Pick and show schedules as plain time instead of cron

Schedules were entered and displayed as six field cron expressions. A
picker now offers a frequency, a weekday or day of the month and a time,
and turns that into the expression the backend stores; tables and the
dashboard show wording like "Every day at 03:00". An expression the
picker cannot express stays editable as cron.

This also fixes a broken preset: the backend's cron dialect counts Sunday
as 1 and rejects 0, so the "every Sunday" choice in the application
backup form produced an invalid expression. The picker emits weekday
names, and a test pins the dialect down.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

backend/crates/application/src/tests/scheduler_tests.rs

@@ -31,3 +31,50 @@ fn due_when_a_fire_time_lies_between_last_run_and_now() {
     assert!(!is_due(hourly, None, now + Duration::minutes(10), 300));
     assert!(!is_due("bad", None, now, 300));
 }
+
+/// The UI offers simple choices ("every Sunday at 3:00") and turns them into these
+/// expressions, so the dialect they have to match is pinned down here.
+#[test]
+fn documents_the_cron_dialect_the_ui_generates() {
+    let fires_at = |expr: &str, after: chrono::DateTime<Utc>| next_fire(expr, after).unwrap();
+    let monday = Utc.with_ymd_and_hms(2026, 9, 7, 0, 0, 0).unwrap(); // a Monday
+
+    // every day at 3:00
+    assert_eq!(
+        fires_at("0 0 3 * * *", monday),
+        Utc.with_ymd_and_hms(2026, 9, 7, 3, 0, 0).unwrap()
+    );
+    // every six hours, on the hour
+    assert_eq!(
+        fires_at("0 0 */6 * * *", monday),
+        Utc.with_ymd_and_hms(2026, 9, 7, 6, 0, 0).unwrap()
+    );
+    // every hour at half past
+    assert_eq!(
+        fires_at("0 30 * * * *", monday),
+        Utc.with_ymd_and_hms(2026, 9, 7, 0, 30, 0).unwrap()
+    );
+    // on the first day of the month at 3:30
+    assert_eq!(
+        fires_at("0 30 3 1 * *", monday),
+        Utc.with_ymd_and_hms(2026, 10, 1, 3, 30, 0).unwrap()
+    );
+
+    // Weekdays are 1-7 with Sunday as 1, and names work; a zero is not a valid day.
+    let sunday = Utc.with_ymd_and_hms(2026, 9, 13, 3, 0, 0).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(fires_at("0 0 3 * * SUN", monday), sunday);
+    assert_eq!(
+        fires_at("0 0 3 * * 1", monday),
+        sunday,
+        "1 is Sunday, not Monday"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        fires_at("0 0 3 * * MON", monday),
+        Utc.with_ymd_and_hms(2026, 9, 7, 3, 0, 0).unwrap()
+    );
+    assert!(
+        validate_cron("0 0 3 * * 0").is_err(),
+        "a zero weekday is rejected"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(next_fire("0 0 3 * * 0", monday), None);
+}

frontend/e2e/app-backup.spec.ts

@@ -28,12 +28,14 @@ test('an admin backs up Gitea data and database in one flow', async ({ page }) =
   // Gitea → select → schedule → target → save
   await gitea.getByRole('button', { name: 'Back up' }).click()
   await expect(page.getByRole('dialog')).toContainText('gitea-shared-storage')
+  // the schedule reads as time, not as cron
+  await expect(page.getByRole('dialog')).toContainText('Every day at 03:00')
   await page.getByLabel('Target', { exact: true }).selectOption({ label: name })
   await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Create backup plan' }).click()
 
   await expect(page.getByText(/2 backup strategies created/)).toBeVisible()
   await expect(page.getByRole('row', { name: /Gitea – Gitea volume/ })).toBeVisible()
   await expect(page.getByRole('row', { name: /Gitea – PostgreSQL dump/ })).toContainText(
-    '0 0 3 * * *',
+    'Every day at 03:00',
   )
 })

frontend/e2e/backups.spec.ts

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ test('admin creates a target and a strategy, runs it and sees the backup', async
   await page.getByLabel('Source type', { exact: true }).selectOption('postgres_dump')
   await page.getByLabel('Namespace', { exact: true }).fill('gitea')
   await page.getByLabel('Pod', { exact: true }).fill('gitea-postgresql-0')
-  await page.getByLabel('Schedule', { exact: true }).fill('0 0 2 * * *')
+  await page.getByLabel('At', { exact: true }).fill('02:00')
   await page.getByLabel('Target', { exact: true }).selectOption({ label: name })
   await page.getByLabel('Keep last', { exact: true }).fill('3')
   await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Save strategy' }).click()
@@ -36,4 +36,5 @@ test('admin creates a target and a strategy, runs it and sees the backup', async
   await expect(row).toContainText(/gitea-database_.*\.sql\.gz/, { timeout: 20_000 })
   await row.getByRole('button', { name: 'History' }).click()
   await expect(page.getByTestId('backup-records')).toContainText('sql.gz')
+  await expect(row).toContainText('Every day at 02:00')
 })

frontend/e2e/settings-jobs.spec.ts

@@ -23,10 +23,14 @@ test('admin saves SMTP settings and a schedule', async ({ page }) => {
   await expect(page.getByLabel('SMTP host')).toHaveValue('mail.example.com')
   await expect(page.getByText('leave empty to keep')).toBeVisible()
 
-  const cron = page.getByLabel('Package refresh schedule')
+  await expect(page.getByTestId('schedule-summary').first()).toHaveText('Every hour')
-  await cron.fill('0 */30 * * * *')
+  await page.getByLabel('Repeat').first().selectOption('daily')
+  await expect(page.getByTestId('schedule-summary').first()).toContainText('Every day at')
+  await page.getByLabel('At', { exact: true }).first().fill('04:30')
   await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Save schedules' }).click()
-  await expect(page.getByRole('status')).toContainText('Schedules saved')
+  await expect(page.getByText(/Schedules saved/)).toBeVisible()
+  await page.reload()
+  await expect(page.getByLabel('At', { exact: true }).first()).toHaveValue('04:30')
 })
 
 test('admin runs a job manually and sees the log', async ({ page }) => {

frontend/src/components/ApplicationBackupForm.test.ts

@@ -53,7 +53,9 @@ describe('ApplicationBackupForm', () => {
 
   it('defaults to a nightly backup at three and submits the selection', async () => {
     const w = mount(ApplicationBackupForm, { props })
-    expect((w.find('input[name=schedule]').element as HTMLInputElement).value).toBe('0 0 3 * * *')
+    // the schedule is offered as plain time, not as a cron expression
+    expect(w.text()).toContain('Every day at 03:00')
+    expect((w.find('input[name=time]').element as HTMLInputElement).value).toBe('03:00')
     await w.find('select[name=target_id]').setValue('t2')
     await w.find('form').trigger('submit')
     expect(w.emitted('submit')![0][0]).toEqual({
@@ -66,7 +68,7 @@ describe('ApplicationBackupForm', () => {
     })
   })
 
-  it('refuses an empty selection and offers a daily preset', async () => {
+  it('refuses an empty selection and lets the time be changed', async () => {
     const w = mount(ApplicationBackupForm, { props })
     for (const b of w.findAll('input[type=checkbox]')) await b.setValue(false)
     await w.find('form').trigger('submit')
@@ -74,8 +76,12 @@ describe('ApplicationBackupForm', () => {
     expect(w.text()).toContain('Select at least one')
 
     await w.findAll('input[type=checkbox]')[0].setValue(true)
-    await w.find('select[name=preset]').setValue('0 0 */6 * * *')
+    await w.find('select[name=frequency]').setValue('hours')
-    expect((w.find('input[name=schedule]').element as HTMLInputElement).value).toBe('0 0 */6 * * *')
+    await w.find('select[name=interval]').setValue('12')
+    await w.find('form').trigger('submit')
+    expect((w.emitted('submit')!.at(-1)![0] as { schedule: string }).schedule).toBe(
+      '0 0 */12 * * *',
+    )
   })
 
   it('says when no target exists yet', () => {

frontend/src/components/ApplicationBackupForm.vue

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { computed, ref } from 'vue'
 import type { Application, ApplicationBackupPayload } from '../api/types'
+import SchedulePicker from './SchedulePicker.vue'
 
 const props = defineProps<{
   application: Application
@@ -13,19 +14,11 @@ const selected = ref<Set<string>>(
   new Set(props.application.components.filter((c) => c.recommended).map((c) => c.id)),
 )
 const schedule = ref('0 0 3 * * *')
-const preset = ref('0 0 3 * * *')
 const targetId = ref(props.targets[0]?.id ?? '')
 const retention = ref('7')
 const passphrase = ref('')
 const error = ref('')
 
-const presets = [
-  { cron: '0 0 3 * * *', label: 'Every day at 3:00' },
-  { cron: '0 0 */6 * * *', label: 'Every six hours' },
-  { cron: '0 0 3 * * 0', label: 'Every Sunday at 3:00' },
-  { cron: '0 30 3 1 * *', label: 'Monthly on the 1st at 3:30' },
-]
-
 /** Short summary of what is selected, e.g. "Data + DB". */
 const summary = computed(() => {
   const kinds = props.application.components
@@ -43,10 +36,6 @@ function toggle(id: string, on: boolean) {
   else selected.value.delete(id)
 }
 
-function applyPreset() {
-  schedule.value = preset.value
-}
-
 function submit() {
   error.value = ''
   if (selected.value.size === 0) {
@@ -95,23 +84,9 @@ const input = 'mt-1 w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2'
       </label>
     </div>
 
-    <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4">
     <div>
-        <label for="ab-preset" class="block text-sm font-medium">How often?</label>
+      <label class="block text-sm font-medium">How often?</label>
-        <select id="ab-preset" v-model="preset" name="preset" :class="input" @change="applyPreset">
+      <SchedulePicker v-model="schedule" />
-          <option v-for="p in presets" :key="p.cron" :value="p.cron">{{ p.label }}</option>
-        </select>
-      </div>
-      <div>
-        <label for="ab-schedule" class="block text-sm font-medium">Schedule</label>
-        <input
-          id="ab-schedule"
-          v-model="schedule"
-          name="schedule"
-          required
-          class="mt-1 w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2 font-mono"
-        />
-      </div>
     </div>
 
     <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4">

frontend/src/components/SchedulePicker.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils'
+import SchedulePicker from './SchedulePicker.vue'
+
+describe('SchedulePicker', () => {
+  it('shows a daily schedule as a time, not as cron', () => {
+    const w = mount(SchedulePicker, { props: { modelValue: '0 0 3 * * *' } })
+    expect((w.find('select[name=frequency]').element as HTMLSelectElement).value).toBe('daily')
+    expect((w.find('input[name=time]').element as HTMLInputElement).value).toBe('03:00')
+    expect(w.get('[data-testid=schedule-summary]').text()).toBe('Every day at 03:00')
+    expect(w.text()).not.toContain('* * *')
+  })
+
+  it('emits the cron expression for the chosen time', async () => {
+    const w = mount(SchedulePicker, { props: { modelValue: '0 0 3 * * *' } })
+    await w.find('input[name=time]').setValue('22:15')
+    expect(w.emitted('update:modelValue')!.at(-1)).toEqual(['0 15 22 * * *'])
+
+    await w.find('select[name=frequency]').setValue('weekly')
+    await w.find('select[name=weekday]').setValue('FRI')
+    expect(w.emitted('update:modelValue')!.at(-1)).toEqual(['0 15 22 * * FRI'])
+
+    await w.find('select[name=frequency]').setValue('monthly')
+    await w.find('select[name=day]').setValue('15')
+    expect(w.emitted('update:modelValue')!.at(-1)).toEqual(['0 15 22 15 * *'])
+  })
+
+  it('offers an interval in hours and hides the fields that do not apply', async () => {
+    const w = mount(SchedulePicker, { props: { modelValue: '0 0 3 * * *' } })
+    expect(w.find('select[name=weekday]').exists()).toBe(false)
+    await w.find('select[name=frequency]').setValue('hours')
+    expect(w.find('input[name=time]').exists()).toBe(false)
+    await w.find('select[name=interval]').setValue('12')
+    expect(w.emitted('update:modelValue')!.at(-1)).toEqual(['0 0 */12 * * *'])
+    expect(w.get('[data-testid=schedule-summary]').text()).toBe('Every 12 hours')
+  })
+
+  it('keeps an expression it cannot express and lets it be edited directly', async () => {
+    const w = mount(SchedulePicker, { props: { modelValue: '0 0 3,15 * * *' } })
+    const raw = w.find('input[name=cron]')
+    expect(raw.exists()).toBe(true)
+    expect((raw.element as HTMLInputElement).value).toBe('0 0 3,15 * * *')
+    await raw.setValue('0 0 4,16 * * *')
+    expect(w.emitted('update:modelValue')!.at(-1)).toEqual(['0 0 4,16 * * *'])
+  })
+})

frontend/src/components/SchedulePicker.vue

@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import { computed, ref, watch } from 'vue'
+import {
+  DEFAULT_SCHEDULE,
+  describeSchedule,
+  HOUR_INTERVALS,
+  parseSchedule,
+  toCron,
+  WEEKDAYS,
+  type Frequency,
+  type SimpleSchedule,
+} from '../lib/schedule'
+
+const props = defineProps<{ modelValue: string; disabled?: boolean }>()
+const emit = defineEmits<{ 'update:modelValue': [cron: string] }>()
+
+/** Null while the expression is one the picker cannot express. */
+const simple = ref<SimpleSchedule | null>(
+  parseSchedule(props.modelValue) ?? { ...DEFAULT_SCHEDULE },
+)
+const raw = ref(props.modelValue)
+const custom = ref(parseSchedule(props.modelValue) === null && props.modelValue !== '')
+
+watch(
+  () => props.modelValue,
+  (v) => {
+    raw.value = v
+    const parsed = parseSchedule(v)
+    if (parsed) simple.value = parsed
+    custom.value = parsed === null && v !== ''
+  },
+)
+
+const summary = computed(() => describeSchedule(raw.value))
+
+function update<K extends keyof SimpleSchedule>(key: K, value: SimpleSchedule[K]) {
+  const next = { ...(simple.value ?? DEFAULT_SCHEDULE), [key]: value }
+  simple.value = next
+  raw.value = toCron(next)
+  emit('update:modelValue', raw.value)
+}
+
+function updateRaw(value: string) {
+  raw.value = value
+  emit('update:modelValue', value)
+}
+
+const frequencies: { value: Frequency; label: string }[] = [
+  { value: 'hourly', label: 'Every hour' },
+  { value: 'hours', label: 'Every few hours' },
+  { value: 'daily', label: 'Every day' },
+  { value: 'weekly', label: 'Every week' },
+  { value: 'monthly', label: 'Every month' },
+]
+const field = 'mt-1 w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2'
+</script>
+
+<template>
+  <div>
+    <div v-if="!custom" class="flex flex-wrap gap-3">
+      <div>
+        <label :for="`sp-freq`" class="block text-sm font-medium">Repeat</label>
+        <select
+          id="sp-freq"
+          name="frequency"
+          :value="simple?.frequency"
+          :disabled="disabled"
+          :class="field"
+          @change="update('frequency', ($event.target as HTMLSelectElement).value as Frequency)"
+        >
+          <option v-for="f in frequencies" :key="f.value" :value="f.value">{{ f.label }}</option>
+        </select>
+      </div>
+
+      <div v-if="simple?.frequency === 'hours'">
+        <label for="sp-interval" class="block text-sm font-medium">Interval</label>
+        <select
+          id="sp-interval"
+          name="interval"
+          :value="simple?.interval"
+          :disabled="disabled"
+          :class="field"
+          @change="update('interval', Number(($event.target as HTMLSelectElement).value))"
+        >
+          <option v-for="i in HOUR_INTERVALS" :key="i" :value="i">every {{ i }} hours</option>
+        </select>
+      </div>
+
+      <div v-if="simple?.frequency === 'weekly'">
+        <label for="sp-weekday" class="block text-sm font-medium">Weekday</label>
+        <select
+          id="sp-weekday"
+          name="weekday"
+          :value="simple?.weekday"
+          :disabled="disabled"
+          :class="field"
+          @change="update('weekday', ($event.target as HTMLSelectElement).value)"
+        >
+          <option v-for="d in WEEKDAYS" :key="d.value" :value="d.value">{{ d.label }}</option>
+        </select>
+      </div>
+
+      <div v-if="simple?.frequency === 'monthly'">
+        <label for="sp-day" class="block text-sm font-medium">Day</label>
+        <select
+          id="sp-day"
+          name="day"
+          :value="simple?.day"
+          :disabled="disabled"
+          :class="field"
+          @change="update('day', Number(($event.target as HTMLSelectElement).value))"
+        >
+          <option v-for="d in 28" :key="d" :value="d">{{ d }}.</option>
+        </select>
+      </div>
+
+      <div v-if="simple && simple.frequency !== 'hours'">
+        <label for="sp-time" class="block text-sm font-medium">
+          {{ simple.frequency === 'hourly' ? 'At minute' : 'At' }}
+        </label>
+        <input
+          id="sp-time"
+          name="time"
+          type="time"
+          :value="simple.time"
+          :disabled="disabled"
+          :class="field"
+          @change="update('time', ($event.target as HTMLInputElement).value)"
+        />
+      </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <div v-else>
+      <label for="sp-cron" class="block text-sm font-medium">Schedule (cron)</label>
+      <input
+        id="sp-cron"
+        name="cron"
+        :value="raw"
+        :disabled="disabled"
+        class="mt-1 w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2 font-mono"
+        @input="updateRaw(($event.target as HTMLInputElement).value)"
+      />
+    </div>
+
+    <p class="mt-1 text-xs text-gray-500">
+      <span data-testid="schedule-summary">{{ summary }}</span>
+      <button
+        v-if="!disabled"
+        type="button"
+        class="ml-2 text-blue-600 hover:underline"
+        @click="custom = !custom"
+      >
+        {{ custom ? 'use the simple picker' : 'enter a cron expression' }}
+      </button>
+    </p>
+  </div>
+</template>

frontend/src/components/StrategyForm.test.ts

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ describe('StrategyForm', () => {
     await w.find('select[name=source_type]').setValue('postgres_dump')
     await w.find('input[name=namespace]').setValue('gitea')
     await w.find('input[name=pod]').setValue('gitea-postgresql-0')
-    await w.find('input[name=schedule]').setValue('0 0 2 * * *')
+    await w.find('input[name=time]').setValue('02:00')
     await w.find('select[name=target_id]').setValue('t2')
     await w.find('input[name=retention]').setValue('7')
     await w.find('input[name=passphrase]').setValue('a-long-passphrase!')

frontend/src/components/StrategyForm.vue

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { ref } from 'vue'
 import type { BackupSource, BackupStrategyPayload, BackupStrategyView } from '../api/types'
+import SchedulePicker from './SchedulePicker.vue'
 
 const props = defineProps<{
   targets: { id: string; name: string }[]
@@ -106,17 +107,10 @@ const input = 'mt-1 w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2'
         :class="input"
       />
     </div>
-    <div class="grid grid-cols-3 gap-4">
+    <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4">
-      <div>
+      <div class="col-span-2">
-        <label for="s-cron" class="block text-sm font-medium">Schedule</label>
+        <label class="block text-sm font-medium">Schedule</label>
-        <input
+        <SchedulePicker v-model="schedule" />
-          id="s-cron"
-          v-model="schedule"
-          name="schedule"
-          required
-          class="mt-1 w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2 font-mono"
-        />
-        <p class="mt-1 text-xs text-gray-500">sec min hour day month weekday</p>
       </div>
       <div>
         <label for="s-target" class="block text-sm font-medium">Target</label>

frontend/src/lib/schedule.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+import { describeSchedule, parseSchedule, toCron } from './schedule'
+
+describe('describeSchedule', () => {
+  it('reads common schedules as plain time', () => {
+    expect(describeSchedule('0 0 3 * * *')).toBe('Every day at 03:00')
+    expect(describeSchedule('0 30 3 * * *')).toBe('Every day at 03:30')
+    expect(describeSchedule('0 0 0 * * *')).toBe('Every day at 00:00')
+    expect(describeSchedule('0 0 3 * * SUN')).toBe('Every Sunday at 03:00')
+    expect(describeSchedule('0 0 3 * * MON')).toBe('Every Monday at 03:00')
+    expect(describeSchedule('0 30 3 1 * *')).toBe('Monthly on the 1st at 03:30')
+    expect(describeSchedule('0 0 3 15 * *')).toBe('Monthly on the 15th at 03:00')
+    expect(describeSchedule('0 0 */6 * * *')).toBe('Every 6 hours')
+    expect(describeSchedule('0 0 * * * *')).toBe('Every hour')
+    expect(describeSchedule('0 30 * * * *')).toBe('Every hour at minute 30')
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to the expression when it is not a simple pattern', () => {
+    expect(describeSchedule('0 0 3,15 * * *')).toBe('0 0 3,15 * * *')
+    expect(describeSchedule('')).toBe('')
+  })
+})
+
+describe('parseSchedule and toCron', () => {
+  it('round-trips the schedules the picker can express', () => {
+    const cases = [
+      '0 0 3 * * *',
+      '0 15 7 * * *',
+      '0 0 3 * * SUN',
+      '0 0 3 * * SAT',
+      '0 30 3 1 * *',
+      '0 0 */6 * * *',
+      '0 0 * * * *',
+      '0 45 * * * *',
+    ]
+    for (const cron of cases) {
+      const parsed = parseSchedule(cron)
+      expect(parsed, cron).not.toBeNull()
+      expect(toCron(parsed!), cron).toBe(cron)
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('reads the parts of a schedule', () => {
+    expect(parseSchedule('0 30 3 * * SUN')).toEqual({
+      frequency: 'weekly',
+      time: '03:30',
+      weekday: 'SUN',
+      day: 1,
+      interval: 6,
+    })
+    expect(parseSchedule('0 0 5 12 * *')).toEqual({
+      frequency: 'monthly',
+      time: '05:00',
+      weekday: 'SUN',
+      day: 12,
+      interval: 6,
+    })
+    expect(parseSchedule('0 0 */4 * * *')).toEqual({
+      frequency: 'hours',
+      time: '03:00',
+      weekday: 'SUN',
+      day: 1,
+      interval: 4,
+    })
+    expect(parseSchedule('0 0 3,15 * * *')).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('builds expressions the backend accepts, counting Sunday as SUN not 0', () => {
+    expect(toCron({ frequency: 'daily', time: '03:00', weekday: 'SUN', day: 1, interval: 6 })).toBe(
+      '0 0 3 * * *',
+    )
+    expect(
+      toCron({ frequency: 'weekly', time: '23:05', weekday: 'FRI', day: 1, interval: 6 }),
+    ).toBe('0 5 23 * * FRI')
+    expect(
+      toCron({ frequency: 'monthly', time: '00:00', weekday: 'SUN', day: 28, interval: 6 }),
+    ).toBe('0 0 0 28 * *')
+    expect(
+      toCron({ frequency: 'hours', time: '03:00', weekday: 'SUN', day: 1, interval: 12 }),
+    ).toBe('0 0 */12 * * *')
+    expect(
+      toCron({ frequency: 'hourly', time: '03:20', weekday: 'SUN', day: 1, interval: 6 }),
+    ).toBe('0 20 * * * *')
+  })
+})

frontend/src/lib/schedule.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+/**
+ * Schedules are shown and picked as plain time ("Every day at 03:00") and stored as the
+ * six field cron expression the backend uses: `sec min hour day month weekday`.
+ *
+ * Weekdays are names (SUN … SAT). The backend's cron dialect counts Sunday as 1 and
+ * rejects a zero, so names avoid the off-by-one entirely.
+ */
+export type Frequency = 'hourly' | 'hours' | 'daily' | 'weekly' | 'monthly'
+
+export const WEEKDAYS = [
+  { value: 'MON', label: 'Monday' },
+  { value: 'TUE', label: 'Tuesday' },
+  { value: 'WED', label: 'Wednesday' },
+  { value: 'THU', label: 'Thursday' },
+  { value: 'FRI', label: 'Friday' },
+  { value: 'SAT', label: 'Saturday' },
+  { value: 'SUN', label: 'Sunday' },
+] as const
+
+export const HOUR_INTERVALS = [2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12] as const
+
+export interface SimpleSchedule {
+  frequency: Frequency
+  /** `HH:MM`, used by every frequency except `hours`. */
+  time: string
+  weekday: string
+  /** Day of the month, 1-28. */
+  day: number
+  /** Interval in hours for `hours`. */
+  interval: number
+}
+
+export const DEFAULT_SCHEDULE: SimpleSchedule = {
+  frequency: 'daily',
+  time: '03:00',
+  weekday: 'SUN',
+  day: 1,
+  interval: 6,
+}
+
+const pad = (n: number) => String(n).padStart(2, '0')
+const isNumber = (s: string) => /^\d+$/.test(s)
+
+/** Read a cron expression the picker can express, or null for anything else. */
+export function parseSchedule(cron: string): SimpleSchedule | null {
+  const parts = cron.trim().split(/\s+/)
+  if (parts.length !== 6) return null
+  const [sec, min, hour, day, month, weekday] = parts
+  if (sec !== '0' || month !== '*') return null
+
+  const everyNHours = /^\*\/(\d+)$/.exec(hour)
+  if (everyNHours && min === '0' && day === '*' && weekday === '*') {
+    return { ...DEFAULT_SCHEDULE, frequency: 'hours', interval: Number(everyNHours[1]) }
+  }
+  if (hour === '*' && isNumber(min) && day === '*' && weekday === '*') {
+    return { ...DEFAULT_SCHEDULE, frequency: 'hourly', time: `03:${pad(Number(min))}` }
+  }
+  if (!isNumber(hour) || !isNumber(min)) return null
+  const time = `${pad(Number(hour))}:${pad(Number(min))}`
+
+  if (day === '*' && weekday === '*') return { ...DEFAULT_SCHEDULE, frequency: 'daily', time }
+  if (day === '*' && WEEKDAYS.some((w) => w.value === weekday)) {
+    return { ...DEFAULT_SCHEDULE, frequency: 'weekly', time, weekday }
+  }
+  if (isNumber(day) && weekday === '*') {
+    return { ...DEFAULT_SCHEDULE, frequency: 'monthly', time, day: Number(day) }
+  }
+  return null
+}
+
+/** Build the cron expression for a picked schedule. */
+export function toCron(s: SimpleSchedule): string {
+  const [hour, minute] = s.time.split(':').map(Number)
+  switch (s.frequency) {
+    case 'hours':
+      return `0 0 */${s.interval} * * *`
+    case 'hourly':
+      return `0 ${minute} * * * *`
+    case 'daily':
+      return `0 ${minute} ${hour} * * *`
+    case 'weekly':
+      return `0 ${minute} ${hour} * * ${s.weekday}`
+    case 'monthly':
+      return `0 ${minute} ${hour} ${s.day} * *`
+  }
+}
+
+const ordinal = (n: number) => {
+  const suffix =
+    n % 10 === 1 && n !== 11
+      ? 'st'
+      : n % 10 === 2 && n !== 12
+        ? 'nd'
+        : n % 10 === 3 && n !== 13
+          ? 'rd'
+          : 'th'
+  return `${n}${suffix}`
+}
+
+/** Human wording for a schedule; the expression itself when it is not a simple pattern. */
+export function describeSchedule(cron: string): string {
+  const s = parseSchedule(cron)
+  if (!s) return cron
+  switch (s.frequency) {
+    case 'hours':
+      return `Every ${s.interval} hours`
+    case 'hourly': {
+      const minute = Number(s.time.split(':')[1])
+      return minute === 0 ? 'Every hour' : `Every hour at minute ${minute}`
+    }
+    case 'daily':
+      return `Every day at ${s.time}`
+    case 'weekly': {
+      const day = WEEKDAYS.find((w) => w.value === s.weekday)?.label ?? s.weekday
+      return `Every ${day} at ${s.time}`
+    }
+    case 'monthly':
+      return `Monthly on the ${ordinal(s.day)} at ${s.time}`
+  }
+}

frontend/src/pages/BackupsPage.vue

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { useToastStore } from '../stores/toast'
 import TargetForm from '../components/TargetForm.vue'
 import StrategyForm from '../components/StrategyForm.vue'
 import ApplicationBackupForm from '../components/ApplicationBackupForm.vue'
+import { describeSchedule } from '../lib/schedule'
 
 const auth = useAuthStore()
 const toast = useToastStore()
@@ -343,7 +344,7 @@ const fmt = (d: string) => new Date(d).toLocaleString()
               <span v-if="!s.enabled" class="ml-1 rounded bg-gray-100 px-1 text-xs">disabled</span>
             </td>
             <td class="font-mono text-xs">{{ sourceLabel(s) }}</td>
-            <td class="font-mono text-xs">{{ s.schedule }}</td>
+            <td class="text-xs">{{ describeSchedule(s.schedule) }}</td>
             <td>{{ s.target_name }}</td>
             <td>{{ s.retention }}</td>
             <td class="text-xs">

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.vue

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { onMounted, ref } from 'vue'
 import { api, ApiError } from '../api/client'
 import type { Dashboard } from '../api/types'
 import { useToastStore } from '../stores/toast'
+import { describeSchedule } from '../lib/schedule'
 
 const toast = useToastStore()
 const d = ref<Dashboard | null>(null)
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ const tile = 'block rounded-lg border border-gray-200 bg-white p-4 hover:border-
                 :class="b.enabled ? '' : 'text-gray-400'"
               >
                 <td class="py-1.5 font-medium">{{ b.name }}</td>
-                <td class="font-mono text-xs">{{ b.schedule }}</td>
+                <td class="text-xs">{{ describeSchedule(b.schedule) }}</td>
                 <td class="text-xs">
                   <template v-if="b.last_backup"
                     >{{ b.last_backup.filename }}<br /><span class="text-gray-500">{{

frontend/src/pages/SettingsPage.vue

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import type { ScheduleView, Severity, SmtpPayload, SmtpView } from '../api/types
 import { useAuthStore } from '../stores/auth'
 import { useToastStore } from '../stores/toast'
 import SmtpForm from '../components/SmtpForm.vue'
+import SchedulePicker from '../components/SchedulePicker.vue'
 
 const auth = useAuthStore()
 const toast = useToastStore()
@@ -74,6 +75,11 @@ async function saveNotifications() {
   }
 }
 
+/** Switching a job off stores an empty schedule; switching it on restores the default. */
+function toggleSchedule(s: ScheduleView, on: boolean) {
+  cronInputs.value[s.kind] = on ? (s.cron ?? s.default_cron ?? '0 0 3 * * *') : ''
+}
+
 async function saveSchedules() {
   busy.value = true
   try {
@@ -163,21 +169,29 @@ async function saveSchedules() {
 
   <section class="mt-10">
     <h2 class="text-lg font-medium">Schedules</h2>
-    <p class="mb-4 text-sm text-gray-600">
+    <p class="mb-4 text-sm text-gray-600">Pick when each job should run, or switch it off.</p>
-      Cron expressions with seconds (sec min hour day month weekday). Empty disables the job.
-    </p>
     <form class="grid max-w-xl gap-4" @submit.prevent="saveSchedules">
       <div v-for="s in schedules" :key="s.kind">
-        <label :for="`cron-${s.kind}`" class="block text-sm font-medium"
+        <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
-          >{{ labels[s.kind] ?? s.kind }} schedule</label
+          <label class="block text-sm font-medium">{{ labels[s.kind] ?? s.kind }}</label>
-        >
+          <label class="flex items-center gap-1 text-xs text-gray-600">
             <input
-          :id="`cron-${s.kind}`"
+              type="checkbox"
-          v-model="cronInputs[s.kind]"
+              :name="`enabled-${s.kind}`"
-          :placeholder="s.default_cron ?? ''"
+              :checked="cronInputs[s.kind] !== ''"
               :disabled="!auth.isAdmin"
-          class="mt-1 w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2 font-mono"
+              @change="toggleSchedule(s, ($event.target as HTMLInputElement).checked)"
             />
+            enabled
+          </label>
+        </div>
+        <SchedulePicker
+          v-if="cronInputs[s.kind]"
+          v-model="cronInputs[s.kind]"
+          :disabled="!auth.isAdmin"
+          class="mt-1"
+        />
+        <p v-else class="mt-1 text-xs text-gray-500">This job only runs when started by hand.</p>
       </div>
       <div v-if="auth.isAdmin">
         <button