Simple cron-like parser for Python, which determines if current datetime matches conditions

pip install pycron

import pycron
pycron.is_now('*/5 * * * *')  # True every 5 minutes
pycron.is_now('0 * * * *')    # True every hour, on minute 0

The formats currently supported are

• */5 (for "every X" function),
• 4-10 (for time ranges),
• 6,8,23 (for a list of values),
• * (for wildcard),
• and of course a single number.

The module includes only one function, is_now(s, dt=None), where s is the cron-style string and dt is the datetime to use (defaults to current datetime, if not set). The function returns True, if dt matches the format.

There are couple of helpers available, mainly for use with Django. They give out list of tuples, as required by Django field choices.

The available helpers are

• pycron.MINUTE_CHOICES,
• pycron.HOUR_CHOICES,
• pycron.DOM_CHOICES, for day of month
• pycron.MONTH_CHOICES, for month names
• pycron.DOW_CHOICES, for day names

This was done, as I personally needed something like this to implement proper timers for my Django-project and every available library felt too complicated for my use-case. Also, this was a good coding exercise...

As the Django -helper choices are quite limited, I've expanded them in my own project by adding values like ('*/5', 'every 5 minutes'), ('1-5', 'on weekdays'), and ('0,6', 'on weekends'). I haven't included them in the code, as every use-case is different, this was just to give an idea on how to use this ;)