CronniX

CronniX is a user-friendly application that makes scheduling tasks on your Mac super easy. It acts like a graphical version of the popular cron program that runs on Unix. With CronniX, you can delay or set up when to launch certain apps or run specific scripts, and it even has built-in support for AppleScript!

How Does Cron Work?

So, here’s the deal: cron is the Unix program that kicks off every time you start your computer. It checks every minute to see if there are any tasks listed in the crontab (that’s the configuration file for cron) that need to happen. You can have one crontab file for the whole system and another one for each user.

The Simplicity of CronniX

CronniX is an open-source app designed specifically for macOS. It lets you easily add tasks to both the system and user crontab files without any fuss.

View and Switch Crontabs

This handy app also allows you to view which crontab is currently selected and switch between them right from the top toolbar. This feature keeps everything organized!

Adding New Tasks

If you want to add new tasks, just hit the “New” button! You’ll be able to type in your task scheduling command right away. In the Schedule panel, you can set commands to launch at specific times or on certain days of the week, plus repeat actions at set intervals.

Drag-and-Drop Convenience

CronniX makes it even easier with its drag-and-drop feature! Just drop any app or script into a blank area of the main window, and it will create a new cron task automatically for you to edit later.

Testing Your Tasks

You can test out your scheduled tasks with the 'Run now' command, but keep in mind this only works for your current user's crontab. If you're using sudo while logged in as a different user, it won’t work.

Backup Your Settings

As an added bonus, CronniX lets you export your settings into a .crontab file. This makes it super easy to restore everything if you ever reinstall your system.

Make Life Easier!

In short, if you're looking for an easier way to schedule tasks with cron on UNIX systems, CronniX is exactly what you need! Once it's installed on your Mac, you'll be able to create custom cron configurations quickly and back them up whenever necessary.