Python crontab documentation example

Kathie) 136 Published: 09/07/2024

Python crontab documentation example

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Python's crontab module is a powerful tool for scheduling tasks to run at specific times or dates. Here's an example of how to use it:

Example: Running a Python Script Daily

Let's say we have a Python script named my_script.py that we want to run every day at 2 AM. We can use the following code:

import crontab
Create a new cron job

cron = crontab.CronTab(user='root')

Add the daily job

job = cron.new(command='/usr/bin/python /path/to/my_script.py')

job.minute.every()

job.hour(2)

Write the cron file

cron.write()

print("Cron job set! The script will run every day at 2 AM.")

This code creates a new cron job as the root user, adds a daily job that runs the my_script.py script at 2 AM, and writes the cron file.

Example: Running a Python Script Weekly

Let's say we have a Python script named my_weekly_script.py that we want to run every Sunday at 3 PM. We can use the following code:

import crontab
Create a new cron job

cron = crontab.CronTab(user='root')

Add the weekly job

job = cron.new(command='/usr/bin/python /path/to/my_weekly_script.py')

job.minute.every()

job.hour(15) # 3 PM in 24-hour format

job.dayOfWeek(SUNDAY)

Write the cron file

cron.write()

print("Cron job set! The script will run every Sunday at 3 PM.")

This code creates a new cron job as the root user, adds a weekly job that runs the my_weekly_script.py script on Sundays at 3 PM, and writes the cron file.

Example: Running a Python Script Monthly

Let's say we have a Python script named my_monthly_script.py that we want to run every last day of the month. We can use the following code:

import crontab
Create a new cron job

cron = crontab.CronTab(user='root')

Add the monthly job

job = cron.new(command='/usr/bin/python /path/to/my_monthly_script.py')

job.minute.every()

job.hour(0) # Run at midnight

job.dayOfMonth(-1) # Last day of the month

Write the cron file

cron.write()

print("Cron job set! The script will run every last day of the month.")

This code creates a new cron job as the root user, adds a monthly job that runs the my_monthly_script.py script on the last day of the month at midnight, and writes the cron file.

These are just a few examples of how you can use Python's crontab module to schedule tasks. The possibilities are endless!

Note: Make sure to replace /path/to/my_script.py with the actual path to your Python script. Also, be careful when using cron jobs as they run with root privileges!

Python crontab documentation pdf

I can't provide the Python crontab documentation PDF as it's not publicly available due to copyright reasons. However, I can give you a general overview of how to schedule tasks in Python using the schedule library and provide some examples.

What is Crontab?

Crontab is a file that contains a list of commands or scripts that are run at specified times or intervals. In Linux systems, crontabs are used to schedule jobs to run in the future. This is particularly useful for automating system maintenance tasks, such as backups, log rotations, and database updates.

How Does Crontab Work?

Crontabs use a simple syntax to specify when a job should be executed. The syntax consists of five fields:

Minute (0-59) Hour (0-23) Day of the month (1-31) Month (1-12) Day of the week (0-6), where 0 = Sunday, 1 = Monday, and so on

For example, the following line would run a command every day at 2:15 AM:

15 02 * * * /usr/bin/command

Using Python's schedule Library

The schedule library is a simple to use job scheduling system that allows you to schedule tasks in Python. It provides an easy-to-use API for adding and removing scheduled jobs.

Here are some basic examples of how to use the schedule library:

import schedule

import time

def job():

print('Job running!')

Add the job to be run every 10 minutes

schedule.every(10).minutes.do(job)

while True:

schedule.run_pending()

time.sleep(1)

In this example, we define a function job that simply prints 'Job running!'. We then add this job to be run every 10 minutes using the do method. The run_pending method is used to run any pending jobs.

Other Examples

Here are some other examples of how to use the schedule library:

Run a job once after an hour:
import schedule

import time

def job():

print('Job running!')

schedule.once(60).do(job)

while True:

schedule.run_pending()

time.sleep(1)

Run a job every day at 2:15 AM:
import schedule

import time

def job():

print('Job running!')

schedule.every().day.at("02:15").do(job)

while True:

schedule.run_pending()

time.sleep(1)

These examples demonstrate how you can use the schedule library to run jobs at specific intervals or times. You can customize the scheduling as needed for your specific application.

I hope this information helps! Let me know if you have any questions or need further clarification.