# What is a cron job? And how to set it up with no-code

DevFeed: [What is a cron job? And how to set it up with no-code](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/what-is-a-cron-job-and-how-to-set-it-up-with-no-code-102441.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://zapier.com/blog/cron-job>)

Author: Maddy Osman

Published: 2026-10-26T05:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Zapier](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/zapier.md>)

Topics: [scheduling](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/scheduling.md>), [Tool](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/tool.md>), [health check](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/health-check.md>)

Tags: [addition](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/addition.md>), [alert](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/alert.md>), [but](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/but.md>), [calendar](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/calendar.md>), [code](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code.md>), [cron](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cron.md>), [food](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/food.md>), [how-to](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/how-to.md>), [i](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/i.md>), [job](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/job.md>), [live](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/live.md>), [location](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/location.md>), [matters](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/matters.md>), [monthly](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/monthly.md>), [newsletter](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/newsletter.md>), [no-code](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/no-code.md>), [productivity](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/productivity.md>), [set](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/set.md>), [up](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/up.md>), [what-is](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/what-is.md>), [with](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/with.md>)

## AI overview

A cron job is a command that runs a recurring task on a schedule. The text compares three setups: local cron or Windows Task Scheduler offers fine control but runs only while the machine is on and logged in; cloud services such as cron-job.org run continuously but still require technical understanding of a URL target; Schedule by Zapier uses a visual, no-code interface to trigger workflows across apps in the cloud. With Zapier, users choose a frequency and timing, apply schedule rules or filters, then configure actions--for example, creating a Google Doc from a template and posting to Slack. The excerpt also describes using scheduled checks for timely alerts and to ping a Supabase database, and notes that cron expressions encode minute, hour, day, month, and weekday.

## Source excerpt

A new Culver's opened up in my neighborhood, and to say I'm stoked is putting it mildly. Although I live in Colorado, I'm a Midwestern girl at heart. Each location offers a rotating flavor of the day, and I try to never miss the devil's food cake. I could sign up for the monthly newsletter, pick up a paper calendar in-store, or check the website every day, but in addition to being inefficient, none of those offer a real-time alert to get my devil's food cake. I took matters into my own hands and