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Quartz Scheduler
What Quartz Scheduler is
Quartz Scheduler is an open-source library for Java applications that need to run tasks once or on recurring schedules. Triggers can set jobs by time or day, exclude calendar dates, repeat a chosen number of times, stop at an end date, or run at an interval. Quartz says it can handle schedules from tens to tens of thousands of jobs, and includes support for JTA transactions and clustering. It can run within an application, in an application server or servlet container, as a standalone program using RMI, or as a cluster of standalone programs. JDBCJobStore persists jobs and triggers in a relational database; RAMJobStore keeps them in memory and loses them when the program stops. Built-in clustering depends on JDBCJobStore. Quartz can use JDBC, application-server-managed JNDI, or custom ConnectionProvider data sources. Downloads include version 2.5.1 for Java 11+ using the jakarta namespace and version 2.4.1 for Java 8 using javax.*. It is free under Apache License 2.0, which disclaims warranties unless agreed otherwise in writing. Quartz is a scheduler, not a job queue, though it can serve as one at small scale.
Who it suits
Quartz suits developers building Java applications that need to schedule application tasks for future or recurring execution. It can be used in embedded, server, standalone, or clustered deployments.
What it does well
- Free under Apache License 2.0
- Supports schedules from tens to tens of thousands of jobs
- Offers JDBC and in-memory job stores
- Includes JTA transaction and clustering support
What to know first
- Built-in clustering requires JDBCJobStore persistence
- RAMJobStore does not persist between program executions
- Not designed as a job queue at larger scale
Limits
RAMJobStore does not persist jobs between program executions. Built-in clustering requires database persistence through JDBCJobStore, and Quartz describes its job-queue use as suitable only at a small scale.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Quartz Scheduler | Open source · Apache License 2.0 | Free |
| Free open-source Quartz Scheduler | Java job scheduling library · Apache 2.0 licensed · downloadable from GitHub and Maven Central | Free |
As quartz-scheduler.org lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Quartz website and choose a download that matches your Java version and namespace.
- Use Quartz 2.5.1 for Java 11+ with jakarta, or Quartz 2.4.1 for Java 8 with javax.*.
- Choose an embedded, application-server, servlet-container, RMI, or clustered runtime.
- Select JDBCJobStore for relational database persistence or RAMJobStore for in-memory storage.
- Configure a supported JDBC, JNDI, or custom ConnectionProvider data source if needed.
- Use the Quartz Users' Forum for questions or the issue tracker for issues and feature requests.
Verdict
Quartz offers flexible scheduling and deployment options for Java applications, with both database-backed and in-memory storage. Its built-in clustering depends on JDBCJobStore, and it is not intended to be a general job queue.
Questions
How much does Quartz Scheduler cost?
The listed plan is free. Quartz is open source under Apache License 2.0.
Which Java versions are listed for download?
Quartz 2.5.1 is listed for Java 11+ with the jakarta namespace. Quartz 2.4.1 is listed for Java 8 with javax.*.
Does Quartz support clustering?
Yes. Its built-in clustering relies on database persistence through JDBCJobStore.
Can Quartz persist scheduled jobs?
Yes. JDBCJobStore stores jobs and triggers in a relational database. RAMJobStore keeps them in memory and does not persist them between program executions.
Is Quartz a job queue?
Quartz describes itself as a job scheduling library, not a job queue, though it says it can serve as one at a small scale.
Where can users get help?
The Quartz community page directs questions to the Quartz Users' Forum and provides an issue tracker for reporting issues and requesting features.
Facts from Quartz Scheduler's own pages
- Clustering behavior
- JDBC clustering provides load balancing and fail-over, with one cluster node firing each occurrence. · quartz-scheduler.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Clustering requirement
- Quartz warns that clustered machines need clocks synchronized to within about one second. · quartz-scheduler.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Community support
- The project directs users to GitHub forums, issue tracking and its source repository for help and feature requests. · quartz-scheduler.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Compatibility release
- Quartz 2.4.1 supports Java 8 and the javax namespace. · quartz-scheduler.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Configuration
- Quartz normally reads a quartz.properties file through StdSchedulerFactory, with configurable scheduler, thread-pool, listener, plug-in, RMI, job-store, data-source and clustering settings. · quartz-scheduler.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Contribution process
- Contributors use a DCO commit-signoff process, and core developer status is invite-only. · quartz-scheduler.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- Official downloads link to GitHub releases and Maven Central artifacts for quartz and quartz-jobs. · quartz-scheduler.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The documentation site provides JavaDoc, quick start material, configuration reference, cookbook, tutorials, examples, best practices and FAQ pages. · quartz-scheduler.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The downloads page lists Quartz 2.5.1 for Java 11+ with the jakarta namespace and Quartz 2.4.1 for Java 8 with the javax.* namespace. · quartz-scheduler.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Enterprise features
- The scheduler includes clustering and support for JTA transactions. · quartz-scheduler.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Quartz exposes builder DSL classes, listeners, plug-ins, custom JobStore implementations and configurable SPI classes. · quartz-scheduler.org, 15 Oct 2026
- GitHub popularity
- The official repository showed about 6.8 thousand stars and 2 thousand forks when accessed. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Independent community concern
- A Reddit engineering discussion notes that one shared Quartz scheduler can degrade as short-running jobs and clients increase because of cluster-wide locking. · reddit.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Independent limits
- Gitnux says Java integration can be heavy and that threading and misfire behavior require careful tuning. · gitnux.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Independent praise
- Gitnux highlights cron and calendar triggers, persistent storage, clustering and separation of jobs from triggers. · gitnux.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Independent project description
- Wikipedia describes Quartz as a Java job-scheduling library used for enterprise workflows, system-management tasks and clustering. · en.wikipedia.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Independent score
- Gitnux rated Quartz Scheduler 6.4 out of 10 overall, with 6.5 for features, 6.4 for ease of use and 6.2 for value. · gitnux.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Independent score: job scheduling
- WorldMetrics rated Quartz Scheduler 7.4 out of 10 overall, with 7.5 for features, 7.5 for ease of use and 7.2 for value. · worldmetrics.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Quartz can use JDBC data sources, application-server-managed JNDI data sources, or custom ConnectionProvider implementations. · quartz-scheduler.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Quartz is a code library for applications that need to schedule application-related tasks for future or recurring execution. · quartz-scheduler.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Java integration
- Quartz is designed to embed in Java applications, including standalone programs and large e-commerce systems. · quartz-scheduler.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Job scale
- The site says Quartz can schedule tens, hundreds, or tens of thousands of jobs. · quartz-scheduler.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Job storage
- Quartz provides JDBCJobStore for storing jobs and triggers in a relational database and RAMJobStore for in-memory storage that does not persist between program executions. · quartz-scheduler.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Latest release requirements
- Quartz 2.5.1 requires Java 11 or newer and uses the jakarta namespace. · quartz-scheduler.org, 15 Oct 2026
Where Quartz Scheduler stands on Freedom251
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