# Long-running work

Commands have three modes.

| Mode | Behaviour | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| `wait` | The call returns the result | 60 s by default, 3,600 s at most |
| `stream` | Output arrives as it happens | None |
| `detach` | Returns at once, and you check later | None |

`harebox exec` streams by default, and exits with the remote command's own code.

```sh
harebox new --name long
harebox exec current -- echo streamed
CMD=$(harebox exec current --detach -- sleep 1 | jq -r .id)
harebox exec current "$CMD" --status
harebox history current
```

## Always-on services

Sleep needs real idleness, so a service with traffic stays awake. To keep one running regardless, set `--sleep never`.

```sh
harebox new --name always --sleep never
harebox set current --sleep auto
```

Programs started by hand survive sleep, but not a stop. For a service that must come back after a stop, make it a systemd unit.

## Timers

Cron and timers inside a VM don't fire while it sleeps. Use a schedule, which runs outside it:

```sh
harebox new --name timed
harebox schedule new --action wake --cron "0 9 * * 1" --target "$(cat .harebox/current)"
```