Run urlwatch once to initialize it, configure the jobs you want monitored, then add a urlwatch command to the appropriate user’s crontab with crontab -e. Cron supplies the timing; urlwatch performs the usual check and reports detected changes. The urlwatch documentation recommends checking no more often than every 30 minutes.
1. Run urlwatch once and configure what to monitor
Start by running urlwatch interactively. The initial run lets urlwatch initialize or migrate its data before you schedule unattended checks. Installation commands depend on how urlwatch was installed, so use the command available in your environment.
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Set up the jobs with:
urlwatch --editThis opens the job configuration, stored in urls.yaml. Add the URLs or other outputs you want checked. See the urlwatch jobs documentation for the supported job types.
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- URL retrieval: Use an ordinary URL job when the content you need can be retrieved directly.
- Browser navigation: Use a browser job when the relevant page content depends on JavaScript rendering. Browser jobs use substantially more resources, so reserve them for pages that ordinary retrieval cannot handle.
- Shell command: Monitor command output when the item you care about comes from a local command rather than a web page.
2. Configure how changes are reported
urlwatch compares each job’s current output with its previous result. When it detects a difference, it invokes the enabled reporters. By default, change information is written to standard output; under cron, where that output goes depends on the scheduler environment.
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If you need notifications through a separate route, edit settings and reporters with:
urlwatch --edit-configChoose and configure a reporter for the delivery method you need. Some reporters require additional dependencies; consult the Debian urlwatch reporters manual for reporter details. Do not assume that cron will email output automatically: delivery depends on the cron setup and environment.
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3. Add urlwatch to the crontab
Open the crontab for the user whose urlwatch configuration and data should be used:
crontab -eAdd a schedule expression followed by the urlwatch command. The official urlwatch introduction gives this example for a 30-minute interval:
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*/30 * * * * urlwatchThe five schedule fields are minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week. In this expression, */30 in the minute field runs the command every 30 minutes. urlwatch recommends not checking more frequently than that. If you are comfortable detecting changes less promptly, choose a less frequent schedule; cron determines the interval by how often it invokes urlwatch. See the official urlwatch introduction and quick start for the documented sequence and cadence guidance.
Use the command and environment available to cron
The example assumes urlwatch can be found in the cron job’s environment. If the scheduled run cannot find it, use the executable path appropriate to your installation. Likewise, make sure the crontab belongs to the user whose urlwatch setup you intend to run. Paths and environment variables available to a scheduled command can differ from those in an interactive shell.
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4. Verify unattended runs and output
- Run
urlwatchmanually as the intended user and confirm the configured jobs execute. - Check the cron job’s output handling in your scheduler environment, or configure a reporter if you need a distinct notification route.
- Confirm the scheduled command uses the intended executable, account, configuration, and data.
Cron only supplies the schedule; each invocation runs urlwatch’s normal check. Whether a schedule continues through machine sleep, reboot, or other system-specific conditions depends on the environment and is not established by the urlwatch scheduling instructions.
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The cron job runs but I do not see a notification
urlwatch writes change information to standard output by default. Check how the scheduler handles job output, or configure an appropriate reporter with urlwatch --edit-config. Do not rely on automatic email without confirming that your cron environment is set up to deliver it.
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A scheduled run cannot find urlwatch
The cron environment may not expose the same executable path as your interactive shell. Use the executable path for your installation in the crontab, and ensure the job runs as the user with the intended urlwatch setup.
A monitored page does not show the content you expect
If the content is rendered by JavaScript, an ordinary URL job may not retrieve the relevant output. Consider a browser job, while accounting for its greater resource use. Use ordinary retrieval when it is sufficient.
Jobs run more often than intended
Review the cron expression’s five fields and confirm the minute interval. The documented */30 * * * * expression runs every 30 minutes; urlwatch recommends no more frequent checking.
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