Using the at Command in Ubuntu 24.04 to Schedule Tasks

Using the at Command in Ubuntu 24.04 to Schedule Tasks

The at command allows users to execute specific actions at any future time without needing continuous supervision. In this example, I use Ubuntu 24.04 to test.

1 The at Command

The at command in Ubuntu enables users to schedule tasks to run once at a specified time. This can be particularly useful for automating tasks such as system alerts, reminders, or batch jobs.

2 How to Use the at Command

2.1 Install

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    sudo apt install at    

2.2 Basic usage

• Schedule a command: at <t:m> (example: at 11:30)to open at-command-editor, input your command and then CTRL + D to exit
• List all commands: atq or at -l
• View detail command: at -c <command-ID>
• Remove a command: atrm <command-ID>

3 Example

To schedule a task, you specify the time and provide the command you want to execute. Here’s a simple example:

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    echo "zenity --info --text='Relax time' --icon=clock" | at 11:30
    echo "zenity --info --text='Relax time' --icon=clock" | at $(date -d '+25 minutes' +'%H:%M')    

In this example:

• zenity --info --text='Relax time' --icon=clock is the command to display an informational message using Zenity (a graphical utility for dialog boxes).
• date -d '+25 minutes' +'%H:%M' calculates the time 25 minutes from now in hour:minute format.
• echo ... | at ... pipes the command into at, which schedules it to run at the specified time.

4 Conclusion

The at command in Ubuntu 24.04 provides a simple yet powerful way to automate tasks at a specific future time. Whether it’s for personal reminders or system maintenance tasks, mastering at can significantly enhance your productivity and efficiency on Ubuntu.

Start using at today to streamline your workflow and make the most of your Ubuntu system’s capabilities.