For those already familiar with unix-like operating systems, cron may be old news, while new users with limited command-line experience may never have heard of it. Cron is one of those system-level services that can be indispensable when you figure out what it does and how to use it.

In my typical mode somewhere between casual- and power-user, I have put cron to great use in running parts of my system beyond the stock configuration. For me, cron’s most critical role has been that of backup-scheduler.
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