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I have a very simple requirement which i tried looking for solution but couldn't get any standard defined solution . what i want to know is for my question below what is the correct solution.

Question: i am required to run a cronjob ( which is a python script ) using crontab.

using crontab -e i added this line to my cron file:

* * * * * /usr/bin/python /srv/x/y/src/run.py > /tmp/listener.log 2>&1

the script starts but it is using environment variables inside. i get an error in log file that the env vars are not defined?

where should i define my env vras? i even tried to define in .bashrc but still the same error. cronjob cannot find it.

what am i missing?

anekix
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2 Answers2

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Rather than keeping the variable definitions in two places, wrap your program call in a simple bash script that sources your ~/.bashrc: 

#!/bin/bash
source $HOME/.bashrc
/usr/bin/python /srv/x/y/src/run.py > /tmp/listener.log 2>&1

chmod +x the script, and run it from your crontab.

waltinator
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1

Write a small bash script mypythonscript consisting of:

#!/bin/bash
set ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLE_1=...
set ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLE_2=...
/usr/bin/python /srv/x/y/src/run.py > /tmp/listener.log 2>&1

Make it executable:

chmod +x mypythonscript

In the crontab replace the line by

* * * * * /path/to/mypythonscript
Jos
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    If you're running bash, I think you want to use export VAR=value to have the variables actually passed to the environments of the commands you run. The set builtin assigns values to the positional parameters (among other things). Try set x=blah; printf "x: $x\n1: $1\n" – ilkkachu Apr 18 '17 at 21:46