/schedule — Task Scheduling

Orientation

Use when: scheduling a recurring or one-off remote agent run (cron-style, outside the current session). Don't use when: repeating work within the current session (use /loop); continuous unattended campaigns (use /daemon).

Default execution path (READ FIRST)

/schedule add does NOT call CronCreate by default. It shells out to node scripts/local-schedule.js which installs a native OS entry (Windows Task Scheduler or Unix cron). Only pass --remote to use Anthropic's routine system, and only after explicit user confirmation.

Why: CronCreate counts against the account-wide 15 routine runs / 24h cap; every fire of the scheduled task counts. See docs/ROUTINE-QUOTA.md.

Default flow — /schedule add "<expr>" "<command>" (no --remote)

Run:

node scripts/local-schedule.js add "<expr>" "<command>"

Then report the returned ID and the removal command. This survives session end, machine reboot, and consumes zero routine quota. Use /schedule list and /schedule remove {id} (which also shell out to local-schedule.js) by default.

Opt-in routine flow — /schedule add --remote ...

Only when --remote is explicitly passed:

1. Confirm: "This will use CronCreate, which counts against your 15 routine runs / 24h quota and is cleared at session end. Continue? (y/N)"
2. On confirmation, run the CronCreate-based flow documented below.

The rest of the protocol documents the full CronCreate flow for reference and for --remote invocations.

When to Route Here

• "run pr-watch every hour"
• "check my PRs automatically"
• "schedule a thing"
• "remind me to run tests every 30 minutes"
• "set up a recurring task"
• "list my scheduled tasks"
• "cancel the PR check"
• Any mention of "schedule", "recurring", "every N minutes/hours", "cron"

Protocol

/schedule list

List all currently scheduled tasks using CronList.

Output format:

Active schedules (N):
  [id] {description} — {cron expression} — next run: {time}

No schedules active.

If CronList is not available: output a helpful error (see Fringe Cases).

---

/schedule add "{description}" {/skill-or-command}

Create a recurring task.

Steps:

1. Parse the user's description to extract:
   • Natural language interval: "every 30 minutes", "hourly", "every day at 9am"
   • The skill or command to run: /pr-watch, /do status, etc.
2. Convert natural language to a cron expression (see Conversion Table below)
3. Confirm with user: "I'll run {command} {natural-language-interval} (cron: {expression}). OK?"
4. If confirmed: call CronCreate with the expression and command
5. Output: "Scheduled. ID: {id}. Use /schedule remove {id} to cancel."

Cron Expression Conversion Table:

Natural Language	Cron Expression
every minute	* * * * *
every 5 minutes	*/5 * * * *
every 15 minutes	*/15 * * * *
every 30 minutes	*/30 * * * *
every hour / hourly	0 * * * *
every 2 hours	0 */2 * * *
every 6 hours	0 */6 * * *
every day / daily	0 9 * * * (default 9am)
every day at {H}am/pm	0 {H} * * *
every weekday	0 9 * * 1-5
every Monday	0 9 * * 1

If the user provides a raw cron expression directly, use it as-is without converting. Validate it has 5 fields before accepting.

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/schedule remove {id}

Remove a scheduled task by ID using CronDelete.

If the user doesn't know the ID: run /schedule list first, show the list, and ask which one to remove.

Output: "Removed schedule {id} ({description})."

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/schedule status

Show all active schedules and their next run times. Equivalent to /schedule list with additional context about what each task does and when it last ran (if available).

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Session-Scoped vs. Cloud-Persistent Scheduling

Session-Scoped (CronCreate)

CronCreate schedules tasks that run during the current Claude Code session only. When the session ends (Claude Code closes or the conversation is reset), all session-scoped schedules are cleared.

Use session-scoped when:

• Running checks during an active work session ("remind me every 30min to commit")
• Polling for PR feedback while you're at the computer
• Triggering skill runs during a long coding session

Cloud-Persistent (RemoteTrigger)

For tasks that need to survive machine sleep, network drops, or session restarts, use RemoteTrigger — a one-off cloud trigger that fires from Anthropic's infrastructure rather than your local session.

Use cloud-persistent when:

• The task needs to run overnight or while you're away
• You want notifications when you return to your machine
• The interval spans multiple days or calendar dates

How to set up a one-off cloud trigger:

1. Call RemoteTrigger with the desired delay and the command to run
2. Claude Code registers the trigger in Anthropic's cloud scheduler
3. When the trigger fires, it wakes a new Claude Code session and runs the command
4. Results are delivered as a notification

Note: RemoteTrigger requires Claude Code with cloud features enabled (Pro or Team plan). CronCreate works on all plans but is session-scoped only.

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Fringe Cases

CronCreate not available: Output error; suggest OS cron/Task Scheduler. Never fail silently. Ambiguous interval: Ask for clarification before proceeding. Raw cron expression: Accept without conversion; validate 5 fields. Every-minute schedule: Warn about 60 fires/hour; suggest 5m or 15m instead. No schedules when listing: "No active schedules. Use /schedule add to create one." Pause requested: Explain pause isn't supported; remove and recreate instead.

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Contextual Gates

Disclosure: "Creating schedule: {command} at {cron expression}. OK?" Reversibility: amber — creates OS cron entries or CronCreate sessions (side effects outside the repo); undo with /schedule remove {id} Trust gates:

• Any: confirms before creating; shows cron expression before accepting

Quality Gates

• Always confirm before creating (CronCreate is a side effect)
• Always show the cron expression alongside the natural-language description
• Always provide the ID after creation so the user can remove it
• Never leave a user unable to remove a schedule they created

Exit Protocol

/schedule does not produce a HANDOFF block. After each action, output a concise confirmation or list and wait for the next command.

• After add: "Scheduled. ID: {id}. Use /schedule remove {id} to cancel."
• After remove: "Removed schedule {id}."
• After list or status: the active schedule list (or "No active schedules.")
• After any error: a clear message and actionable suggestion.