> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.servoy.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.servoy.com/guides/develop/programming-guide/automation-and-scheduling.md). # Automation and Scheduling Headless Client Plugin Guide / Batch Processor / Scheduler ## Headless Client ### Overview A headless client is a server-side client session that operates without an interface (UI), allowing you to automate tasks that do not require interaction from end-users. It can be configured to have a logged-in user account and perform long-running or background tasks, making it essential for server-side operations that don't need real-time interaction. The Servoy Headless Client cannot be started by users directly, but need to be instantiated through code. From within a Servoy solution this can be done through the [Headless Client plugin](/reference/servoyextensions/server-plugins/headlessclient.md#headlessclient), otherwise Headless Clients can be instantiated through the Servoy Public API in JSP pages for example. ### Use Cases * **Automating background processes**: Useful for backend operations like data processing, reporting, or server-side jobs. * **Running long-duration tasks**: Ideal for processes that take significant time and don't need real-time interaction. * **Parallelized workloads**: By spawning multiple headless clients, you can handle several tasks in parallel, improving processing efficiency. ### Approaches There are three main approaches to automating tasks using the headless client: * [Batch Processor](/guides/develop/programming-guide/automation-and-scheduling/batch-processor.md#overview): Best for tasks that start automatically when the server is launched. * [Headless API](/guides/develop/programming-guide/automation-and-scheduling/headless-api.md#overview): Allows starting and managing headless clients from within another session. * [Scheduler API](/guides/develop/programming-guide/automation-and-scheduling/scheduler-api.md#overview): Provides the ability to schedule tasks at specific times or intervals. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters: ``` GET https://docs.servoy.com/guides/develop/programming-guide/automation-and-scheduling.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.