I am trying to run a Django management command from cron. I am using virtualenv to keep my project sandboxed.
I have seen examples here and elsewhere that show running management commands from within virtualenv's like:
0 3 * * * source /home/user/project/env/bin/activate && /home/user/project/manage.py command arg
However, even though syslog shows an entry when the task should have started, this task never actually runs (the log file for the script is empty). If I run the line manually from the shell, it works as expected.
The only way I can currently get the command to run via cron, is to break the commands up and put them in a dumb bash wrapper script:
#!/bin/sh
source /home/user/project/env/bin/activate
cd /home/user/project/
./manage.py command arg
EDIT:
ars came up with a working combination of commands:
0 3 * * * cd /home/user/project && /home/user/project/env/bin/python /home/user/project/manage.py command arg
At least in my case, invoking the activate script for the virtualenv did nothing. This works, so on with the show.
You should be able to do this by using the python in your virtual environment:
/home/my/virtual/bin/python /home/my/project/manage.py command arg
EDIT: If your django project isn't in the PYTHONPATH, then you'll need to switch to the right directory:
cd /home/my/project && /home/my/virtual/bin/python ...
You can also try to log the failure from cron:
cd /home/my/project && /home/my/virtual/bin/python /home/my/project/manage.py > /tmp/cronlog.txt 2>&1
Another thing to try is to make the same change in your manage.py script at the very top:
#!/home/my/virtual/bin/python
Running source from a cronfile won't work as cron uses /bin/sh as its default shell, which doesn't support source. You need to set the SHELL environment variable to be /bin/bash:
SHELL=/bin/bash
*/10 * * * * root source /path/to/virtualenv/bin/activate && /path/to/build/manage.py some_command > /dev/null
It's tricky to spot why this fails as /var/log/syslog doesn't log the error details. Best to alias yourself to root so you get emailed with any cron errors. Simply add yourself to /etc/aliases and run sendmail -bi.
More info here:
http://codeinthehole.com/archives/43-Running-django-cronjobs-within-a-virtualenv.html
the link above is changed to:
https://codeinthehole.com/tips/running-django-cronjobs-within-a-virtualenv/
Don't look any further:
0 3 * * * /usr/bin/env bash -c 'cd /home/user/project && source /home/user/project/env/bin/activate && ./manage.py command arg' > /dev/null 2>&1
Generic approach:
* * * * * /usr/bin/env bash -c 'YOUR_COMMAND_HERE' > /dev/null 2>&1
The beauty about this is you DO NOT need to change the SHELL variable for crontab from sh to bash
I am sorry for that nth answer but I checked the answers and there is really simpler and neater.
Long story short
Use the python binary of your venv in your cron :
0 3 * * * /home/user/project/env/bin/python /home/user/project/manage.py
Long story
We activate the virtual environment when we want to set the current shell with the python config of that specific virtual environment(that is binaries and modules of that).
It is relevant to work with the current shell : execute multiple python commands on the current shell without the need to reference the full python path of the venv.
In the frame of a cron or even a bash, which value to activate the environment ?
Besides I read in some answers some references to bash rather than sh or still to define a wrapper to call the Python code. But why the hell should we bother with these ?
I repeat, just do it :
0 3 * * * /home/user/project/env/bin/python /home/user/project/manage.py
The documentation confirms that :
You don’t specifically need to activate an environment; activation
just prepends the virtual environment’s binary directory to your path,
so that “python” invokes the virtual environment’s Python interpreter
and you can run installed scripts without having to use their full
path. However, all scripts installed in a virtual environment should
be runnable without activating it, and run with the virtual
environment’s Python automatically.
The only correct way to run python cron jobs when using a virtualenv is to activate the environment and then execute the environment's python to run your code.
One way to do this is use virtualenv's activate_this in your python script, see: http://virtualenv.readthedocs.org/en/latest/userguide.html#using-virtualenv-without-bin-python
Another solution is echoing the complete command including activating the environment and piping it into /bin/bash. Consider this for your /etc/crontab:
***** root echo 'source /env/bin/activate; python /your/script' | /bin/bash
Rather than mucking around with virtualenv-specific shebangs, just prepend PATH onto the crontab.
From an activated virtualenv, run these three commands and python scripts should just work:
$ echo "PATH=$PATH" > myserver.cron
$ crontab -l >> myserver.cron
$ crontab myserver.cron
The crontab's first line should now look like this:
PATH=/home/me/virtualenv/bin:/usr/bin:/bin: # [etc...]
This is a simple way that keeps the crontab command very similar to regular command (tested in Ubuntu 18.04). Some key notes to keep in mind:
You can use the . command instead of source. (crontab uses sh by default, not bash, so it doesn't have source.)
~ and $variables are expanded in crontab commands. (It's only crontab environment statements that don't do variable expansion.)
Here are examples if you have a file ~/myproject/main.py:
* * * * * cd ~/myproject && . .venv/bin/activate && python main.py > /tmp/out1 2>&1
You could also directly call the specific path of the python in the venv directory, then you don't need to call activate.
* * * * * ~/myproject/.venv/bin/python ~/myproject/main.py > /tmp/out2 2>&1
The downside of that is you would need to specify the project path twice, which makes maintenance trickier. To avoid that, you could use a shell variable so you only specify the project path once:
* * * * * project_dir=~/myproject ; $project_dir/.venv/bin/python $project_dir/main.py > /tmp/out3 2>&1
The best solution for me was to both
use the python binary in the venv bin/ directory
set the python path
to include the venv modules directory.
man python mentions modifying the path in shell at $PYTHONPATH or in python with sys.path
Other answers mention ideas for doing this using the shell. From python, adding the following lines to my script allows me to successfully run it directly from cron.
import sys
sys.path.insert(0,'/path/to/venv/lib/python3.3/site-packages');
Here's how it looks in an interactive session --
Python 3.3.2+ (default, Feb 28 2014, 00:52:16)
[GCC 4.8.1] on linux
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import sys
>>> sys.path
['', '/usr/lib/python3.3', '/usr/lib/python3.3/plat-x86_64-linux-gnu', '/usr/lib/python3.3/lib-dynload']
>>> import requests
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
ImportError: No module named 'requests'
>>> sys.path.insert(0,'/path/to/venv/modules/');
>>> import requests
>>>
I'd like to add this because I spent some time solving the issue and did not find an answer here for combination of variables usage in cron and virtualenv. So maybe it'll help someone.
PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin
DIR_SMTH="cd /smth"
VENV=". venv/bin/activate"
CMD="some_python_bin do_something"
# m h dom mon dow command
0 * * * * $DIR_SMTH && $VENV && $CMD -k2 some_target >> /tmp/crontest.log 2>&1
It did not work well when it was configured like
DIR_SMTH="cd /smth && . venv/bin/activate"
Thanks #davidwinterbottom, #reed-sandberg and #mkb for giving the right direction. The accepted answer actually works fine until your python need to run a script which have to run another python binary from venv/bin directory.
If you're on python and using a Conda Virtual Environment where your python script contains the shebang #!/usr/bin/env python the following works:
* * * * * cd /home/user/project && /home/user/anaconda3/envs/envname/bin/python script.py 2>&1
Additionally, if you want to capture any outputs in your script (e.g. print, errors, etc) you can use the following:
* * * * * cd /home/user/project && /home/user/anaconda3/envs/envname/bin/python script.py >> /home/user/folder/script_name.log 2>&1
python script
from datetime import datetime
import boto # check wheather its taking the virtualenv or not
import sys
param1=sys.argv[1] #Param
myFile = open('appendtxt.txt', 'a')
myFile.write('\nAccessed on ' + param1+str(datetime.now()))
Cron command
*/1 * * * * cd /Workspace/testcron/ && /Workspace/testcron/venvcron/bin/python3 /Workspace/testcron/testcronwithparam.py param
In above command
*/1 * * * * - Execute every one minte
cd /Workspace/testcron/ - Path of the python script
/Workspace/testcron/venvcron/bin/python3 - Virtualenv path
Workspace/testcron/testcronwithparam.py - File path
param - parameter
I've added the following script as manage.sh inside my Django project, it sources the virtualenv and then runs the manage.py script with whatever arguments you pass to it. It makes it very easy in general to run commands inside the virtualenv (cron, systemd units, basically anywhere):
#! /bin/bash
# this is a convenience script that first sources the venv (assumed to be in
# ../venv) and then executes manage.py with whatever arguments you supply the
# script with. this is useful if you need to execute the manage.py from
# somewhere where the venv isn't sourced (e.g. system scripts)
# get the script's location
DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd )"
# source venv <- UPDATE THE PATH HERE WITH YOUR VENV's PATH
source $DIR/../venv/bin/activate
# run manage.py script
$DIR/manage.py "$#"
Then in your cron entry you can just run:
0 3 * * * /home/user/project/manage.sh command arg
Just remember that you need to make the manage.sh script executable
Add the path of the Python installation in the venv but don't activate the environment.
* * * * * /HDD1/shritam_kumar/VENOM/venv/bin/python /HDD1/shritam_kumar/Projects/Voelkner-DE/schedule_product_BA.py
It's that simple.
I had the same issue and spent a lot of time solving that.
None of the solutions here helped me, so I'm sharing what worked for me:
Open a new file "pick_name.sh" open it inside of your project directory.
Inside the "pick_name.sh" file, write and save the following lines:
#!/bin/bash
source /YOUR_VIRTUAL_ENV_PATH/bin/activate
export PYTHONPATH="${PYTHONPATH}:/PATH_TO_CUSTOM_MODULE_YOU_CREATED**OPTIONAL**"
export PYTHONPATH="${PYTHONPATH}:/PATH_TO_ANOTHER_CUSTOM_MODULE_YOU_CREATED**OPTIONAL**"
cd /PATH_TO_DIR_STORING_FILE_NAME.PY
python file_name.py
Go to /var/spool/cron/crontabs (or to where your cron management file sits) and open the 'root' file.
Add these lines to the root file which's inside the crontab folder:
# m h dom mon dow command
* * * * * /PATH_TO_DIR_WHERE_PICK_NAME.SH_SITS/pick_name.sh >> /YOUR_PROJECT_DIR/cron_output.txt 2>&1
Notes:
This command (section 4.) will run the "pick_name.sh" file.
In this example it runs every minute, so make sure you change it according to your needs.
It writes all logs to a log file called "cron_ouput".
No need to create the file before, it will be created automatically.
Make sure to replace all paths (I wrote them in capital letters) to your paths.
You can change file names, if so, make sure to change it in all appearances in my instructions to avoid errors.
If you want to add another py file to run by cron, you need to add it to the "pick_nam.sh" file* not to the cron. Simply duplicate section 2. lines in the "pick_nam.sh" but without the "#!/bin/bash" part.
Then, every time the cron will run "pick_name.sh" it will run all the files you specified inside of it.
Make sure to restart cron after changes, it could have saved me a lot of debugging time, use this command:
systemctl restart cron
Since a cron executes in its own minimal sh environment, here's what I do to run Python scripts in a virtual environment:
* * * * * . ~/.bash_profile; . ~/path/to/venv/bin/activate; python ~/path/to/script.py
(Note: if . ~/.bash_profile doesn't work for you, then try . ~/.bashrc or . ~/.profile depending on how your server is set up.)
This loads your bash shell environment, then activates your Python virtual environment, essentially leaving you with the same setup you tested your scripts in.
No need to define environment variables in crontab and no need to modify your existing scripts.
If you are a MacOS user like me, you can check the crontab error message at /var/mail/{username} file. like this
tail /var/mail/{username}
If there is an "operation not permitted" error, maybe you have to add cron to the Full Disk Access apps (Security & Privacy > Privacy > Full Disk Access apps/execs).
And click + button, go to /usr/sbin, double click the cron file.
then it will fix the "not permitted" error. detailed steps
And this is my code：
0 19 * * * cd /Users/user/Desktop/Project && source /Users/user/Desktop/Project/venv/bin/activate && python command arg
This is a solution that has worked well for me.
source /root/miniconda3/etc/profile.d/conda.sh && \
conda activate <your_env> && \
python <your_application> &
I am using miniconda with Conda version 4.7.12 on a Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS.
I am able to place the above inside a script and run it via crontab as well without any trouble.
This will also work on crontab -e
* */5 * * * cd /home/project && sudo /home/project/venv/bin/python scripte.py
I had this same issue:
I had written a custom django command to check for geodjango position coordinates inside of geodjango polygons and had trouble automating the task to run, however using this command with crontab worked for me:
* * * * * ./home/project/locations/locations.sh >> /var/log/locations.log 2>&1
So, I have a python script which appends me a file. I want to schedule it with cron, to be run every minute. I tried a lot of solutions, but still cron is not running my script.
Here is my python script:
#!/usr/bin/env python3
import datetime
f = open("test.txt", "a+")
f.write(str(datetime.datetime.now()))
And this is my cron file:
*/1 * * * * /home/iczyrskidc/PycharmProjects/testzone/testzone.py
I tried to give a permission to a file with:
chmod +x testzone.py
And this is output of log file:
Aug 26 11:39:01 OptiPlex-7010 CRON[12502]: (iczyrskidc) CMD (/home/iczyrskidc/PycharmProjects/testzone/testzone.py)
Any ideas what's happening that the cron is not working?
*/1 * * * * cd /home/iczyrskidc/PycharmProjects/testzone && /usr/bin/python3 testzone.py
This is my crontab.
SHELL=/bin/bash
PATH=/home1/<user>/.pyenv/shims:/home1/<user>/.pyenv/bin:/usr/lib64/qt-3.3/bin:/usr/nhnkrb5/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/X11R6/bin:/home1/<user>/.local/bin:/home1/<user>/bin
HOME=/home1/<user>
# Do something
0 1 * * * /home1/<user>/.pyenv/shims/python /home1/<user>/folder/myscript.py >> /home1/<user>/folder/$(date "+%Y.%m.%d-%H.%M.%S").log 2>&1
It runs perfectly from the terminal no matter where I execute it from. I have tried every answer on this page, and my cron doesn't return any errors.
https://askubuntu.com/questions/23009/why-crontab-scripts-are-not-working
I have also checked that my $PATH the cron runs from is identical to the one in my bash. Checked using * * * * * env > /tmp/env.txt
Please tell me what am I doing wrong.
It is better to add the python header at line 1 to your main script. For example if your main script file is app.py then it's content can be following:
!#/home1/<user>/.pyenv/shims/python
# Here goes your Python Script.
and then
$ chmod +x app.py
Now you can add
# Do something
0 1 * * * /home1/<user>/folder/myscript.py >> /home1/<user>/folder/$(date "+%Y.%m.%d-%H.%M.%S").log 2>&1
I ran into the same problem, script working when I am running manually but didn't work with crontab. This method worked.
I currently have a python script at
/home/ubuntu/test/test.py
When this script runs, it writes to a file
/home/ubuntu/test/test.txt
I am completely new to cron, and not very familiar with linux in general. I am trying to set up a cronjob that basically runs this script every minute.
I saw some people suggest #!/usr/bin/env python so I added it, but I noticed I don't even have a env folder in /usr/bin
I then ran chmod -x test.py. Then added an entry to cron * * * * * /home/ubuntu/test/test.py. Noted this wasn't working and saw someone suggest trying * * * * * /home/ubuntu/test/test.py 2>&1 /tmp/testlog.log. But when I check /tmp i only see a folder crontab.8Rxowt/crontab/cron and i don't see any log file created.
I am kind of confused now, I can't figure out why nothing is being updated at all. I'm not sure if the script being run needs to be placed somewhere specific, or if I screwed something up with my cron installation, or something else altogether.
I noticed trying to run ./test.py gives permission denied, and sudo ./test.py gives command not found. Is my shebang not working? I verified im using unix line endings.
To make it run every minute you have to add the path to python from your system:
* * * * * /usr/bin/python cd /path_to/test.py
I suggest you to test it with a simple command such as "touch"
* * * * * /usr/bin/touch cd /path_to/test.txt
https://crontab.guru/every-1-minute
i'm trying to schedule my pythohn script into Centos 7 with cron.
On my script at start i have added this:
#!/usr/local/bin/python
and this is my cron file that i have create into folder that contain python file
*/5 * * * * /usr/local/bin/python /home/Documents/SCRAPE_PYTHON/SCRAPE.py &>> /home/Desktop/log.txt
i have try to run the script into terminal by chmod +x and works fine.
But whit this configuration when in terminal i set crontab .cron the job doesn't work. The log file set into cron file are not write and script not run. The script could be write some data into db and the db is always empty.
Any help???
Thanks
Type crontab -e in the shell, this will open the cron editor. Here copy paste the entire command.
*/5 * * * * /usr/local/bin/python /home/Documents/SCRAPE_PYTHON/SCRAPE.py &>> /home/Desktop/log.txt
Now press Esc key then type colon :wq! and press Enter key. This will install your cron. Your cron should run every 5 minutes.
Your standard output and error will be appended to /home/Desktop/log.txt.