Tutorials

CronTime is a task scheduler for macOS. It runs shell commands or lightweight web automation on a cron-style schedule, keeps execution history, and can notify you or trigger follow-up actions.

 

1. Main window

The window is split into a sidebar and a detail area:

• Dashboard — Overview of all jobs: success rates, recent runs, and time-range filters (Today, This Week, This Month, All Time).

• Logs — Unified log stream from your jobs and the scheduler.

• Jobs — One row per scheduled job. Select a job to edit or inspect it in the detail pane.

 

At the bottom of the sidebar, a status dot shows whether the scheduler is running (green) or paused (orange). Jobs only run on schedule when the scheduler is running and each job is enabled.

 

2. Creating a job

• New Job from the toolbar (or New Job when the job list is empty).

• Enter a name and optional description.

• Schedule: Set a standard five-field cron expression (minute, hour, day of month, month, day of week). Use the schedule builder for common patterns, or type an expression directly. Pick the timezone in which the schedule is interpreted.

• Execution type:

• Shell command — Runs a command in bash (e.g. scripts, curl, rsync). Set a working directory and optional environment variables if needed.

• Web automation — Opens a URL in a headless web view. Optionally run JavaScript after load and capture a page screenshot.

 

• Notifications per job: success and/or failure, with optional sound.

• Post-run actions (optional): webhooks, trigger another job, AppleScript, system notification, or a full-screen screenshot (requires Screen Recording permission in System Settings).

• Save the job. The trial edition may limit how many jobs you can create.

 

3. Job detail

Select a job in the sidebar to:

• Run now — Execute once immediately (outside the normal schedule).

• Enable / disable the job for the scheduler.

• Edit schedule, command or web settings, tags, and actions.

• Review execution history and output for past runs.

• Use the AI assistant (where available) to suggest or explain cron expressions from natural language.

 

4. Templates

Open Templates from the toolbar to browse pre-made job definitions. Apply a template to create a new job quickly, then adjust the schedule and paths to match your Mac.

 

5. Settings (CronTime menu -> Settings)

• General — Default timezone, auto-start the scheduler when the app launches, launch CronTime at login, sidebar width, default job sort order.

• Scheduling — How long to keep logs and how many execution records to retain per job (automatic cleanup).

• Notifications — Global success/failure notifications and default alert sound.

• Web — Web automation page load timeout, screenshot folder and format (PNG/JPEG), and shortcuts to grant Screen Recording for system-wide screenshots.

 

6. Import and export

From the menu File -> Import/Export (or the keyboard shortcuts shown there):

• Import jobs from a JSON file (exported by CronTime).

• Export all jobs or export the selected job for backup or migration.

 

Imported jobs are disabled by default so you can review them before enabling.

 

7. Menu shortcuts and Shortcuts app

The Help menu links to FAQs and support. About CronTime includes version information and Check for updates (when not distributed via the Mac App Store).

CronTime exposes App Shortcuts so you can run or list jobs from the Shortcuts app or Siri where supported.

 

8. Tips

• The scheduler uses one-second resolution; very long shell commands are subject to a timeout.

• After sleep, CronTime attempts to catch missed runs that fell in the sleep window.

• For web and screenshot features, grant network access and any required macOS privacy permissions when prompted.