Executing a method from command line [cron]

Rails
1

Hi,

I need to do some database housekeeping periodically. Right now I have
a method in my model, which I am calling from ./script/console like x
= Model.update_all and it works fine.

I need to put this in cron. I know that I should be using
./script/runner, I have looked a lot for an example script
encapsulating my method to do this. But could not find any. It would
be great if some one can post a simple script that I can call from
cron.

I am also not sure if ./script/runner calls methods in my controller or
model.

thanks and regards,

raj

2

script/runner will run model methods like this script/runner -e
production ‘Emailer.send_daily_announcements’

Be aware that script/runner loads the Rails framework every time it
runs, so it starts slow. I.E. don’t use it for jobs that you run all the
time.
For a database monitoring daemon that runs a simple query every 5
seconds, I use a daemon that starts with ‘./script/runner … &’ and
runs constantly - the method that I call has an infinite loop. This way
the environment only loads once.

Jason

3

It’s really simple - I use to create a new class located in model
directory, eg :

class Runner
def self.run_it
# do your stuff, activerecord models are available
end
end

then in the cron.daily (or whatever) :

#!/bin/sh
/usr/local/www/my_ror_application/script/runner Runner.run_it

4

If you are on a Mac the following:

couldn’t get it to work either.

so

check this guys post because I owe him a Heineken

http://uberhamster.com/2006/9/12/invoking-ruby-on-rails-commands-via-cron-and-script-runner

Now if someone has the answer why its got to be a full path
let us know

thanx

5

Totally clear !

Thanx

6

Thanks every one for the helpful mails! I am now able to run the Model
method from command line.

raj

7

Peter wrote:

Now if someone has the answer why its got to be a full path
let us know

For DreamHost, and I expect for you too, the answer is that cron jobs
are run with no environment (so no PATH). See here:

http://wiki.dreamhost.com/index.php/Crontab

regards

Justin F.