Cron Expression: Every 6 Months (Jan and Jul 1st) (0 0 1 1,7 *)
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Cron Expression: Every 6 Months (Jan and Jul 1st) (0 0 1 1,7 *)
The cron expression 0 0 1 1,7 * executes a task every 6 months on January 1st and July 1st at midnight (00:00), making it ideal for semi-annual operations, reports, and maintenance tasks.
Expression Breakdown
0 0 1 1,7 *
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ └─── Day of week: * (every day)
│ │ │ └───── Month: 1,7 (January and July)
│ │ └─────── Day of month: 1 (first day)
│ └───────── Hour: 0 (at hour 0, midnight)
└─────────── Minute: 0 (at minute 0)
Field Values
| Field | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Minute | 0 | At minute 0 |
| Hour | 0 | At hour 0 (midnight) |
| Day of Month | 1 | First day |
| Month | 1,7 | January and July |
| Day of Week | * | Every day of week (0-7) |
List Syntax
The 1,7 in the month field is a list that means "January and July":
- Runs on: January 1st and July 1st at midnight
- These are 6 months apart
Execution Time
This expression runs 2 times per year at:
- January 1st 00:00, July 1st 00:00
Common Use Cases
1. Semi-Annual Reports
0 0 1 1,7 * /usr/bin/python3 /scripts/generate-semi-annual-report.py
Generate semi-annual reports or summaries.
2. Semi-Annual Backups
0 0 1 1,7 * /usr/local/bin/semi-annual-backup.sh
Create full semi-annual backups or archives.
3. Semi-Annual Maintenance
0 0 1 1,7 * /usr/local/bin/semi-annual-maintenance.sh
Run semi-annual system maintenance, cleanup, or optimization.
4. License Renewal
0 0 1 1,7 * /usr/bin/python3 /scripts/process-license-renewals.py
Process semi-annual license renewals or subscriptions.
Example Implementations
Semi-Annual Report Script
# generate-semi-annual-report.py
import json
from datetime import datetime, timedelta
import sqlite3
def generate_semi_annual_report():
conn = sqlite3.connect('/var/data/app.db')
cursor = conn.cursor()
today = datetime.now()
current_month = today.month
# Determine which half of year
if current_month == 1:
# Processing second half of previous year
period_start = datetime(today.year - 1, 7, 1)
period_end = datetime(today.year - 1, 12, 31)
period = "H2"
year = today.year - 1
else: # current_month == 7
# Processing first half of current year
period_start = datetime(today.year, 1, 1)
period_end = datetime(today.year, 6, 30)
period = "H1"
year = today.year
cursor.execute('''
SELECT
COUNT(*) as total_transactions,
SUM(amount) as total_revenue,
COUNT(DISTINCT user_id) as unique_customers
FROM transactions
WHERE created_at >= ? AND created_at <= ?
''', (period_start, period_end))
metrics = cursor.fetchone()
report = {
'period': period,
'year': year,
'period_start': period_start.strftime('%Y-%m-%d'),
'period_end': period_end.strftime('%Y-%m-%d'),
'metrics': {
'total_transactions': metrics[0],
'total_revenue': round(metrics[1], 2) if metrics[1] else 0,
'unique_customers': metrics[2]
}
}
with open(f'/var/reports/semi_annual_{year}_{period}.json', 'w') as f:
json.dump(report, f, indent=2)
print(f"{datetime.now()}: Semi-annual report generated for {year} {period}")
conn.close()
if __name__ == '__main__':
generate_semi_annual_report()
Best Practices
- Semi-Annual Timing: January and July provide clean 6-month boundaries
- Error Handling: Implement comprehensive error handling and logging
- Locking: Use file locks to prevent concurrent execution
- Monitoring: Set up alerts for failed semi-annual jobs
- Resource Management: Semi-annual jobs may be heavy, monitor resources
When to Use
✅ Good for:
- Semi-annual reports
- Semi-annual backups
- Semi-annual maintenance
- License renewals
- Bi-annual operations
❌ Avoid for:
- Tasks requiring more frequent execution
- Real-time critical operations
Related Patterns
| Pattern | Expression | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Every 6 months | 0 0 1 1,7 * | January and July |
| Quarterly | 0 0 1 1,4,7,10 * | First day of each quarter |
| Yearly | 0 0 1 1 * | January 1st only |
Conclusion
The 0 0 1 1,7 * expression is perfect for semi-annual operations. It's commonly used for semi-annual reports, backups, and maintenance tasks, providing a clean 6-month cycle for recurring operations that don't need quarterly frequency.
Need to generate a cron expression?
Use CronOS to generate any cron expression you wish with natural language. Simply describe what you need, and we'll create the perfect cron expression for you. It's completely free!