LaunchAgents and Scheduling - Run Tasks on Autopilot
Master automated task scheduling with LaunchAgents, cron, and system wake scheduling to run AI workflows while you sleep
LaunchAgents and Scheduling - Run Tasks on Autopilot
Course T2.2 • 90 Minutes • Tier 2: Automation Basics
What You'll Build
A complete automated workflow system that wakes your computer at scheduled times, runs AI-powered tasks, and returns to sleep—all without manual intervention.
Prerequisites: T2.1 (Command-Line AI Workflows) - You'll schedule the scripts you built in the previous course.
Course Navigation
Introduction
Objectives, deliverables, and prerequisites
Quick Start
Your first LaunchAgent in 15 minutes
Core Build
Complete automated workflow with wake scheduling
Domain Applications
Economics Research
Daily research digest automation
Software Engineering
Nightly CI/CD pipeline automation
Business Management
Weekly competitive intelligence
Advanced Topics
Extension Patterns
Advanced scheduling techniques
Troubleshooting
Common issues and solutions
Resources
Links, documentation, and next steps
What You'll Learn
By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
- Create and manage LaunchAgents (macOS) and cron jobs (Linux)
- Schedule system wake and sleep for energy efficiency
- Keep your system awake during long-running tasks
- Build automated workflows that run on time-based and event-based triggers
- Monitor and debug scheduled tasks
- Implement domain-specific automation for your field
Time Breakdown
- Quick Start: 15 minutes - First working LaunchAgent
- Core Build: 45-60 minutes - Complete automated workflow
- Domain Examples: 15 minutes - Apply to your field
- Extension Patterns: 15 minutes - Advanced techniques
Platform Support: This course focuses on macOS LaunchAgents. Linux users can adapt the concepts using cron and systemd timers. See the Resources section for Linux-specific guides.
Ready to Automate?
Start with the Introduction to understand the learning objectives and deliverables, or jump straight to the Quick Start to build your first LaunchAgent in 15 minutes.