Fresh start - excluded large ROM JSON files

skills/cron-mastery/SKILL.md

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+---
+name: cron-mastery
+description: Master OpenClaw's timing systems. Use for scheduling reliable reminders, setting up periodic maintenance (janitor jobs), and understanding when to use Cron vs Heartbeat for time-sensitive tasks.
+---
+
+# Cron Mastery
+
+**Rule #1: Heartbeats drift. Cron is precise.**
+
+This skill provides the definitive guide for managing time in OpenClaw. It solves the "I missed my reminder" problem by enforcing a strict separation between casual checks (heartbeat) and hard schedules (cron).
+
+## The Core Principle
+
+| System | Behavior | Best For | Risk |
+| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
+| **Heartbeat** | "I'll check in when I can" (e.g., every 30-60m) | Email checks, casual news summaries, low-priority polling. | **Drift:** A "remind me in 10m" task will fail if the heartbeat is 30m. |
+| **Cron** | "I will run at exactly X time" | Reminders ("in 5 mins"), daily reports, system maintenance. | **Clutter:** Creates one-off jobs that need cleanup. |
+
+## 1. Setting Reliable Reminders
+
+**Never** use `act:wait` or internal loops for long delays (>1 min). Use `cron:add` with a one-shot `at` schedule.
+
+### Standard Reminder Pattern (JSON)
+
+Use this payload structure for "remind me in X minutes" tasks:
+
+```json
+{
+  "name": "Remind: Drink Water",
+  "schedule": {
+    "kind": "at",
+    "atMs": <CURRENT_MS + DELAY_MS>
+  },
+  "payload": {
+    "kind": "agentTurn",
+    "message": "⏰ Reminder: Drink water!",
+    "deliver": true
+  },
+```  
+
+*Note: Even with `wakeMode: "next-heartbeat"`, the cron system forces an event injection at `atMs`. Use `mode: "now"` in the `cron:wake` tool if you need to force an immediate wake outside of a job payload.*
+
+### ⚠️ The Delivery Rule (CRITICAL)
+When scheduling an `agentTurn` via Cron that is meant to provide an update to the user:
+- **ALWAYS** set `"deliver": true` in the payload.
+- Without `"deliver": true`, the sub-agent will run the task but the output will NEVER be seen by the human. It will be "talking in a dark room."
+
+## 2. The Janitor (Auto-Cleanup)
+
+One-shot cron jobs (kind: `at`) disable themselves after running but stay in the list as "ghosts" (`enabled: false`, `lastStatus: ok`). To prevent clutter, install the **Daily Janitor**.
+
+### Setup Instructions
+
+1.  **Check current jobs:** `cron:list` (includeDisabled: true)
+2.  **Create the Janitor:**
+    *   **Name:** `Daily Cron Cleanup`
+    *   **Schedule:** Every 24 hours (`everyMs: 86400000`)
+    *   **Payload:** An agent turn that runs a specific prompt.
+
+### The Janitor Prompt (Agent Turn)
+
+> "Time for the 24-hour cron sweep. List all cron jobs including disabled ones. If you find any jobs that are `enabled: false` and have `lastStatus: ok` (finished one-shots), delete them to keep the list clean. Do not delete active recurring jobs. Log what you deleted."
+
+## 3. Reference: Timezone Lock
+
+For cron to work, the agent **must** know its time.
+*   **Action:** Add the user's timezone to `MEMORY.md`.
+*   **Example:** `Timezone: Cairo (GMT+2)`
+*   **Validation:** If a user says "remind me at 9 PM," confirm: "9 PM Cairo time?" before scheduling.
+
+## 4. The Self-Wake Rule (Behavioral)
+
+**Problem:** If you say "I'll wait 30 seconds" and end your turn, you go to sleep. You cannot wake up without an event.
+**Solution:** If you need to "wait" across turns, you **MUST** schedule a Cron job.
+
+*   **Wait < 1 minute (interactive):** Only allowed if you keep the tool loop open (using `act:wait`).
+*   **Wait > 1 minute (async):** Use Cron with `wakeMode: "now"`.
+
+**Example Payload for "Checking back in 30s":**
+```json
+{
+  "schedule": { "kind": "at", "atMs": <NOW + 30000> },
+  "payload": { "kind": "agentTurn", "message": "⏱️ 30s check-in. Report status." },
+  "wakeMode": "now"
+}
+```
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+*   **"My reminder didn't fire":** Check `cron:list`. If the job exists but didn't fire, check the system clock vs `atMs`.
+*   **"I have 50 old jobs":** Run the Janitor manually immediately.