Random Process Scheduler

Description

Random Process Scheduler

Turn predictable automations into human-like activity with random scheduling across easily customisable time slots.

Perfect for content publishing with organic scheduling patterns, social media automation, API systems that need to avoid rate limiting, or any automation requiring randomised timing control across multiple periods.

All times are configured in local timezone with automatic UTC conversion for technical operations.

Features easy slot management with chronological ordering, gap support, and 24-hour window scheduling.

How to use

Set schedulerExecutionTime in Init node (match it to Schedule Trigger cron)
Define time slots with start/end hours and probability values (see below)
Configure Execute sub-process with your own workflow ID
Configure SMTP credentials, local time zone and optionally project paths

Step by Step Configuration

Two variables to set in the Init node's "Custom Configuration" section:

1. When the scheduler runs daily:
const schedulerExecutionTime = 1; // 1am (24h clock; must match Schedule Trigger node)

2. Your execution slots:
const subprocessTimeSlots = {
morning: { start: 6, end: 12, probability: 0.85 },
afternoon: { start: 12, end: 18, probability: 0.85 },
evening: { start: 18, end: 24, probability: 0.5 }
};

That's it. Three slots, three probabilities.

Add or remove slots, adjust times - it just works.

Real-world example with gaps:
const subprocessTimeSlots = {
night: { start: 0, end: 2, probability: 0.1 }, // Optional late activity
morning: { start: 6, end: 10, probability: 0.85 }, // Gap from 2-6am (no execution)
noon: { start: 12, end: 14, probability: 0.85 }, // Gap from 10am-12pm
afternoon: { start: 16, end: 18, probability: 0.85 }, // Gap from 2-4pm
evening: { start: 20, end: 24, probability: 0.5 } // Gap from 6-8pm
};
3. Configure Execute sub-process with your workflow ID

Your sub-workflow MUST start with a Wait node and be configured with {{ $json.executions.relativeDelaySeconds }} as “Wait Amount”.



4. Additional Configuration
SMTP credential
Time zone (Init node): const LOCAL_TIMEZONE = $env.GENERIC_TIMEZONE || 'Europe/Paris'; by default
Project paths (Init node):
// ⚠️ Your email here
• const N8N_ADMIN_EMAIL = $env.N8N_ADMIN_EMAIL || '[email protected]';

// ⚠️ Your projects’ ROOT folder on your mapped server here
• const N8N_PROJECTS_DIR = $env.N8N_PROJECTS_DIR || '/files/n8n-projects-data';

// ⚠️ Your project’s folder name here for logging
• const PROJECT_FOLDER_NAME = "RPS";

Requirements

n8n instance running in Docker with file system access
Volume mapping for persistent storage (e.g., /local-files:/files)
De-activate** Read/Write nodes & Email sends if you do not want to use logging features (file system access optional)
SMTP server for notifications
n8n API credentials for error handling
Target sub-workflow* with *Wait** node to handle relativeDelaySeconds

IMPORTANT: Your sub-workflow MUST start with a Wait node and be configured with {{ $json.executions.relativeDelaySeconds }} as “Wait Amount”.

How it works

24-Hour Window Algorithm**: Schedules executions from current time until next scheduler run, handling timezone conversions and cross-midnight scenarios
Automatic Validation**: Checks for overlaps, invalid time ranges, and probability values on every run
Chronological Processing**: Processes slots in order regardless of how you define them
Inclusive/Exclusive Boundaries**: 6-12 slot runs from 6:00:00 to 11:59:59 (start inclusive, end exclusive)
Chained Execution**: Each subprocess receives a relativeDelaySeconds value for sequential execution with calculated intervals
Comprehensive Monitoring**: Tracks planned vs actual execution times with delay calculations and detailed logging

Configuration Rules

No Overlap**: Slots cannot overlap (6-10 and 9-12 is invalid)
Valid Ranges**: Start 0-23, end 0-24, start < end
Valid Probability**: 0 to 1 (0.85 = 85% chance)
Gaps Allowed**: Skip hours completely (e.g., no execution 2-6am)
Emoji Support**: Use "night", "morning", "noon", "evening" keywords in slot names for visual logs

Use Cases:
Content publishing with organic scheduling patterns
Social media automation with human-like posting intervals
API systems avoiding rate limits through unpredictable timing
Business hours automation with precise timing control