Delayed Job

Spec sheet

Purpose

Delayed::Job is a database-backed priority queue for running longer tasks asynchronously in the background.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Support

The README points users to a Google Groups mailing list and Stack Overflow for help.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Failed-job handling

Failed jobs are deleted by default after retries, but the worker can be configured to keep them in the database.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Queueing

Methods can be queued with `.delay`, with options for priority, scheduled run time, and named queues.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Rails integration

Rails 4.2 and later can use Delayed::Job as the Active Job queue adapter.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Requirements

The current gem specification requires Ruby 3.2 or later and ActiveSupport 3.0 or later but below 9.0.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Retry behavior

Failed jobs are rescheduled with a delay based on the attempt count, and the default maximum is 25 attempts.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Runtime limit

The default maximum job runtime is four hours; the documentation warns that a longer job could be picked up by another computer.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Security and warranty

The MIT license grants use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale, and provides the software as-is without warranty.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Storage backends

The documentation describes Active Record and Mongoid backends for storing the job queue.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Use cases

The project lists newsletter sending, image resizing, HTTP downloads, batch imports, and spam checks among its uses.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Workers

Background workers can be started as separate processes and assigned to specific queues or worker pools.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Every Delayed Job plan and price →

Where Specifiction places it

• Task Queue Software#26 of 377.6