MCP Crontab Explorer

by jasona7

4 153 downloads Not rated yet

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About

A MCP Server exposing tools for fetching entries and viewing logs

Explore

- List all crontab entries for the current user
- Search entries by keyword (case‑insensitive)
- Explain any cron expression in plain English
- Calculate the next N execution times
- Validate cron expression syntax
- Add or remove crontab entries

Setting up with Highlight

This MCP is not yet compatible with Highlight’s one-click setup. However, you can still use it with Highlight by following these steps:

Download and install Highlight from highlightai.com/download
Navigate to the plugins tab and select "Add Custom Plugin"
Configure the plugin with the settings below

Plugin Name MCP Crontab Explorer

Command (node, npx, python, etc.)

Please refer to the README for specific instructions on how to obtain API keys or other required environment variables.
Enable "Start Automatically" if you want the plugin to start when Highlight launches

Setting up with Cursor

Open Cursor's settings
Navigate to the MCP section
Click "Add new Global MCP server"
Copy and paste the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Claude Desktop

Open Claude Desktop's settings
Go to the Integrations tab
Click "Add MCP Server"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

Note: Make sure Claude Desktop is running before attempting to connect.

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Windsurf

Open Windsurf's preferences
Go to the Integrations section
Click "Add MCP Integration"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Cline

Open Cline's settings
Navigate to the Integrations section
Click "Add MCP Server"
Copy and paste the configuration below based on your operating system

Note: Make sure to restart Cline after adding the configuration.

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Goose

Open Goose's preferences
Go to the Integrations tab
Select "MCP Servers"
Click "Add New Server"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

From the repository

- Python 3.10+
- Linux/macOS (uses crontab command)
- fastmcp>=2.0.0, croniter>=1.0.0

git clone https://github.com/jalloway/mcp-crontab-server.git
cd mcp-crontab-server
pip install -e .
mcp-crontab-server

`list_crontab`

List all crontab entries for the current user

`search_crontab`

Search entries by keyword (case-insensitive)

`get_cron_logs`

Recent cron execution logs (journalctl / syslog)

`explain_cron_expression`

Explain a cron expression in plain English

`next_runs`

Calculate the next N execution times

`validate_cron_expression`

Check if an expression is syntactically valid

`add_cron_entry`

Add a new entry to the user's crontab

`remove_cron_entry`

Remove entries matching a pattern

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| list_crontab | List all crontab entries for the current user |
| search_crontab | Search entries by keyword (case-insensitive) |
| get_cron_logs | Recent cron execution logs (journalctl / syslog) |
| explain_cron_expression | Explain a cron expression in plain English |
| next_runs | Calculate the next N execution times |
| validate_cron_expression | Check if an expression is syntactically valid |
| add_cron_entry | Add a new entry to the user's crontab |
| remove_cron_entry | Remove entries matching a pattern |

Claude Desktop / Cursor

Paste into your MCP client config file to install this server.

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp crontab explorer": {
            "crontab": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "mcp-crontab-server"
                ]
            }
        }
    }
}

McpServers

{
    "crontab": {
        "command": "uvx",
        "args": [
            "mcp-crontab-server"
        ]
    }
}

MCP Crontab Server

An MCP server for exploring, explaining, and managing crontab entries. Works with Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and any MCP client.

Standout features: Explain cron expressions in plain English and calculate upcoming execution times — no more guessing what /15 9-17 1-5 means.

Quick Start

Claude Desktop

Add to your Claude Desktop config (claude_desktop_config.json):

{ "mcpServers": { "crontab": { "command": "uvx", "args": ["mcp-crontab-server"] } } }

Claude Code

claude mcp add crontab -- uvx mcp-crontab-server

Install from source

git clone https://github.com/jalloway/mcp-crontab-server.git cd mcp-crontab-server pip install -e . mcp-crontab-server

Tools

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| list_crontab | List all crontab entries for the current user |
| search_crontab | Search entries by keyword (case-insensitive) |
| get_cron_logs | Recent cron execution logs (journalctl / syslog) |
| explain_cron_expression | Explain a cron expression in plain English |
| next_runs | Calculate the next N execution times |
| validate_cron_expression | Check if an expression is syntactically valid |
| add_cron_entry | Add a new entry to the user's crontab |
| remove_cron_entry | Remove entries matching a pattern |

Example Conversations

"What does this cron expression mean?"

> explain_cron_expression("/15 9-17 1-5")
>
> Every 15 minutes, from 9:00 AM through 5:59 PM, Monday through Friday

"When will this job run next?"

> next_runs("0 2 0", count=3)
>
> Next 3 runs for '0 2 0':
> 1. 2026-03-01 02:00:00 Sunday
> 2. 2026-03-08 02:00:00 Sunday
> 3. 2026-03-15 02:00:00 Sunday

"Is this valid?"

> validate_cron_expression("60 ")
>
> Invalid: Value 60 out of range (0-59) in minute field

Development

```bash
pip install -e .

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About

Explore

Setting up with Highlight

From the repository

list_crontab

search_crontab

get_cron_logs

explain_cron_expression

next_runs

validate_cron_expression

add_cron_entry

remove_cron_entry

Claude Desktop / Cursor

McpServers

MCP Crontab Server

Quick Start

Claude Desktop

Claude Code

Install from source

Tools

Example Conversations

Development

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Filesystem

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`list_crontab`

`search_crontab`

`get_cron_logs`

`explain_cron_expression`

`next_runs`

`validate_cron_expression`

`add_cron_entry`

`remove_cron_entry`