Introduction

pg_timetable is an advanced job scheduler for PostgreSQL, offering many advantages over traditional schedulers such as cron and others. It is completely database driven and provides a couple of advanced concepts.

Main features

• Tasks can be arranged in chains
• A chain can consist of built-int commands, SQL and executables
• Parameters can be passed to chains
• Missed tasks (possibly due to downtime) can be retried automatically
• Support for configurable repetitions
• Built-in tasks such as sending emails, etc.
• Fully database driven configuration
• Full support for database driven logging
• Cron-style scheduling at the PostgreSQL server time zone
• Optional concurrency protection
• Task and chain can have execution timeout settings

Quick Start

1. Download pg_timetable executable

2. Make sure your PostgreSQL server is up and running and has a role with CREATE privilege for a target database, e.g.

   my_database=> CREATE ROLE scheduler PASSWORD 'somestrong';
   my_database=> GRANT CREATE ON DATABASE my_database TO scheduler;
   

3. Create a new job, e.g. run VACUUM each night at 00:30 Postgres server time zone

   my_database=> SELECT timetable.add_job('frequent-vacuum', '30 * * * *', 'VACUUM');
   add_job
   ---------
         3
   (1 row)
   

4. Run the pg_timetable

   # pg_timetable postgresql://scheduler:somestrong@localhost/my_database --clientname=vacuumer
   

5. PROFIT!

Command line options

# ./pg_timetable

Application Options:
  -c, --clientname=                                Unique name for application instance [$PGTT_CLIENTNAME]
      --config=                                    YAML configuration file
      --no-program-tasks                           Disable executing of PROGRAM tasks [$PGTT_NOPROGRAMTASKS]
  -v, --version                                    Output detailed version information [$PGTT_VERSION]
      --connstr                                    PostgreSQL connection string [$PGTT_CONNSTR]

Logging:
      --log-level=[debug|info|error]               Verbosity level for stdout and log file (default: info)
      --log-database-level=[debug|info|error|none] Verbosity level for database storing (default: info)
      --log-file=                                  File name to store logs
      --log-file-format=[json|text]                Format of file logs (default: json)
      --log-file-rotate                            Rotate log files
      --log-file-size=                             Maximum size in MB of the log file before it gets rotated (default: 100)
      --log-file-age=                              Number of days to retain old log files, 0 means forever (default: 0)
      --log-file-number=                           Maximum number of old log files to retain, 0 to retain all (default: 0)

Start:
  -f, --file=                                      SQL script file to execute during startup
      --init                                       Initialize database schema to the latest version and exit. Can be used
                                                   with --upgrade
      --upgrade                                    Upgrade database to the latest version
      --debug                                      Run in debug mode. Only asynchronous chains will be executed

Resource:
      --cron-workers=                              Number of parallel workers for scheduled chains (default: 16)
      --interval-workers=                          Number of parallel workers for interval chains (default: 16)
      --chain-timeout=                             Abort any chain that takes more than the specified number of
                                                   milliseconds
      --task-timeout=                              Abort any task within a chain that takes more than the specified number
                                                   of milliseconds

REST:
      --rest-port=                                 REST API port (default: 0) [$PGTT_RESTPORT]

Contributing

If you want to contribute to pg_timetable and help make it better, feel free to open an issue or even consider submitting a pull request. You also can give a star to pg_timetable project, and to tell the world about it.

Support

For professional support, please contact Cybertec.

Authors

Implementation: Pavlo Golub

Initial idea and draft design: Hans-Jürgen Schönig