| name | cron-decision |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| description | Decision framework for agents to determine WHEN and WHETHER to use Claude Code's native cron scheduler (CronCreate/CronList/CronDelete) vs OS cron, GitHub Actions, or simple Task() delegation. |
| category | Infrastructure |
| tags | ["cron","scheduling","decision","heartbeat","github-actions","os-cron"] |
| tools | ["CronCreate","CronList","CronDelete","TaskCreate","Read","Bash"] |
| agents | ["developer","heartbeat-orchestrator","planner","architect"] |
| invoked_by | agent |
| user_invocable | false |
| model | sonnet |
| error_handling | graceful |
| verified | true |
| source | builtin |
| trust_score | 100 |
| provenance_sha | f10e877f6b0f2fb9 |
Cron Decision Skill
Official docs: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/scheduled-tasks
Purpose
Help agents decide when and whether to use Claude Code's native cron scheduler (CronCreate/CronList/CronDelete) versus alternatives like OS cron (crontab), GitHub Actions scheduled workflows, or simple one-shot Task() delegation.
Using the wrong scheduling mechanism leads to:
- Silent task loss (session expiry kills CronCreate tasks)
- Missed precision requirements (CronCreate has up to 15-min jitter)
- Over-engineering (using GitHub Actions for a simple session heartbeat)
Quick Checklist (Run Before Any Scheduling Decision)
Answer these 5 questions in order. The FIRST "yes" that hits a stop condition determines your tool.
-
Is the task a one-time operation?
- YES → Use
TaskCreate or Task(). Stop here. CronCreate is for recurring work only.
-
Must the task survive terminal/session close?
- YES → Use OS cron (
crontab -e) or GitHub Actions. CronCreate is session-scoped and dies when Claude Code closes.
-
Does the task require sub-15-minute precision or hard time guarantees?
- YES → Use OS cron or GitHub Actions. CronCreate fires with up to 10% jitter (max 15 min).
-
Is this a heartbeat loop or session-scoped health check?
- YES → Use CronCreate. This is its primary intended use case.
-
Is this triggered by an event rather than a clock?
- YES → Use a hook (PreToolUse/PostToolUse) or an event listener, not a scheduler at all.
Decision Matrix
| Scenario | Recommended Tool | Reason |
|---|
| Periodic background monitoring during active session |
