Clockwork - Rapid Task Scheduling

Clockwork is an easy to use Task Scheduler that reduces a lot of boilerplate code.

Usage

Clockwork can either be used with in-code attributes or with the Scheduler Api.

Clockwork with Attributes

Clockwork with Attributes requires the task function to be static.

There are two types of Clockwork attributes.

• Future executes tasks bound by time or on repeat

• FutureScheduled will schedule executions to the beginning of Years, Months, Weeks, Days, Hours, Minutes, or Seconds with an optional offset.

Here is an example using Clockwork.

static void Main()
{
    // Start the Clockwork Scheduler
    Clockwork.Wind();
    Thread.Sleep(-1);
}
[Future(5000)]
public static void StartIn5Seconds()
{
    // This function will be run by the scheduler 5 seconds after the program starts
    Console.WriteLine("Started 5 Seconds Later");
}
[Future(2000, 5000)]
public static void RunEvery5Seconds()
{
    // This function will be run by the scheduler 2 seconds after the program starts, and will repeat every 5 seconds
    Console.WriteLine("Running every 5 Seconds");
}
[FutureScheduled(Schedule.ByMinute, -1)]
public static async Task RunOnStartOfMinute()
{
    // Clockwork also supports asynchronous functions, and will run all tasks in parallel
    // This will not block other tasks, nor will it block the future executions of the current task
    await Task.Delay(10000);
}
[FutureScheduled(Schedule.ByMonth, -1, "Eastern Standard Time")]
public static void RunOnStartOfMonth()
{
    // This function will be run by the scheduler on the start of every month in Eastern Standard Time
    Console.WriteLine("Running on the start of every month");
}

Clockwork with the Advanced Scheduling Api

With the Clockwork Scheduling Api, it is possible to create tasks that have custom triggers.

Create an instance of ClockworkTaskTrigger and call the Activate() function to trigger the task. Please note that tasks will not trigger unless it is added to a task scheduler.

To create tasks with the Api, use the builder pattern shown below:

// Start the Clockwork Scheduler
Clockwork.Wind();
// Create a repeating task that runs every 5 seconds, with a delayed start of 2 seconds
var task = ClockworkTask.Create(() =>
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Repeat every 5 seconds");
    })
    .BuildTimedTask()
    .Repeat(-1, TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5))
    .Delayed(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2))
    .Build();

// Custom Task Trigger
var trigger = new ClockworkTaskTrigger();
// Delay the activation of the event until the task is triggered
var customTrigger = ClockworkTask.Create(() =>
    {
        // This task will run on the middle of every second once the task is triggered and repeat indefinitely
        Console.WriteLine($"Triggered Task at {DateTime.Now.ToString("MMMM dd, yyyy hh:mm:ss.ffff tt")}");
    })
    .BuildScheduledTask(Schedule.BySecond)
    .Repeat(-1)
    .Delay(TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(500))
    .SetTrigger(trigger)
    .Build();
// Add the tasks to the scheduler
Clockwork.Default.AddAll(new []{task, customTrigger});

Console.WriteLine("Waiting for a newline to trigger");
Console.ReadLine();
// Trigger the execution of the task
trigger.Activate();

Thread.Sleep(-1);