Automate python script mac

Question

I want to set up a python script to run every weekday(not sunday and saturday) on my mac OSX 10.8.4. From what I have found so far, it looks like I want to use cron. But before I do something horrible to my computer can someone please confirm this will do what I want?

>>> crontab -e
>>> 30 4 * * 1-5 python /Users/lego90511/PycharmProjects/Stock Scanner/stock_scanner.py

If this some how does work please tell me, how can I then remove it from chron?

Answer 1

That should work, but replace Stock Scanner with Stock\ Scanner. You can undo the changes by running crontab -e and just deleting the line. If you haven't changed EDITOR and you don't know how to use vi, you can use EDITOR=nano crontab -e.

So basically run crontab -e (or EDITOR=nano crontab -e) and add a line like this:

30 4 * * 1-5 python ~/PycharmProjects/Stock\ Scanner/stock_scanner.py

The crontab format is described in man 5 crontab.

Using launchd, you could save a plist like this as ~/Library/LaunchAgents/test.plist:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
  <key>Label</key>
  <string>test</string>
  <key>ProgramArguments</key>
  <array>
    <string>python</string>
    <string>/Users/lego90511/PycharmProjects/Stock Scanner/stock_scanner.py</string>
  </array>
  <key>StartCalendarInterval</key>
  <array>
    <dict>
      <key>Weekday</key>
      <integer>1</integer>
      <key>Hour</key>
      <integer>4</integer>
      <key>Minute</key>
      <integer>30</integer>
    </dict>
    <dict>
      <key>Weekday</key>
      <integer>2</integer>
      <key>Hour</key>
      <integer>4</integer>
      <key>Minute</key>
      <integer>30</integer>
    </dict>
    <dict>
      <key>Weekday</key>
      <integer>3</integer>
      <key>Hour</key>
      <integer>4</integer>
      <key>Minute</key>
      <integer>30</integer>
    </dict>
    <dict>
      <key>Weekday</key>
      <integer>4</integer>
      <key>Hour</key>
      <integer>4</integer>
      <key>Minute</key>
      <integer>30</integer>
    </dict>
    <dict>
      <key>Weekday</key>
      <integer>5</integer>
      <key>Hour</key>
      <integer>4</integer>
      <key>Minute</key>
      <integer>30</integer>
    </dict>
  </array>
</dict>
</plist>

Then load the plist by running launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/test.plist or by logging out and back in. You can apply changes to the plist by unloading and loading it.

Note that both cron and launchd use a 24-hour clock. If you meant 4 PM instead of 4 AM, replace the hour values with 16.

Answer 2

Take a look at Hazel.

This is an app I use for all of my automation needs. I highly recommend it.