{
  "id": 15430822,
  "title": "Using timers to perform weekly tasks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/using-timers-to-perform-weekly-tasks",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-18T14:52:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Lobsters",
    "slug": "lobsters",
    "url": "https://mbork.pl/2026-10-17_Using_timers_to_perform_weekly_tasks"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The author uses timers to automate weekly tasks in Emacs, specifically for updating clock tables during their weekly review on Sundays. They employ idle timers, which activate when Emacs is inactive for a certain period, to minimize the impact on system resources. The author sets up a regular timer on Sundays around 3am (or as soon as the laptop is opened), which in turn sets up an idle timer for 60 seconds. This setup prevents the clock tables from being updated immediately upon opening the laptop, waiting instead until a full minute of inactivity has passed. This solution ensures that the weekly review process is efficient, with minimal delay and no unnecessary strain on system resources.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Author automates weekly tasks in Emacs using timers",
    "Idle timers activate after 60 seconds of inactivity",
    "Setup ensures efficient weekly review process"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}