running a script at designated time

[tzarin]

Im working on a game which requires a script to be run each hour (i.e. each hour this script is run which updates the game information). This type of game is called a 'tick-based' game if that helps.

I am trying to find out how to do this, do I need a seperate program running on my server which calls this script every hour and if so how do I go about doing that?

Im just looking for someone to point me in the right direction on this one. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

Cheers.

[sde]

what type of system is the server? if linux, then you will have to schedule the script to run with cron. here is a tutorial that bdl wrote for that:( http://codenewbie.com/tutorials/716.html ) if you are using windows, i think you can use 'scheduled tasks'

good luck!

[idx]

In addition to cron, I believe you'll need a php version that's compiled as CLI binary. (not just an apache module) Otherwise you'll have nothing to run it with.

-r

[bdl]

Originally posted by idx
In addition to cron, I believe you'll need a php version that's compiled as CLI binary. (not just an apache module) Otherwise you'll have nothing to run it with.

-r

Yes and no. In my experience, the PHP binary exists regardless of whether or not you install PHP as an apache module or standalone CGI. If you can 'see' the php executable in your PATH (or /usr/local/php/bin/php, wherever your php installation is) then you can use that binary in your shell script.

[idx]

Originally posted by bdl
Yes and no. In my experience, the PHP binary exists regardless of whether or not you install PHP as an apache module or standalone CGI. If you can 'see' the php executable in your PATH (or /usr/local/php/bin/php, wherever your php installation is) then you can use that binary in your shell script.

Perhaps an OS issue. In FreeBSD if you don't compile from /usr/ports/lang/php4 (vs /usr/ports/www/mod_php4), you wont get the binary.

-r

[tzarin]

Just what I was looking for, thanks to you all!