%(entry-title) Timer Based Scheduling % Simple tasks in the workers can be scheduled using @add_timer@ or @add_periodic_timer@ methods. For example:

class HelloWorker < BackgrounDRb::MetaWorker
  set_worker_name :hello_worker

  def create(args = nil)
    # time argument is in seconds
    add_periodic_timer(10) { expire_sessions }
  end

  def expire_sessions
    # expire user sessions
  end
end 

Similarly one can use @add_timer@ to fire oneshot task execution. %(entry-title) Unix Scheduler % _BackgrounDRb_ supports normal unix styled schedules which can be configured from @backgroundrb.yml@ file. A sample configuration looks like:

:backgroundrb:
  :ip: 0.0.0.0
  :port: 11006
:schedules:
  :foo_worker:
    :foobar:
      :trigger_args:
        :start: <%= Time.now + 5.seconds %>
        :end: <%= Time.now + 10.minutes %>
        :repeat_interval: <%= 1.minute %> 

Above scheduler option schedules method @foobar@ defined inside @foo_worker@ to start executing by 5 seconds delay and stop after 10 minutes. Method should periodically execute every 1 minute between that time period. *Never in any scheduling option, you should schedule @create@ method/task* %(entry-title) Cron Scheduling % _BackgrounDRb_ also supports Cron based ccheduling. You can use a configuration file for cron scheduling of workers. The method specified in the configuration file would be called periodically. You should accommodate for the fact that the time gap between periodic invocation of a method should be more than the time that is actually required to execute the method. If a method takes longer time than the time window specified, your method invocations will lag perpetually. A Sample Configuration file for Cron based Scheduling looks like:

:backgroundrb:
  :ip: 0.0.0.0
  :port: 11006
:schedules:
  :foo_worker:
    :barbar:
      :trigger_args: */10 * * * * *
      :data: Hello World 

Above scheduler will schedule invocation of @barbar@ method inside @foo_worker@ at every 10 seconds. You can also schedule invocation of multiple methods in same worker at different intervals, just use following as an example configuration file.

:backgroundrb:
  :ip: 0.0.0.0
  :port: 11006
:schedules:
  :foo_worker:
    :barbar:
      :trigger_args: */10 * * * * *
      :data: Hello World
    :some_task: # execute some_method in foo_worker every 2nd hour
      :trigger_args: 0 * */2 * * *
      :data: Hello World 

p(sub-title). A Word about Cron Scheduler Note that the initial field in the BackgrounDRb cron trigger specifies seconds, not minutes as with Unix-cron. The fields (which can be an asterisk, meaning all valid patterns) are:

sec[0,59] min[0,59], hour[0,23], day[1,31], month[1,12], weekday[0,6], year

The syntax pretty much follows Unix-cron. The following will trigger on the first hour and the thirtieth minute every day:

0 30 1 * * * *

The following will trigger the specified method every 10 seconds:

*/10 * * * * * *

The following will trigger the specified method every 1 hour:

0 0 * * * * *

For each field you can use a comma-separated list. The following would trigger on the 5th, 16th and 23rd minute every hour:

 5,16,23 * * * * *

Fields also support ranges, using a dash between values. The following triggers from 8th through the 17th hour, at five past the hour:

 5 8-17 * * * *

Finally, fields support repeat interval syntax. The following triggers every five minutes, every other hour after the sixth hour:

 */5 6/2 * * * *

Here is a more complex example: months 0,2,4,5,6,8,10,12, every day and hour, minutes 1,2,3,4,6,20, seconds: every 5th second counting from the 28th second plus the 59th second:

28/5,59 1-4,6,20 */1 * 5,0/2 * *

Note that if you specify an asterisk in the first field (seconds) it will trigger every second for the subsequent match. %(entry-title) Restart worker on schedule % Usually when your worker is scheduled to execute at longer intervals, it doesn't make sense to have worker around, when its doing nothing. Since, scheduling via configuration file requires that your worker must be loaded when _BackgrounDRb_ starts, your worker is always around, even when doing nothing. You can reuse worker in processing requests from rails, but if its not possible and you rather want worker to start afresh each time, scheduler detects a firetime, you can use following syntax to autostart workers on scheduled time:

class HelloWorker < BackgrounDRb::MetaWorker
  set_worker_name :hello_worker
  reload_on_schedule true

  def create(args = nil)
    # this method is called, when worker is loaded for the first time
  end
end 

In above worker @reload_on_schedule true@ makes sure that your worker is restarted on scheduled time. This feature is only available in version 1.0.3 onwards. %(entry-title) Schedule one shot execution of task at specified time %

Only available for tasks persisted to database table

If you are using job queue table and want one shot execution of a task scheduled at a particular time. You can use:

MiddleMan(:hello_worker).enq_some_task(:arg => "hello_world",
   :job_key => "boy",:scheduled_at => Time.now + 30.minutes)

Which will schedule specified task to be executed after 30 minutes from now.