> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.kombify.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Automation

> Workflow automation is planned; n8n is the preferred first engine, with alternatives under review

<Info>
  Evidence state (2026-09-24, v0.41.0): Automation is `planned`. It has no
  release and no dates, and it does not yet have an entry in the release
  catalog. This page describes a design direction under review, not
  something you can install today.
</Info>

Automation is not a use case you can select yet. The team is evaluating a self-hosted workflow engine that connects your other use cases and runs reviewed routines with bounded permissions.

## Planned design

| Candidate                                     | Role                   | Note                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| --------------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [n8n](https://n8n.io/)                        | Preferred first engine | Distributed under its [Sustainable Use License](https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/blob/master/LICENSE.md), which permits personal, non-commercial and internal business use under its stated conditions. It is not a general permissive open-source license, so check the license before commercial or hosted use. |
| [Activepieces](https://www.activepieces.com/) | Alternative            | Core is MIT-licensed; some enterprise features carry a separate license.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| [Node-RED](https://nodered.org/)              | Specialist candidate   | Considered for flow-based home and IoT automation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| [Windmill](https://www.windmill.dev/)         | Specialist candidate   | Considered for script- and code-first workflows.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |

## What to expect

* A single workflow engine is the starting point, not all four tools at once.
* Recipes will need explicit approval and scoped credentials; automation will not gain access to another use case just because it runs on the same kit.
* Bounded, reviewed starter routines come before an open-ended workflow canvas.

Check the [StackKits changelog](/changelog/overview) or the [use-case catalog](/stackkits/reference/use-case-catalog) for whether Automation has moved out of planning.