====== Pseudo-cron ======

Most trade scripts use a "cron daemon" to periodically execute their ''cron.php'' module, which means you need to be familiar with at least basic "shell commands" to perform the installation.   

TE3 uses ''in.php'' method instead - we call this method "pseudo-cron". You don't need to know anything about cron or SSH access, which makes [[te3:installation|installation]] process more user-friendly. 

----
===== How does it work =====


TE3 ''cron.php'' module is triggered by ''in.php''. It has to be executed  once per minute. Each time [[te3:incoming:standard|incoming tracking]] script is called (each time a surfer accesses one of your pages), ''in.php'' checks if 1 minute has elapsed since "pseudo-cron" was last activated - if more then 1 minute passed, ''cron.php'' is started.

"Pseudo-cron" executes all time-related tasks such as stats recalculation, toplist creation, writting log files (server log, history log, and some other processes), mailing and so on. 

The objective of "pseudo-cron" is to be triggerred once per minute. If your site doesn't have any traffic or receives very little traffic, your TE3 will not be affected - "pseudo-cron" will execute all its tasks retroactively with the first incoming ''Raw'' hit your site receives.