# How to set up a cron job that runs a Node.js app > Learn how to set up a cron job that runs a Node.js app by writing a run.sh script, making it executable with chmod, and scheduling it through crontab -e. Author: [Flavio Copes](https://flaviocopes.com/about/) | Published: 2022-05-03 | Topics: [Node.js](https://flaviocopes.com/tags/node/) | Canonical: https://flaviocopes.com/cron-job-nodejs-app/ Create a shell script in a file, for example called `run.sh` ```sh #!/bin/sh node app.js ``` Give it execution rights ```sh chmod +x run.sh ``` Then ```bash crontab -e ``` By default this opens with the default editor, which is usually [`vim`](https://flaviocopes.com/linux-command-vim/). | Tip if you're new to vim: use `i` to enter insertion mode, so you can type/paste, then `esc` and `wq` to save and quit. Now you can add one line for each cron job. The syntax to define cron jobs is kind of scary. This is why I usually use a website to help me generate it without errors: I also built my own free [cron builder](https://flaviocopes.com/tools/cron-builder/) that translates the expression to plain English and shows the next runs. ![Crontab Generator website interface showing form fields for scheduling cron jobs with time intervals and commands](https://flaviocopes.com/images/cron-job-nodejs-app/Screen_Shot_2020-09-09_at_18.03.57.png) You pick a time interval for the cron job, and you type the command to execute. I chose to run this every every day at 10AM. This is the crontab line I need to run: ``` 0 10 * * * /Users/flaviocopes/dev/run.sh >/dev/null 2>&1 ``` If all goes well, the cron job is set up. Once this is done, you can see the list of active cron jobs by running: ```bash crontab -l ``` ![Terminal output showing crontab -l command result with an active daily 10 AM cron job scheduled](https://flaviocopes.com/images/cron-job-nodejs-app/Screen_Shot_2022-04-23_at_20.11.46.png) You can remove a cron job running `crontab -e` again, removing the line and exiting the editor.