winsorllc --- name: retry-utils description: "Smart retry logic with exponential backoff, jitter, and conditions. Run commands with automatic retry on failure. No API key required."
Retry Utils Skill
Execute commands with intelligent retry logic including exponential backoff, jitter, and configurable retry conditions.
When to Use
✅ USE this skill when:
- "Retry this command until it succeeds"
- "Run with exponential backoff"
- "Keep trying until timeout"
- "Retry only on specific errors"
- "Run with retry and backoff"
When NOT to Use
❌ DON'T use this skill when:
- Simple one-shot commands → run directly
- Need to persist command → use systemd/PM2
- Real-time processing → use message queue
Commands
Basic Retry
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "curl http://api.example.com/data"
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "npm install" --max-retries 5
Exponential Backoff
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "npm install" --backoff exponential
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "npm install" --backoff exponential --base-delay 2 --max-delay 60
Linear Backoff
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "npm install" --backoff linear
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "npm install" --backoff linear --base-delay 5
Custom Backoff
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "npm install" --delays "1,2,5,10,30"
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "npm install" --delays "1,1,1,5,5,10"
Jitter
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "npm install" --jitter full
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "npm install" --jitter equal --jitter-percent 20
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "npm install" --jitter decorrelated
Error Matching
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "curl api.example.com" --error-pattern "Connection refused"
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "npm install" --error-pattern "ETIMEDOUT|ENOTFOUND"
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "curl api.example.com" --exit-codes "1,7,28"
Until/While Conditions
# Run until output matches pattern
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "curl -s http://api/health" --until-pattern "ok"
# Run until a timeout
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "curl http://api/data" --timeout 300
# Stop when pattern found (inverse of until)
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "tail -f /var/log/app.log" --stop-on "error" --max-retries 100
Options
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
--command CMD |
Command to run | Required |
--max-retries N |
Maximum retry attempts | 3 |
--backoff TYPE |
Backoff type: none, linear, exponential | none |
--base-delay SECS |
Initial delay between retries | 1 |
--max-delay SECS |
Maximum delay cap | 60 |
--jitter TYPE |
Jitter type: none, full, equal, decorrelated | none |
--jitter-percent N |
Jitter percentage (0-100) | 20 |
--delays "N,N,..." |
Custom delay sequence | None |
--error-pattern REGEX |
Only retry if error matches | Match all |
--exit-codes "N,..." |
Exit codes to retry on | All non-zero |
--until-pattern REGEX |
Continue until output matches | None |
--stop-on REGEX |
Stop when output matches | None |
--timeout SECS |
Maximum total time | None |
--no-exit-on-failure |
Don't exit on final failure | Exit 1 |
--quiet |
Suppress output on retries | Show output |
--verbose |
Show retry attempts | Silent |
Backoff Types
| Type | Description | Formula |
|---|---|---|
none |
No delay between retries | N/A |
linear |
Same delay each time | delay = base_delay |
exponential |
Doubles each retry | delay = base_delay * 2^attempt |
Jitter Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
none |
No randomization |
full |
Random delay from 0 to calculated |
equal |
Random delay from delay/2 to delay |
decorrelated |
AWS-style decorrelated jitter |
Examples
Retry curl request with exponential backoff:
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "curl https://api.example.com/data" \
--backoff exponential \
--base-delay 2 \
--max-delay 60 \
--max-retries 10
Retry npm install on network errors only:
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "npm install" \
--error-pattern "ETIMEDOUT|ENOTFOUND|network" \
--backoff exponential \
--max-retries 5
Poll for server readiness:
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "curl -s http://localhost:3000/health" \
--until-pattern "healthy|ok" \
--max-retries 30 \
--backoff linear
Run with custom delays:
{baseDir}/retry.sh --command "npm install" \
--delays "1,2,5,10,30,60"
Output
On success, outputs the command result and exit 0.
On failure after all retries:
❌ Command failed after 5 attempts: npm install
Last exit code: 1
Last stderr: connection refused
Exit codes:
- 0: Command succeeded
- 1: All retries exhausted
Notes
- Captures both stdout and stderr
- Preserves command exit code on success
- Environment variables passed through
- Can use shell commands with pipes
- Timeout includes all retry attempts