Question

Is it possible to have a non-web app function with a cron trigger?

I’d like to run some code that connects to my DO MongoDB database periodically. Functions seem like the most cost-effective way to do so. However, it doesn’t look like functions can be associated with a database, so I’d have to open the entire database to the internet. Is there another way?

So, I found that I could create a function in an app! But now it creates a web function that is open to the world and web: false is ignored in project.yml. Is there a way to have a non-web app function that cannot be accessed without a login, then setup a cron for it?


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Bobby Iliev
Site Moderator
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January 22, 2023

Hey @dblock,

I believe that you can’t achieve this with the serverless functions, but you could use the App Platform background workers. As far as App Platform is concerned, they are the same as services, except they are not “routable,” i.e. they are not accessible via an external URL:

https://docs.digitalocean.com/products/app-platform/how-to/manage-workers/

For the serverless functions, the best thing to do to get your voice heard regarding this would be to head over to our Product Ideas board and post a new idea, including as much information as possible for what you’d like to see implemented.

https://ideas.digitalocean.com/

Hope that helps!

- Bobby.

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