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Automation Studio: agent-authored workflow automation (between n8n and AI Shortcuts) #968

Description

@jaylfc

New studio idea. Brainstorming with Jay, not yet specced. No build until a design doc is agreed.

Vision

An Automation Studio sitting between n8n (powerful node-graph workflow automation, server-side, deep integrations) and Apple's new AI-assisted Shortcuts (approachable, natural-language, on-device action assembly). taOS-native: automations can drive taOS apps, agents, files, the cluster, notifications, and the A2A bus.

Headline differentiator: agent-authored automations. Describe a workflow in plain language, an agent generates and deploys a real, editable flow; manual editing + AI assist on top.

Open questions for the brainstorm

  • Primary creation mode on the n8n<->Shortcuts spectrum (NL-first vs visual-builder-first vs templates).
  • Engine: build our own vs wrap/embed an existing one. Candidates: n8n (Sustainable Use License, same family as taOS, powerful), Node-RED (Apache-2.0, lighter, weaker UX), Activepieces (license TBD, modern). Offline + ARM/Pi + license constraints matter.
  • Integration depth (embed an engine UI vs taOS-native nodes over an engine vs fully our own).
  • Fits the studios framing and rides the #89 userspace-app-packages rails; n8n is already an installable catalog service (container app_type), which also helps pin down the container-package case.

Status

Brainstorming. Will produce a design doc under docs/superpowers/specs/ for sign-off before any implementation. Part of the studios programme alongside #76/#77/#78/#79/#86/#87.

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