Automation

[steadyguy]

Does anyone know how I'd go about creating an automated service? For example, suppose I want to build a service that reminds me of the birthday's of all the people in my family ...

I don't need the code, just a pointer in the right direction, really.

[thna_brianb]

if you are using php, i would use a cron job with command line php to either hit a database,dbm, or flat file. Set the cron to run once a day. The PHP app could kick you an email when its somebody's birthday, a day before somebody's birthday, or whatever you want.