Cron

Cron is a time-based job scheduler in Unix-like operating systems that automates the execution of commands or scripts at specified intervals. It uses a configuration file called a crontab to define scheduled tasks, which run in the background without user intervention. This tool is essential for automating repetitive system maintenance, data processing, and application tasks.

Also known as: Cron Jobs, Crontab, Cron Daemon, Cron Scheduler, Simple Cron

Why learn Cron?

Developers should learn Cron for automating routine operations such as database backups, log rotation, email notifications, or periodic data fetching in applications. It is particularly useful in server environments, DevOps workflows, and any scenario requiring scheduled execution without manual oversight, ensuring reliability and efficiency in production systems.

Learning Resources

• docs: Cron Wikipedia Page
• tutorial: Crontab Guru - Interactive Cron Expression Tester
• tutorial: Linuxize Cron Jobs Tutorial
• tutorial: DigitalOcean How To Use Cron
• video: Cron YouTube Tutorial by Corey Schafer