title: Is it possible to run a cron job in a web application?
body: <p>In a java web application (servlets/spring mvc), using tomcat, is it possible to run a cron job type service?</p>
  
  <p>e.g. every 15 minutes, purge the log database.</p>
  
  <p>Can you do this in a way that is container independent, or it has to be run using tomcat or some other container?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Please specify if the method is guaranteed to run at a specific time or one that runs every 15 minutes, but may be reset etc. if the application recycles (that's how it is in .net if you use timers)</strong></p>