systemd Service and Timer Generator
Fill in a few fields and get a clean systemd service file, with an optional timer for scheduled jobs. A tidier, more reliable way to run your own apps and scripts than a raw cron line.
🔒 Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Fill in the unit name, the command to run (use absolute paths), and the user it should run as.
- Copy the
.servicefile into/etc/systemd/system/. - Reload and enable it:
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now yourname.service
Check it with systemctl status yourname and follow its logs with journalctl -u yourname -f.
Service or timer
Leave the timer unticked for something that should stay running, such as a web app or a bot; systemd will restart it if it crashes. Tick the timer for something that runs and exits, such as a nightly backup or a sync job. A timer is the modern replacement for a cron entry: it logs to the journal, survives reboots, and can catch up on a missed run.
Why not just use cron?
Cron is fine for simple jobs, but a systemd service gives you automatic restarts, proper logging, dependency ordering (start after the network is up), and a defined user and working directory. The generated unit also sets a few safe defaults: no new privileges, a protected system and home directory.
FAQ
What is OnCalendar?
It is systemd’s schedule format. daily runs at midnight, Mon *-*-* 09:00:00 runs Mondays at 9am, and *:0/15 runs every 15 minutes. Test an expression with systemd-analyze calendar "your expression".
Is anything sent to a server? No. The unit file is built in your browser.