Creating systemd Timers via CLI – Simple, Fast, Hassle-Free

Sat, 24 May 2025 21:30:00 +0000

If you’ve ever tried writing systemd timers by hand, you know: it’s not exactly fun. Between .service and .timer files, path syntax, and OnCalendar expressions, it’s easy to get lost. That’s why I built a small tool: systemd-timer.

What does it do?

It’s simple: You call a CLI command, provide a few arguments, and the tool writes the appropriate .service and .timer files for you — with logging, dependencies, and all the systemd details you’d otherwise have to remember. No copy-pasting templates, no typos, no wondering whether it’s WantedBy=timers.target or not.

Why not just use `cron`?

Sure, cron works. But systemd has some clear advantages:

Better logging (including to file)
Easier integration with other services (like waiting for network)
Works per-user (no root needed)
Everything stays in one ecosystem: systemd

This CLI lowers the entry barrier while still encouraging “proper” systemd usage.

What can `systemd-timer` do?

Generates .service + .timer unit files
Supports --user timers (great for desktop or containers)
Logging to file via --logfile
Standard options like:
- --exec, --calendar, --after, --environment
- --description, --output, --dry-run
CLI built with Cliffy, typed with Deno
Platform-independent install via shell script

A quick example

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systemd-timer create \
 --exec "/usr/local/bin/backup.sh" \
 --calendar "Mon..Fri 02:00" \
 --description "Backup Job" \
 --user \
 --logfile "/var/log/backup.log"

This creates:

~/.config/systemd/user/backup.service
~/.config/systemd/user/backup.timer

To activate:

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systemctl --user daemon-reload
systemctl --user enable --now backup.timer

One-liner install

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curl -fsSL https://git.0xmax42.io/maxp/systemd-timer/raw/branch/main/scripts/install.sh | sh

The script auto-detects your architecture (amd64/arm64), fetches the right binary, and verifies it via SHA256. And yes, you can inspect the code before piping it into your shell.

Development & testing

The tool is written entirely in TypeScript with Deno, strictly typed and covered by tests. The core is modular enough that you could use it as a library if needed.

Run tests with:

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deno task test

Conclusion

systemd-timer isn’t a monster with 1000 options — it’s just what you want when you need a clean way to run small systemd-timed tasks without rewriting the same files over and over. It’s aimed at people who prefer declarative setups over improvisation.

Source code, releases, and more: 👉 git.0xmax42.io/maxp/systemd-timer

Automation on 0xMax42 - Flatfile purist. Autodidact. Systems thinker.