PHP move file at certain time - php

Question

I am trying to move a file from one folder to another at a specific time. In order to achieve this I am trying to use the Linux at command with a pipe :
`mv file /to/dest | at h:m d.m.y`
This is what I've written:
$move = "mv $filename /destination/folder";
$at = "at $my_datetime";
$res = execute_pipe($move,$at);
where the execute_pipe function is defined as following:
function execute_pipe($cmd1 , $cmd2)
{
$proc_cmd1 = proc_open($cmd1,
array(
array("pipe","r"), //stdin
array("pipe","w"), //stdout
array("pipe","w") //stderr
),
$pipes);
$output_cmd1 = stream_get_contents($pipes[1]);
fclose($pipes[0]);
fclose($pipes[1]);
fclose($pipes[2]);
$return_value_cmd1 = proc_close($proc_cmd1);
$proc_cmd2 = proc_open($cmd2,
array(
array("pipe","r"), //stdin
array("pipe","w"), //stdout
array("pipe","w") //stderr
),
$pipes);
fwrite($pipes[0], $output_cmd1);
fclose($pipes[0]);
$output_cmd2 = stream_get_contents($pipes[1]);
fclose($pipes[1]);
fclose($pipes[2]);
$return_value_cmd2 = proc_close($proc_cmd2);
return $output_cmd2;
}
The problem is that the files get moved right away, ignoring the at command. What am I missing? Is there a better way to do this?

Answer 1

To me it seems like your problem has nothing to do with PHP. You're just using the Shell incorrectly.
The Man page of at reads:
at and batch read commands from standard input or a specified file
which are to be executed at a later time, using /bin/sh.
But your usage of the shell does execute your "mv file /destination" command, and then pipes the OUTPUT of that command to at. On a successful moving operation that output will ne nothing. So by using the pipe you actually move the file right away and tell at to do nothing at your specified time.
Read the man page of at by typing man at into your terminal to resolve the issue. Hint: if you want to use STD INPUT, echo'ing your command might help ;)