Debug failed Shuttle or n8n workflow
Use this page when a Shuttle or n8n workflow did not start, did not complete, or finished without producing the downstream evidence that should have followed.
When to use this page
- A workflow failed to trigger.
- A workflow started but did not complete.
- A workflow completed but expected downstream sync, message, or task evidence is missing.
Prerequisites
- You can capture the workflow identifier and, when present, the execution identifier.
- You can compare Shuttle-local evidence with downstream Fabric-side evidence when needed.
Architecture / Flow
Step-by-step procedure
1. Classify where the workflow failed
Decide whether the problem is:
- trigger did not happen
- execution did not complete
- downstream evidence never appeared
2. Capture the workflow evidence set
Record:
- workflow identifier
- execution identifier when present
- last known event or message boundary
- whether the last successful run was recent or the issue is longstanding
3. Decide whether the boundary is Shuttle-local or cross-system
If the failure is isolated to Shuttle or n8n, stay in the Shuttle owner path first.
If the workflow completed but expected downstream evidence is missing, compare the Shuttle-to-Fabric boundary and related sync verification.
4. Prefer observation and readback before rerun
Start with canonical owner verification and workflow readback commands. Re-run or retry only after the failed boundary is understood.
5. Verify the expected downstream effect
After a bounded fix, confirm:
- the workflow reaches its expected step
- and the downstream evidence that was missing now appears
Verification
This runbook is being used correctly when:
- the workflow failure phase is classified before rerun
- Shuttle-local and cross-system boundaries are separated
- the fix is validated by both execution behavior and downstream evidence
Common failure modes
Treating every workflow failure as a trigger issue
Problem:
- execution and downstream-evidence failures get misdiagnosed.
Better path:
- classify trigger, execution, and downstream evidence separately
Rerunning without checking whether the downstream handoff failed
Problem:
- the same workflow reruns while the real boundary issue stays untouched.
Better path:
- compare Shuttle-local evidence with Shuttle-to-Fabric evidence first
Source Truth
contracts/docs/public_manufacturer_docs_post_v1_runbooks_v1.jsonJaddaHelpifyr/jhf-shuttle:docs/TROUBLESHOOTING.mdJaddaHelpifyr/jhf-shuttle:docs/OPERATIONS.mdJaddaHelpifyr/helpifyr-fabric:docs/operations/N8N_OPERATOR_SYNC_VERIFICATION.md