GNU bug report logs - #40950
[PATCH] mcron, create /var/cron/tabs on activation

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Message #31 received at 40950-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Maxim Cournoyer <maxim.cournoyer <at> gmail.com>
To: Marcin Karpezo <sirmacik <at> wioo.waw.pl>
Cc: Ludovic Courtès <ludo <at> gnu.org>, 40950-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org,
 Dale Mellor <guix-devel-0brg6b <at> rdmp.org>
Subject: Re: [bug#40950] [PATCH] mcron, create /var/cron/tabs on activation
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:51:38 +0900

Hi,

Maxim Cournoyer <maxim.cournoyer <at> gmail.com> writes:

> Hello,
>
> Dale Mellor <guix-devel-0brg6b <at> rdmp.org> writes:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>>    for information I don't agree with having a central crond process
>> running on the system.  I put it in mcron only for compatibility with
>> legacy crons, but think that it is *much* better for each service which
>> needs one, and each user, to run their own private daemon and manage their
>> own configuration.  The reasons include:
>>
>>   * reliability: one faulty client or scheme configuration clause is less
>> likely to make the system unavailable to others;
>>   * security: UNIX users can only mess with their own configurations, and
>> there is no need for any SUID programs;
>>   * safety: I think the mcron personality gets much more use in practice,
>> hence is tested by many more people;
>>   * efficiency: using the legacy crontab directories means that the daemon
>> has to wake up and scan all these files once per minute, even if the
>> actions are only performed once per day or even once per month;
>>   * convenience: I think it is actually simpler all round to have separate
>> configurations for each utility that needs cron service, rather than
>> splicing and editing existing central system-wide files.
>>
>>    Basically, all these things are the reasons I developed mcron in the
>> first place.
>>
>>    As an aside, I would love to be able to pull out all of the legacy
>> compatibility stuff from the mcron code, as it would massively simplify my
>> life!  (Don't worry, it probably won't happen).
>
> Thanks for tipping in!
>
> In light of this, it seems it'd be a better option to add crond support
> at the level of Guix Home, which would allow easily configuring mcrond
> as a user service rather than at the system level.

Closing.

-- 
Thanks,
Maxim

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