What command allows you to run a shell script at a specific time?

The command that allows you to run a shell script at a specific time is "at." This command is designed for scheduling one-time execution of commands or scripts at a future time. Users can specify the exact time they want the command to run, making it ideal for tasks that need to be triggered just once rather than on a recurring schedule.

In practice, after invoking the "at" command, you enter the commands you wish to execute at the specified time, and once you finish, the command exits, confirming that your job has been scheduled. This feature is particularly useful for managing tasks that don't need to repeat, allowing for precise timing without the need for a complex cron setup.

Unlike "at," the "cron" command is used for scheduling recurrent tasks at regular intervals and is not suitable for one-time execution. "Schedule" is not a built-in Linux command, and "exec" is used to execute a program in the current shell session, which does not pertain to scheduling. Understanding these distinctions is essential for effective job scheduling in a Linux environment.