# Self-Hosted AI Starter Kit — Local AI with n8n

> Docker Compose template by n8n that bootstraps a complete local AI environment with n8n workflow automation, Ollama LLMs, Qdrant vector database, and PostgreSQL. 14,500+ stars.

## Install

Save the content below to `.claude/skills/` or append to your `CLAUDE.md`:

## Quick Use

```bash
git clone https://github.com/n8n-io/self-hosted-ai-starter-kit.git
cd self-hosted-ai-starter-kit
cp .env.example .env
docker compose --profile cpu up
```

For GPU acceleration:
- **NVIDIA**: `docker compose --profile gpu-nvidia up`
- **AMD**: `docker compose --profile gpu-amd up`
- **Apple Silicon**: `docker compose up` (uses CPU, or connect to local Ollama)

Access n8n at `http://localhost:5678/` after startup.

---

## Intro

Self-Hosted AI Starter Kit is an official open-source Docker Compose template by n8n that bootstraps a complete local AI development environment in one command. With 14,500+ GitHub stars and Apache 2.0 license, it bundles n8n (400+ integrations), Ollama (local LLMs), Qdrant (vector database), and PostgreSQL into a pre-configured stack. Start building AI workflows, RAG pipelines, and chatbots on your own hardware — no cloud APIs needed, full data privacy guaranteed.

Best for: developers and teams who want a self-hosted AI workflow platform with zero cloud dependencies.
Works with: n8n, Ollama, Qdrant, PostgreSQL, any Ollama-supported model.
Setup time: under 5 minutes.

---

## Self-Hosted AI Starter Kit — Architecture & Components

### Included Services

| Service | Purpose | Port |
|---------|---------|------|
| **n8n** | Low-code workflow automation with 400+ integrations and AI components | 5678 |
| **Ollama** | Run LLMs locally (Llama 3, Mistral, CodeLlama, etc.) | 11434 |
| **Qdrant** | High-performance vector database for embeddings and RAG | 6333 |
| **PostgreSQL** | Persistent data storage for n8n workflows and credentials | 5432 |

### What You Can Build

1. **RAG Chatbots** — Upload documents, embed with Ollama, store in Qdrant, query via n8n chat interface
2. **AI Workflow Automation** — Trigger AI tasks from emails, webhooks, schedules, or 400+ app integrations
3. **Document Processing** — Extract, summarize, and classify documents using local LLMs
4. **Code Generation** — Use CodeLlama for automated code review and generation workflows
5. **Data Analysis** — Connect databases to LLMs for natural language data queries

### GPU Support

| Platform | Command | Notes |
|----------|---------|-------|
| CPU only | `docker compose --profile cpu up` | Slower but works everywhere |
| NVIDIA GPU | `docker compose --profile gpu-nvidia up` | Requires NVIDIA Docker runtime |
| AMD GPU | `docker compose --profile gpu-amd up` | Linux only |
| Apple Silicon | `docker compose up` | CPU mode, or use local Ollama |

### Included Workflow Templates

The starter kit comes with pre-built n8n workflow templates:
- AI chatbot with document RAG
- Email classification and auto-response
- Webhook-triggered AI processing

### Configuration

Key `.env` settings:
```bash
# n8n settings
N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY=your-encryption-key
N8N_USER_MANAGEMENT_JWT_SECRET=your-jwt-secret

# Ollama model (pulled on first start)
OLLAMA_MODEL=llama3

# PostgreSQL
POSTGRES_PASSWORD=your-password
```

### FAQ

**Q: What is the Self-Hosted AI Starter Kit?**
A: A Docker Compose template by n8n that sets up a complete local AI environment with n8n (workflow automation), Ollama (local LLMs), Qdrant (vector DB), and PostgreSQL in one command.

**Q: Is it free?**
A: Yes, fully open-source under Apache 2.0. All included services are free and self-hosted.

**Q: What hardware do I need?**
A: Minimum 8GB RAM for CPU mode. For GPU acceleration, an NVIDIA or AMD GPU with Docker support. Apple Silicon Macs work with CPU mode.

---

## Source & Thanks

> Created by [n8n-io](https://github.com/n8n-io). Licensed under Apache 2.0.
>
> [self-hosted-ai-starter-kit](https://github.com/n8n-io/self-hosted-ai-starter-kit) — ⭐ 14,500+

Thank you to the n8n team for making self-hosted AI infrastructure accessible with one command.

---

<!-- ZH -->


## Quick Use

```bash
git clone https://github.com/n8n-io/self-hosted-ai-starter-kit.git
cd self-hosted-ai-starter-kit
cp .env.example .env
docker compose --profile cpu up
```

GPU acceleration: use `--profile gpu-nvidia` for NVIDIA, `--profile gpu-amd` for AMD.
After it starts, visit `http://localhost:5678/`.

---

## Intro

Self-Hosted AI Starter Kit is n8n's official open-source Docker Compose template — one command spins up a complete local AI development environment. With 14,500+ GitHub stars and an Apache 2.0 license, it bundles n8n (400+ integrations), Ollama (local LLMs), Qdrant (vector database), and PostgreSQL. Build AI workflows, RAG pipelines, and chatbots on your own hardware — no cloud APIs, fully private data.

Best for developers and teams who want a self-hosted AI workflow platform with zero cloud dependencies.
Included components: n8n, Ollama, Qdrant, PostgreSQL.
Setup time: under 5 minutes.

---

## Included Services

| Service | Purpose | Port |
|---------|---------|------|
| n8n | Low-code workflow automation, 400+ integrations | 5678 |
| Ollama | Run LLMs locally | 11434 |
| Qdrant | Vector database | 6333 |
| PostgreSQL | Persistent storage | 5432 |

### What You Can Build
- RAG chatbots, AI workflow automation, document processing, code generation, data analysis

### FAQ

**Q: What is the Self-Hosted AI Starter Kit?**
A: n8n's official Docker Compose template that spins up a complete local AI environment (n8n + Ollama + Qdrant + PostgreSQL) with one command.

**Q: Is it free?**
A: Fully free and open source (Apache 2.0) — all services can be self-hosted.

---

## Source & Thanks

> Created by [n8n-io](https://github.com/n8n-io). Licensed under Apache 2.0.
>
> [self-hosted-ai-starter-kit](https://github.com/n8n-io/self-hosted-ai-starter-kit) — ⭐ 14,500+


---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/self-hosted-ai-starter-kit-local-ai-n8n-92d3cc62
Author: AI Open Source