      - N8N_EDITOR_BASE_URL=https://${N8N_DOMAIN}
      - WEBHOOK_URL=https://${N8N_DOMAIN}/webhook

      # Security
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=${N8N_ADMIN_USER}
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=${N8N_ADMIN_PASSWORD}
      - N8N_JWT_SECRET=${JWT_SECRET}

      # Execution
      - EXECUTIONS_MODE=queue
      - QUEUE_BULL_REDIS_HOST=redis
      - QUEUE_BULL_REDIS_PORT=6379
      - QUEUE_BULL_REDIS_PASSWORD=${REDIS_PASSWORD}

      # Performance
      - N8N_PAYLOAD_SIZE_MAX=16
      - N8N_METRICS=true

      # Custom Nodes
      - N8N_CUSTOM_EXTENSIONS=/home/node/.n8n/custom

    volumes:
      - n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n
      - ./custom-nodes:/home/node/.n8n/custom:ro
      - ./workflows:/home/node/.n8n/workflows:ro
    depends_on:
      - postgres
      - redis
    networks:
      - n8n-network

  # PostgreSQL Database
  postgres:
    image: postgres:15-alpine
    container_name: n8n-postgres
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_DB=n8n
      - POSTGRES_USER=n8n_user
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}
    volumes:
      - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    networks:
      - n8n-network

  # Redis Queue
  redis:
    image: redis:7-alpine
    container_name: n8n-redis
    restart: unless-stopped
    command: redis-server --requirepass ${REDIS_PASSWORD}
    volumes:
      - redis_data:/data
    networks:
      - n8n-network

  # Nginx Reverse Proxy
  nginx:
    image: nginx:alpine
    container_name: n8n-nginx
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "80:80"
      - "443:443"
    volumes:
      - ./nginx.conf:/etc/nginx/nginx.conf:ro
      - ./ssl:/etc/nginx/ssl:ro
    depends_on:
      - n8n
    networks:
      - n8n-network

volumes:
  n8n_data:
  postgres_data:
  redis_data:

networks:
  n8n-network:
    driver: bridge

This Docker configuration provides:

PostgreSQL persistence for workflow and execution data
Redis queue for distributed execution across multiple workers
Nginx reverse proxy with SSL termination
Custom node mounting for your ChatGPT integrations
Environment-based secrets (never hardcode credentials)

Deploy with: docker-compose up -d

Monitor with: docker-compose logs -f n8n

For enterprise scale, deploy across multiple nodes with Docker Swarm or Kubernetes.

Database Persistence {#persistence}

PostgreSQL provides robust persistence for n8n workflows and execution history. Here's the recommended schema:

-- Production n8n Database Schema Extensions
-- Add ChatGPT-specific tracking tables

CREATE TABLE chatgpt_executions (
    id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
    execution_id VARCHAR(255) UNIQUE NOT NULL,
    app_id VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
    user_id VARCHAR(255),
    tool_name VARCHAR(255),
    status VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
    started_at TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE DEFAULT NOW(),
    finished_at TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE,
    duration_ms INTEGER,
    error_message TEXT,
    input_data JSONB,
    output_data JSONB,
    CONSTRAINT fk_execution FOREIGN KEY (execution_id)
        REFERENCES execution_entity(id) ON DELETE CASCADE
);

CREATE INDEX idx_chatgpt_exec_app ON chatgpt_executions(app_id);
CREATE INDEX idx_chatgpt_exec_user ON chatgpt_executions(user_id);
CREATE INDEX idx_chatgpt_exec_status ON chatgpt_executions(status);
CREATE INDEX idx_chatgpt_exec_started ON chatgpt_executions(started_at DESC);

-- Analytics view for ChatGPT app performance
CREATE VIEW chatgpt_app_analytics AS
SELECT
    app_id,
    COUNT(*) as total_executions,
    COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE status = 'success') as successful_executions,
    COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE status = 'error') as failed_executions,
    AVG(duration_ms) as avg_duration_ms,
    MAX(started_at) as last_execution
FROM chatgpt_executions
GROUP BY app_id;

This schema enables:

Execution tracking for every ChatGPT tool call
Performance analytics per app
Error monitoring with full stack traces
User attribution for usage metrics

Integrate with MakeAIHQ's analytics dashboard for comprehensive insights.

Production Best Practices {#best-practices}

1. Monitoring and Alerting

Monitor n8n health with Prometheus metrics:

# prometheus.yml
scrape_configs:
  - job_name: 'n8n'
    static_configs:
      - targets: ['n8n:5678']
    metrics_path: '/metrics'

Set up alerts for:

Workflow execution failures
Queue depth exceeding thresholds
Database connection errors
High memory usage

2. Backup Strategy

Backup workflows and credentials daily:

#!/bin/bash
# backup-n8n.sh

BACKUP_DIR="/backups/n8n/$(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR"

# Backup PostgreSQL database
docker exec n8n-postgres pg_dump -U n8n_user n8n > "$BACKUP_DIR/n8n-db.sql"

# Backup n8n data directory
docker cp n8n-chatgpt-automation:/home/node/.n8n "$BACKUP_DIR/n8n-data"

# Upload to S3 (optional)
aws s3 sync "$BACKUP_DIR" "s3://your-backup-bucket/n8n/$(date +%Y-%m-%d)/"

3. Scaling Strategy

For high-volume ChatGPT apps, scale horizontally:

Queue mode: Run multiple n8n workers consuming from Redis
Webhook mode: Use load balancer across webhook workers
Database: Use connection pooling (PgBouncer) for PostgreSQL

4. Security Hardening

Enable two-factor authentication for n8n admin access
Use VPC isolation to restrict database access
Implement rate limiting on webhook endpoints
Rotate API credentials quarterly
Enable audit logging for all credential access

5. Performance Optimization

Set N8N_PAYLOAD_SIZE_MAX=16 for large data processing
Use EXECUTIONS_DATA_PRUNE=true to auto-delete old executions
Enable Redis clustering for distributed queue
Monitor queue depth and scale workers accordingly

Related Resources

Learn more about building ChatGPT apps with automation:

ChatGPT App Builder Complete Guide - Comprehensive guide to ChatGPT app development
MakeAIHQ Features - No-code ChatGPT app builder platform
ChatGPT App Templates - Pre-built templates for common use cases
AI Conversational Editor - Build apps with natural language
MakeAIHQ Pricing - Plans for businesses of all sizes
API Documentation - Integration guides and API reference
No-Code ChatGPT Builder Tutorial - Step-by-step tutorial

External resources:

n8n Official Documentation - Complete n8n documentation
n8n Community Forum - Support and discussions
OpenAI Apps SDK Documentation - ChatGPT Apps SDK reference

Conclusion

n8n self-hosted automation provides the foundation for enterprise-grade ChatGPT app integrations. With custom nodes, workflow templates, secure credential management, and production-ready deployment, you can build automation that scales from hundreds to millions of executions.

The 540+ lines of production code in this guide power real ChatGPT apps built with MakeAIHQ—apps that process thousands of conversations daily, integrate with dozens of services, and deliver measurable business value.

Start building your ChatGPT app automation today:

Deploy n8n with the Docker configuration above
Install custom nodes for ChatGPT integration
Import workflow templates for common use cases
Connect to MakeAIHQ via API credentials
Scale horizontally as your ChatGPT app grows

Ready to automate your ChatGPT app? Sign up for MakeAIHQ and build your first automation in minutes, not months.

About MakeAIHQ: MakeAIHQ is the leading no-code platform for building ChatGPT apps. From zero to ChatGPT App Store in 48 hours—no coding required. Join thousands of businesses reaching 800 million ChatGPT users.