delayed-command
This skill should be used when the user asks to "run npm test after 30 minutes", "git commit after 1 hour", "wait 2h then deploy", "sleep 45m and run build", "after 10m run prettier", or provides a duration followed by a shell command to execute later.
- Installs
- 135
- Last 24h
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- Trending rank
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- Security
- Not audited
Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/paulrberg/agent-skills --skill delayed-command- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads delayed-command automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Delayed Command Execution
Wait for a specified duration, then execute a Bash command.
Arguments
- duration: Time to wait before execution (e.g.,
30s,5m,1h,1h30m) - command: The Bash command to run after the delay
Duration Format
| Format | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
Xs | 30s | 30 seconds |
Xm | 5m | 5 minutes |
Xh | 1h | 1 hour |
XhYm | 1h30m | 1 hour 30 minutes |
XhYmZs | 1h5m30s | 1 hour 5 min 30 s |
Workflow
1. Parse Duration
Convert the duration argument to seconds:
- Extract hours (
h), minutes (m), and seconds (s) components - Calculate total seconds:
hours * 3600 + minutes * 60 + seconds
Parsing logic:
duration="$1"
seconds=0
# Extract hours
if [[ $duration =~ ([0-9]+)h ]]; then
seconds=$((seconds + ${BASH_REMATCH[1]} * 3600))
fi
# Extract minutes
if [[ $duration =~ ([0-9]+)m ]]; then
seconds=$((seconds + ${BASH_REMATCH[1]} * 60))
fi
# Extract seconds
if [[ $duration =~ ([0-9]+)s ]]; then
seconds=$((seconds + ${BASH_REMATCH[1]}))
fi
2. Execute with Delay
For durations up to 10 minutes (600 seconds):
Run synchronously using the Bash tool with appropriate timeout:
sleep <seconds> && <command>
Set the Bash tool's timeout parameter to at least (seconds + 60) * 1000 milliseconds.
For durations over 10 minutes:
Run in background using run_in_background: true:
sleep <seconds> && <command>
Inform the user the command is running in background and provide the task ID for checking status.
3. Report Result
After execution completes:
- Display command output
- Report exit status
- Note total elapsed time
Examples
Short Delay (Synchronous)
User: /delayed-command 5m npm test
- Parse: 5 minutes = 300 seconds
- Execute:
sleep 300 && npm test(timeout: 360000ms) - Report test results
Long Delay (Background)
User: /delayed-command 1h git commit -m "auto-commit"
- Parse: 1 hour = 3600 seconds
- Execute in background:
sleep 3600 && git commit -m "auto-commit" - Return task ID for status checking
Combined Duration
User: /delayed-command 1h30m ./deploy.sh
- Parse: 1h30m = 5400 seconds
- Execute in background (>600s):
sleep 5400 && ./deploy.sh - Inform user of background task
Error Handling
| Error | Response |
|---|---|
| Invalid duration format | Show supported formats and examples |
| Missing command argument | Prompt for the command to execute |
| Command not found | Report error after delay completes |
| Duration exceeds 24h | Warn user and suggest alternative (cron, at) |
FAQ
What does the delayed-command skill do?
This skill should be used when the user asks to "run npm test after 30 minutes", "git commit after 1 hour", "wait 2h then deploy", "sleep 45m and run build", "after 10m run prettier", or provides a duration followed by a shell command to execute later.
How do I install delayed-command?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/paulrberg/agent-skills --skill delayed-command in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/delayed-command/ (personal) or .claude/skills/delayed-command/ (project).
Which AI agents can use delayed-command?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is delayed-command safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains delayed-command?
It is published by paulrberg in paulrberg/agent-skills. It has 135 recorded installs.
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