# Automation

Four ways to schedule or trigger Claude Code tasks, with OpenClaw equivalents.

## 1. `/loop` - In-session recurring tasks

Run a task repeatedly within a single Claude Code session.

```
/loop Run /health-check every 30 minutes
```

**Best for:** Monitoring during active work sessions, watch loops, polling.
**OpenClaw equivalent:** `HEARTBEAT.md` pattern - agent checks a file on each tick
and executes tasks listed there.

## 2. `CronCreate` - Claude Code built-in cron

Claude Code can create system crontab entries directly via the `CronCreate` tool.

```
# In a Claude Code session:
Create a cron job that runs /daily-briefing every day at 7 AM
```

Claude calls `CronCreate` and writes the entry to your system crontab.
List with `CronList`, remove with `CronDelete`.

**Best for:** Simple recurring tasks, no manual crontab editing.
**OpenClaw equivalent:** OpenClaw's scheduler daemon with task definitions in config.

## 3. `/schedule` - Remote triggers via claude.ai/code

Trigger Claude Code runs remotely through claude.ai/code using the `RemoteTrigger`
tool or the web interface.

**Best for:** Event-driven automation, triggering from external systems.
**OpenClaw equivalent:** OpenClaw's webhook receiver (listens on a local port).

## 4. `launchd` - macOS native scheduler

More reliable than cron on macOS. Survives sleep/wake cycles, logs stdout/stderr,
and integrates with the macOS service manager.

See `daily-briefing.sh` and `launchd-example.plist` in this directory.

```bash
# Install:
cp launchd-example.plist ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.example.claude-briefing.plist
launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.example.claude-briefing.plist
```

**Best for:** Production schedules on Mac, anything that needs to survive reboots.
**OpenClaw equivalent:** Same - OpenClaw also recommends launchd on macOS for its
daemon process.

## Comparison

| Approach      | Setup    | Reliability | Use case                      |
|---------------|----------|-------------|-------------------------------|
| `/loop`       | Zero     | Session     | Active monitoring             |
| `CronCreate`  | Minimal  | Good        | Simple recurring tasks        |
| `/schedule`   | Moderate | Good        | Remote/event triggers         |
| `launchd`     | Manual   | Best on Mac | Production daily jobs         |