Drew, I agree with Chris that the cron job is perfectly fine. However, I would not key off the start time in the database, instead when the user starts a timer, store the start time AND the max end time, taking into account the user’s preferences for maximum duration. Then, you just need one SQL query to find all expired timers for all users and just batch send all the emails. Now, if your site becomes *webscale*, then you will need more complex architecture to keep things humming, but those are the kind of problems we entrepreneurs pray for!
-- Regards, John Lynch [email protected] On Sun, Oct 12, 2014 at 10:05 AM, Andrew Haines <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi everyone, > > This is Drew Haines from DevCo <http://dmdevco.com/>. I am working on a > web app called HoursLogger.com and want a second opinion on how to > automate the emails for my Rails app. > > > Hours Logger is a time tracking applications and currently sends 2 > automated emails: > 1. When a user's timer runs too long, it sends an email fix their timer > 2. At the end of the week, it emails the user their weekly report > > > *1. Timer Runs Too Long* > Currently, the timer application runs on the client side. When the timer > runs over the set time limit, an AJAX request is sent to the server to send > the email. This is a problem because the app has to be open in the user's > browser to fire the email, which isn't that helpful. So ... I need a way > to track when a user's timer goes over their limit, *on the server*. > > I was thinking implement with cron job. > - When a user starts the timer, use AJAX to save the start time in the > database > - Run a cron job that checks if any users have a start time, but no > stop time > - If they do, see if (now - time started) is longer than their limit > - Send the email > > I am pretty sure I can make this work but is it a waste of resources? > I would need a cron job constantly (every 5 minutes) monitor user's > start and stop times. > Is there a better way to implement? > > > *2. Weekly Report* > Cron job for sure on the weekly report. > > > If you agree/ disagree please tell me. I wanted to kick around ideas > with others on the community because 2 heads are better than 1. ( And an > internet forum is even better than that! ) > > I appreciate any comments. > Drew Haines > > > > -- > -- > SD Ruby mailing list > [email protected] > http://groups.google.com/group/sdruby > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "SD Ruby" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- -- SD Ruby mailing list [email protected] http://groups.google.com/group/sdruby --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SD Ruby" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
