How to create Cron Jobs in Linux with Zeit

Cron allows you to run commands, programs, and scripts automatically at specified times on time or on a schedule. It is powerful, lightweight, but makes you a little "brain twisted". That's why you can find front-ends trying to simplify using crontab and Zeit is one of the best options.

Let's see how Zeit allows you to easily create cron jobs in Linux easily through the following article!

Install Zeit

On most Linux distributions, you will have to build Zeit from source. Once downloaded and according to the official documentation, you can turn it into a usable app with:

mkdir build && cd build cmake . make -j2 ./src/zeit

If you're using Ubuntu, you can add its repository and install Zeit using the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:blaze/main sudo apt update sudo apt install zeit

After a while, you will find Zeit among installed programs. Locate and run the application.

Tasks and schedules

Zeit's interface is very simple. To add a task, click the 'Add Task' button .

Enter a name for the task in the Description field . Enter the command you want to schedule in the Command field .

In the 'Time and Date' section you can choose Basic , which allows you to quickly schedule a task to run in a regular pattern. For more customization, select the Advanced option .

The Advanced option allows you to enter the exact minutes, hour, day, day of the week, and month that the task will run. All fields are initially filled out with an asterisk, acting as a wildcard meaning 'every'. For example, if you enter '*' in the Day field , it means 'every day'.

You can enter multiple numbers, separate them with commas. For example, if you enter '20, 23 ' in the Hour field and ' 35 ' in the Minute field , your task will run at 20:35 and 23:35 every day.

If you want a prompt for crontab's syntax, hover your mouse over one of the fields. Zeit will show you a helpful pop-up with a list of examples of how you can set up the task's schedule.

List of examples of how you can set up a task's schedule

After you have created a task, it will appear in the main Zeit list. If you want to disable a quick task, you can double-click on it, while right-clicking will also allow you to edit or delete the task entirely.

Alarm and timer

Zeit allows you to set alarms and timers, but I won't go into detail on how to do that, as it's even simpler than tasks. With the alarm and timer feature, you don't have to worry about complicated wildcard characters and schedules, because even if it is useful for some people, this function is not provided.

You can simply set a simple schedule, specify times, and choose the days when the alarm or timer will run. Two extra buttons allow you to enter the current time in the Hour and Minutes fields (the Now button ) or delete them (the Reset button ). You must use the two buttons with the folder icon, next to Player and Sound File , to select the media player and sound file when setting the alarm and timer. Since Zeit / crontab will have no way to notify you without them. Zeit also won't let you set rules if you leave those fields blank.

Control everything

With Zeit, you're editing your own crontab rules by default, which only works for your user account. To see all the rules (by others and the system), as well as being able to edit everything, turn on 'System Mode' from the View menu .

With System Mode , you will be able to adjust the existing rules - for example, for the automated reports Ubuntu generates for the operating system. Be very careful when adjusting such rules, and be aware that any change you make could break everything. Edits may also be overwritten after a software update.

Filter and find

If you're trying to find a specific rule, you can use Zeit's search feature, instead of scrolling up and down the list. Press Ctrl + F on your keyboard and a search field will appear at the bottom of the Zeit window. Enter a search term to find the task you want.

Kareem Winters

Update 16 December 2020