cronstrue

What is cronstrue?

The cronstrue npm package is used to convert cron expressions into human-readable strings. This can be particularly useful for displaying cron schedules in a more understandable format for users who may not be familiar with cron syntax.

What are cronstrue's main functionalities?

Basic Conversion

This feature converts a basic cron expression into a human-readable string. For example, the cron expression '*/5 * * * *' is converted to 'Every 5 minutes'.

const cronstrue = require('cronstrue');
console.log(cronstrue.toString('*/5 * * * *'));

Localized Conversion

This feature allows for the conversion of cron expressions into human-readable strings in different languages. For example, the cron expression '*/5 * * * *' is converted to 'Cada 5 minutos' in Spanish.

const cronstrue = require('cronstrue');
console.log(cronstrue.toString('*/5 * * * *', { locale: 'es' }));

Verbose Conversion

This feature provides a more detailed, verbose description of the cron expression. For example, the cron expression '*/5 * * * *' is converted to 'Every 5 minutes, every hour, every day, every month, every day of the week'.

const cronstrue = require('cronstrue');
console.log(cronstrue.toString('*/5 * * * *', { verbose: true }));

Other packages similar to cronstrue

cron-parser

The cron-parser package is used for parsing and manipulating cron expressions. Unlike cronstrue, which focuses on converting cron expressions to human-readable strings, cron-parser provides more functionality for working with cron expressions programmatically, such as finding the next execution time.

later

The later package is a scheduling library that supports both cron and other types of schedules. It can be used to parse, manipulate, and execute schedules. While cronstrue focuses on converting cron expressions to human-readable strings, later provides a more comprehensive set of tools for working with schedules.

README

cRonstrue

cRonstrue is a JavaScript library that parses a cron expression and outputs a human readable description of the cron schedule. For example, given the expression "*/5 * * * *" it will output "Every 5 minutes".

This library was ported from the original C# implemenation called cron-expression-descriptor and is also available in a few other languages.

Features

• Zero dependencies
• Supports all cron expression special characters including * / , - ? L W, #
• Supports 5, 6 (w/ seconds or year), or 7 (w/ seconds and year) part cron expressions
• Supports Quartz Job Scheduler cron expressions
• i18n support with 15 languages

Installation

cRonstrue is exported as an UMD module so it will work in an AMD, CommonJS or browser global context.

First, install the module:

npm install cronstrue

Then, depending upon your usage context, add a reference to it:

Node

var cronstrue = require('cronstrue');

ES6/TypeScript

import cronstrue from 'cronstrue';

Browser

The cronstrue.min.js file from the /dist folder in the npm package should be served to the browser. There are no dependencies so you can simply include the library in a <script> tag.

<script src="cronstrue.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script>
  var cronstrue = window.cronstrue;
</script>

Usage

cronstrue.toString("* * * * *");
> "Every minute"

cronstrue.toString("0 23 ? * MON-FRI");
> "At 11:00 PM, Monday through Friday"

cronstrue.toString("23 12 * * SUN#2");
> "At 12:23 PM, on the second Sunday of the month"

console.log(cronstrue.toString("* * * ? * 2-6/2", { dayOfWeekStartIndexZero: false}));
> "Every second, every 2 days of the week, Monday through Friday"

For more usage examples, including a demonstration of how cRonstrue can handle some very complex cron expressions, you can reference the unit tests.

Demo

A demo is available here: http://bradyholt.github.io/cRonstrue/

i18n

To use the i18n support cRonstrue provides, you must use the packaged library that contains the locale transalations. Once you do this, you can pass the name of a supported locale as an option to cronstrue.toString(). For example, for the es (Spanish) locale, you would use: cronstrue.toString("* * * * *", { locale: "es" });.

Node

var cronstrue = require('cronstrue/i18n');
cronstrue.toString("*/5 * * * *", { locale: "fr" });

Browser

The cronstrue-i18n.min.js file from the /dist folder in the npm package should be served to the browser.

<script src="cronstrue-i18n.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script>
  cronstrue.toString("*/5 * * * *", { locale: "fr" });
</script>

Supported Locales

• en - English
• nl - Dutch
• fr - French
• de - German
• it - Italian
• nb - Norwegian
• pl - Polish
• pt_BR - Portuguese (Brazil)
• ro - Romanian
• ru - Russian
• es - Spanish
• sv - Swedish
• tr - Turkish
• uk - Ukrainian
• zh_CN - Chinese (Simplified)

License

cRonstrue is freely distributable under the terms of the MIT license.