Back to Templates

Extract & Transform HackerNews Data to Google Docs using Gemini 2.0 Flash

Created by

Created by: Ranjan Dailata || ranjancse

Ranjan Dailata

Last update

Last update 5 hours ago

Share


Description

This workflow automates the process of scraping the latest discussions from HackerNews, transforming raw threads into human readable content using Google Gemini, and exporting the final content into a well-formatted Google Doc.

Overview

This n8n workflow is responsible for extracting trending posts from the HackerNews API. It loops through each item, performs HTTP data extraction, utilizes Google Gemini to generate human-readable insights, and then exports the enriched content into Google Docs for distribution, archiving, or content creation.

Who this workflow is for

  • Tech Newsletter Writers:
    Automate the collection and summarization of trending HackerNews posts for inclusion in weekly or daily newsletters.

  • Content Creators & Bloggers:
    Quickly generate structured summaries and insights from HackerNews threads to use as inspiration or supporting content for blog posts, videos, or social media.

  • Startup Founders & Product Builders:
    Monitor HackerNews for discussions relevant to your niche or competitors, and keep a pulse on the community’s opinions.

  • Investors & Analysts:
    Surface early signals from the tech ecosystem by identifying what’s trending and how the community is reacting.

  • Researchers & Students:
    Analyze popular discussions and emerging trends in technology, programming, and startups—enriched with AI-generated insights.

  • Digital Agencies & Consultants:
    Offer HackerNews monitoring and insight reports as a value-added service to clients interested in the tech space.

Tools Used

  • n8n: The core automation engine that manages the trigger, transformation, and export.

  • HackerNews API: Provides access to trending or new HN posts.

  • Google Gemini: Enriches HackerNews content with structured insights and human-like summaries.

  • Google Docs: Automatically creates and updates a document with the enriched content, ready for sharing or publishing.

How to Install

  • Import the Workflow: Download the .json file and import it into your n8n instance.

  • Set Up HackerNews Source: Choose whether to use the HN API (via HTTP Request node) or RSS Feed node.

  • Configure Gemini API: Add your Google Gemini API key and design the prompt to extract pros/cons, key themes, or insights.

  • Set Up Google Docs Integration: Connect your Google account and configure the Google Docs node to create/update a document.

  • Test and Deploy: Run a test job to ensure data flows correctly and outputs are formatted as expected.

Use Cases

  • Tech Newsletter Authors: Generate ready-to-use summaries of trending HackerNews threads.

  • Startup Founders: Stay informed on key discussions, product launches, and community feedback.

  • Investors & Analysts: Spot early trends, technical insights, and startup momentum directly from HN.

  • Researchers: Track community reactions to new technologies or frameworks.

  • Content Creators: Use the enriched data to spark blog posts, YouTube scripts, or LinkedIn updates.

Connect with Me

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaronbeen/

Get Bright Data: Bright Data (Supports free workflows with a small commission)

#n8n #automation #hackernews #contentcuration #aiwriting #geminiapi #googlegemini #techtrends #newsletterautomation #googleworkspace #rssautomation #nocode #structureddata #webscraping #contentautomation #hninsights #aiworkflow #googleintegration #webmonitoring #hnnews #aiassistant #gdocs #automationtools #gptlike #geminiwriter