Academy → Using HermesOfficial documentation · clear explanation

Scheduled Tasks (Cron)

المهام المجدولة Cron

Intermediate30 minutes3 questions2026-08-09
The idea in one minute

Start with meaning, then move to detail.

This lesson explains Scheduled Tasks (Cron) as part of extending Hermes and connecting external tools. You will learn what it does, when it matters, and the smallest safe test that proves it works.

If you are new

If you are new, do not memorize names. Focus on three questions: what problem does this solve, what access does it need, and how can you verify the result?

For hands-on use

For practice, inspect the first example, identify its effects, run it on test data, and compare the result with the source claim.

For specialists

For advanced readers, inspect What cron can do now, Creating scheduled tasks, In chat with /cron, then verify failure modes and version compatibility.

What do you need first?

Complete installation and one successful task before adding new capabilities.

What will you know?

A clear outcome before you read.

  • Understand Scheduled Tasks (Cron) without assumed prior knowledge.
  • Separate the source description from what still needs testing in your environment.
  • Read the first command and identify its inputs and outputs before copying it.
Lesson terms

Short definitions before the details.

Skill
An instruction bundle that teaches Hermes a repeatable workflow without necessarily adding an external service.
Automation
Running work later or repeatedly with explicit success and failure conditions.
Official page description

Schedule automated tasks with natural language, manage them with one cron tool, and attach one or more skills

Topic map

What does the source say, and in what order?

  1. 01
    What cron can do now

    Start here to understand the core idea or structure.

  2. 02
    Creating scheduled tasks

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  3. 03
    In chat with /cron

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  4. 04
    From the standalone CLI

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  5. 05
    Through natural conversation

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  6. 06
    Pre-dispatch configuration validation

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  7. 07
    Letting unpinned jobs track global defaults

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  8. 08
    Skill-backed cron jobs

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  9. 09
    Single skill

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  10. 10
    Multiple skills

    Finish here to verify the result and special cases.

Examples from the official page

Copy only after you understand the effect.

/cron add 30m "Remind me to check the build" /cron add "every 2h" "Check server status" /cron add "every 1h" "Summarize new feed items" --skill blogwatcher /cron add "every 1h" "Use both skills and combine the result" --skill blogwatcher --skill maps
hermes cron create "every 2h" "Check server status" hermes cron create "every 1h" "Summarize new feed items" --skill blogwatcher hermes cron create "every 1h" "Use both skills and combine the result" \ --skill blogwatcher \ --skill maps \ --name "Skill combo"
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Try it now

Read the first command and identify its inputs and outputs before copying it.

Match every command to your installed Hermes version, review the files and accounts it can reach, and use non-sensitive data for the first test. If this explanation differs from the source, the official source wins.

Knowledge check

Three decisions before completion.

1. What is the source of truth when “Scheduled Tasks (Cron)” changes?
2. What is the best way to apply this lesson?
3. What should happen before a step can modify files or an external account?