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Scheduling Routines

Set up and dry-run recurring unattended agent tasks on a cron schedule in an isolated sandbox

Source Download skill
Repository
google/adk-recipes
Stars
10,568
Licence
Apache-2.0
Files
1 file

What it does

This skill teaches an agent to set up recurring tasks that run automatically on a timer (for example, every morning at 8am) without the user present. Each routine runs in its own separate sandbox, cannot see the user's files, and only receives the secret credentials explicitly listed for it. Before scheduling, the agent is taught to run a one-time test and read the output, then ask the user to confirm before anything is actually scheduled.

Great for

  • Developers who want a weekly dependency update or report to run without manual effort
  • People who want a daily digest of data pulled from an API delivered automatically
  • Anyone who wants to test an unattended task once before letting it repeat on a schedule

Skip it if

  • Simple one-off reminders, because routines cannot ask the user questions mid-run and there is no reminder tool (the skill says so explicitly)
  • Irreversible actions such as pushing to production or sending external messages without review, since non-shell actions needing approval are auto-denied and the skill recommends drafting these for later user confirmation
  • Tasks needing many high-privilege secrets, since every declared secret widens what an unattended run can access

Try asking

  • “Every morning at 8am, summarize open GitHub issues in my repo and report them”
  • “Every Monday, update my Python dependencies and open a pull request”
  • “Test this routine once before scheduling it so I can see the output”
  • “Show me my scheduled routines and cancel the weekly one”
Step-by-step guide: how to use Scheduling RoutinesInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 1 original files, the Apache-2.0 licence and an attribution note.

    routines.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip routines.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip routines.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Always run a test first and read the output; fix the task or secrets and test again before creating the routine.
  • Write the task as fully self-contained instructions, since the routine has no memory of the chat or access to your files.
  • Declare only the minimum secrets the task needs, and use the same name for the test and the create step.

What's inside

  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from google/adk-recipes under the Apache-2.0 licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.