diff --git a/gluon/main.py b/gluon/main.py
index e54c16aa..9d049344 100644
--- a/gluon/main.py
+++ b/gluon/main.py
@@ -556,11 +556,9 @@ def wsgibase(environ, responder):
         return wsgibase(new_environ, responder)
 
     if global_settings.web2py_crontype == 'soft':
-        # FIXME: calling softcron crondance in a new thread at every
-        #        request is not a good idea in a long running process
         cmd_opts = global_settings.cmd_options
         newcron.softcron(global_settings.applications_parent,
-                         apps=cmd_opts and cmd_opts.crontabs).start()
+                         apps=cmd_opts and cmd_opts.crontabs)
 
     return http_response.to(responder, env=env)
 
diff --git a/gluon/newcron.py b/gluon/newcron.py
index b5f11293..a5888ad5 100644
--- a/gluon/newcron.py
+++ b/gluon/newcron.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 | This file is part of the web2py Web Framework
 | Created by Attila Csipa <web2py@csipa.in.rs>
 | Modified by Massimo Di Pierro <mdipierro@cs.depaul.edu>
+| Worker, SoftWorker and SimplePool added by Paolo Pastori
 | License: LGPLv3 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html)
 
 Cron-style interface
@@ -24,24 +25,23 @@ import shlex
 from gluon import fileutils
 from gluon._compat import to_bytes, pickle
 from pydal.contrib import portalocker
-from gluon.settings import global_settings
 
 logger_name = 'web2py.cron'
 
 
-_cron_stopping = False
+_stopping = False
 
 def reset():
-    global _cron_stopping
-    _cron_stopping = False
+    global _stopping
+    _stopping = False
 
 
-_cron_subprocs_lock = threading.RLock()
-_cron_subprocs = []
+_subprocs_lock = threading.RLock()
+_subprocs = []
 
 def subprocess_count():
-    with _cron_subprocs_lock:
-        return len(_cron_subprocs)
+    with _subprocs_lock:
+        return len(_subprocs)
 
 
 def absolute_path_link(path):
@@ -59,11 +59,11 @@ def absolute_path_link(path):
 
 def stopcron():
     """Graceful shutdown of cron"""
-    global _cron_stopping
-    _cron_stopping = True
+    global _stopping
+    _stopping = True
     while subprocess_count():
-        with _cron_subprocs_lock:
-            proc = _cron_subprocs.pop()
+        with _subprocs_lock:
+            proc = _subprocs.pop()
         if proc.poll() is None:
             try:
                 proc.terminate()
@@ -71,17 +71,9 @@ def stopcron():
                 getLogger(logger_name).exception('error in stopcron')
 
 
-class extcron(threading.Thread):
-
-    def __init__(self, applications_parent, apps=None):
-        threading.Thread.__init__(self)
-        self.setDaemon(False)
-        self.path = applications_parent
-        self.apps = apps
-
-    def run(self):
-        getLogger(logger_name).debug('external cron invocation')
-        crondance(self.path, 'external', startup=False, apps=self.apps)
+def extcron(applications_parent, apps=None):
+    getLogger(logger_name).debug('external cron invocation')
+    crondance(applications_parent, 'external', startup=False, apps=apps)
 
 
 class hardcron(threading.Thread):
@@ -96,7 +88,7 @@ class hardcron(threading.Thread):
         crondance(self.path, 'hard', startup=True, apps=self.apps)
 
     def launch(self):
-        if not _cron_stopping:
+        if not _stopping:
             self.logger.debug('hard cron invocation')
             crondance(self.path, 'hard', startup=False, apps=self.apps)
 
@@ -104,23 +96,19 @@ class hardcron(threading.Thread):
         self.logger = getLogger(logger_name)
         self.logger.info('hard cron daemon started')
         s = sched.scheduler(time.time, time.sleep)
-        while not _cron_stopping:
+        while not _stopping:
             now = time.time()
             s.enter(60 - now % 60, 1, self.launch, ())
             s.run()
 
 
-class softcron(threading.Thread):
-
-    def __init__(self, applications_parent, apps=None):
-        threading.Thread.__init__(self)
-        self.path = applications_parent
-        self.apps = apps
-
-    def run(self):
-        if not _cron_stopping:
-            getLogger(logger_name).debug('soft cron invocation')
-            crondance(self.path, 'soft', startup=False, apps=self.apps)
+def softcron(applications_parent, apps=None):
+    logger = getLogger(logger_name)
+    try:
+        if not _dancer((applications_parent, apps)):
+            logger.warning('no thread available for soft crondance')
+    except Exception:
+        logger.exception('error executing soft crondance')
 
 
 class Token(object):
@@ -257,36 +245,144 @@ def parsecronline(line):
     return task
 
 
-class cronlauncher(threading.Thread):
+class Worker(threading.Thread):
 
-    def __init__(self, cmd):
+    def __init__(self, pool):
         threading.Thread.__init__(self)
-        self.cmd = cmd
+        self.setDaemon(True)
+        self.pool = pool
+        self.run_lock = threading.Lock()
+        self.run_lock.acquire()
+        self.payload = None
 
     def run(self):
-        import subprocess
         logger = getLogger(logger_name)
-        proc = subprocess.Popen(self.cmd,
-                                stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
-                                stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-                                stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
-        with _cron_subprocs_lock:
-            _cron_subprocs.append(proc)
-        (stdoutdata, stderrdata) = proc.communicate()
-        try:
-            with _cron_subprocs_lock:
-                _cron_subprocs.remove(proc)
-        except ValueError:
-            pass
-        if proc.returncode != 0:
-            logger.warning('%r call returned code %s:\n%s\n%s',
-                ' '.join(self.cmd), proc.returncode, stdoutdata, stderrdata)
-        else:
-            logger.debug('%r call returned success:\n%s',
-                ' '.join(self.cmd), stdoutdata)
+        logger.info('Worker %s: started', self.name)
+        while True:
+            try:
+                with self.run_lock:  # waiting for run_lock.release()
+                    cmd = ' '.join(self.payload)
+                    logger.debug('Worker %s: now calling %r', self.name, cmd)
+                    import subprocess
+                    proc = subprocess.Popen(self.payload,
+                                    stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
+                                    stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                                    stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+                    with _subprocs_lock:
+                        _subprocs.append(proc)
+                    stdoutdata, stderrdata = proc.communicate()
+                    try:
+                        with _subprocs_lock:
+                            _subprocs.remove(proc)
+                    except ValueError:
+                        pass
+                    if proc.returncode != 0:
+                        logger.warning('Worker %s: %r call returned code %s:\n%s\n%s',
+                            self.name, cmd, proc.returncode, stdoutdata, stderrdata)
+                    else:
+                        logger.debug('Worker %s: %r call returned success:\n%s',
+                            self.name, cmd, stdoutdata)
+            finally:
+                self.run_lock.acquire()
+                self.pool.stop(self)
 
 
-def crondance(applications_parent, ctype='soft', startup=False, apps=None):
+class SoftWorker(threading.Thread):
+
+    def __init__(self, pool):
+        threading.Thread.__init__(self)
+        self.setDaemon(True)
+        self.pool = pool
+        self.run_lock = threading.Lock()
+        self.run_lock.acquire()
+        self.payload = None
+
+    def run(self):
+        logger = getLogger(logger_name)
+        logger.info('SoftWorker %s: started', self.name)
+        while True:
+            try:
+                with self.run_lock:  # waiting for run_lock.release()
+                    getLogger(logger_name).debug('soft cron invocation')
+                    applications_parent, apps = self.payload
+                    crondance(applications_parent, 'soft', startup=False, apps=apps)
+            finally:
+                self.run_lock.acquire()
+                self.pool.stop(self)
+
+
+class SimplePool(object):
+    """
+    Very simple thread pool,
+    (re)uses a maximum number of threads to launch cron tasks.
+
+    Pool size can be incremented after initialization,
+    this allows delayed configuration of a global instance
+    for the case you do not want to use lazy initialization.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, size, worker_cls=Worker):
+        """
+        Create the pool setting initial size.
+
+        Notice that no thread is created until the instance is called.
+        """
+        self.size = size
+        self.worker_cls = worker_cls
+        self.lock = threading.RLock()
+        self.idle = list()
+        self.running = set()
+
+    def grow(self, size):
+        if size > self.size:
+            self.size = size
+
+    def start(self, t):
+        with self.lock:
+            try:
+                self.idle.remove(t)
+            except ValueError:
+                pass
+            self.running.add(t)
+
+    def stop(self, t):
+        with self.lock:
+            self.idle.append(t)
+            try:
+                self.running.remove(t)
+            except KeyError:
+                pass
+
+    def __call__(self, payload):
+        """
+        Pass payload to a thread for immediate execution.
+
+        Returns a boolean indicating if a thread is available.
+        """
+        with self.lock:
+            if len(self.running) == self.size:
+                # no worker available
+                return False
+            idle_num = len(self.idle)
+            if idle_num:
+                # use an existing (idle) thread
+                t = self.idle.pop(0)
+            else:
+                # create a new thread
+                t = self.worker_cls(self)
+            self.start(t)
+        t.payload = payload
+        t.run_lock.release()
+        if not idle_num:
+            t.start()
+        return True
+
+
+_dancer = SimplePool(5, worker_cls=SoftWorker)
+
+_launcher = SimplePool(5)
+
+def crondance(applications_parent, ctype='hard', startup=False, apps=None):
     """
     Does the periodic job of cron service: read the crontab(s) and launch
     the various commands.
@@ -296,96 +392,94 @@ def crondance(applications_parent, ctype='soft', startup=False, apps=None):
     cronmaster = token.acquire(startup=startup)
     if not cronmaster:
         return
-    now_s = time.localtime()
-    checks = (('min', now_s.tm_min),
-              ('hr', now_s.tm_hour),
-              ('mon', now_s.tm_mon),
-              ('dom', now_s.tm_mday),
-              ('dow', (now_s.tm_wday + 1) % 7))
+    try:
+        now_s = time.localtime()
+        checks = (('min', now_s.tm_min),
+                  ('hr', now_s.tm_hour),
+                  ('mon', now_s.tm_mon),
+                  ('dom', now_s.tm_mday),
+                  ('dow', (now_s.tm_wday + 1) % 7))
+        logger = getLogger(logger_name)
 
-    logger = getLogger(logger_name)
+        if not apps:
+            apps = [x for x in os.listdir(apppath)
+                    if os.path.isdir(os.path.join(apppath, x))]
 
-    if not apps:
-        apps = [x for x in os.listdir(apppath)
-                if os.path.isdir(os.path.join(apppath, x))]
+        full_apath_links = set()
 
-    full_apath_links = set()
-
-    if sys.executable.lower().endswith('pythonservice.exe'):
-        _python_exe = os.path.join(sys.exec_prefix, 'python.exe')
-    else:
-        _python_exe = sys.executable
-    base_commands = [_python_exe]
-    w2p_path = fileutils.abspath('web2py.py', gluon=True)
-    if os.path.exists(w2p_path):
-        base_commands.append(w2p_path)
-    if applications_parent != global_settings.gluon_parent:
-        base_commands.extend(('-f', applications_parent))
-    base_commands.extend(('--cron_job', '--no_banner', '--no_gui', '--plain'))
-
-    for app in apps:
-        if _cron_stopping:
-            break
-        apath = os.path.join(apppath, app)
-
-        # if app is a symbolic link to other app, skip it
-        full_apath_link = absolute_path_link(apath)
-        if full_apath_link in full_apath_links:
-            continue
+        if sys.executable.lower().endswith('pythonservice.exe'):
+            _python_exe = os.path.join(sys.exec_prefix, 'python.exe')
         else:
-            full_apath_links.add(full_apath_link)
+            _python_exe = sys.executable
+        base_commands = [_python_exe]
+        w2p_path = fileutils.abspath('web2py.py', gluon=True)
+        if os.path.exists(w2p_path):
+            base_commands.append(w2p_path)
+        base_commands.extend(('--cron_job', '--no_banner', '--no_gui', '--plain'))
 
-        cronpath = os.path.join(apath, 'cron')
-        crontab = os.path.join(cronpath, 'crontab')
-        if not os.path.exists(crontab):
-            continue
-        try:
-            cronlines = [line.strip() for line in fileutils.readlines_file(crontab, 'rt')]
-            lines = [line for line in cronlines if line and not line.startswith('#')]
-            tasks = [parsecronline(cline) for cline in lines]
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.error('crontab read error %s', e)
-            continue
-
-        for task in tasks:
-            if _cron_stopping:
+        for app in apps:
+            if _stopping:
                 break
-            if not task:
-                continue
-            task_min = task.get('min', [])
-            if not startup and task_min == [-1]:
-                continue
-            citems = [(k in task and not v in task[k]) for k, v in checks]
-            if task_min != [-1] and reduce(lambda a, b: a or b, citems):
-                continue
+            apath = os.path.join(apppath, app)
 
-            logger.info('%s cron: %s executing %r in %s at %s',
-                ctype, app, task.get('cmd'),
-                os.getcwd(), datetime.datetime.now())
-            action = models = False
-            command = task['cmd']
-            if command.startswith('**'):
-                action = True
-                command = command[2:]
-            elif command.startswith('*'):
-                action = models = True
-                command = command[1:]
-
-            if action:
-                commands = base_commands[:]
-                if command.endswith('.py'):
-                    commands.extend(('-S', app, '-R', command))
-                else:
-                    commands.extend(('-S', app + '/' + command))
-                if models:
-                    commands.append('-M')
+            # if app is a symbolic link to other app, skip it
+            full_apath_link = absolute_path_link(apath)
+            if full_apath_link in full_apath_links:
+                continue
             else:
-                commands = shlex.split(command)
+                full_apath_links.add(full_apath_link)
 
+            cronpath = os.path.join(apath, 'cron')
+            crontab = os.path.join(cronpath, 'crontab')
+            if not os.path.exists(crontab):
+                continue
             try:
-                # FIXME: using a new thread every time there is a task to
-                #        launch is not a good idea in a long running process
-                cronlauncher(commands).start()
-            except Exception:
-                logger.exception('error starting %r', task['cmd'])
-    token.release()
+                cronlines = [line.strip() for line in fileutils.readlines_file(crontab, 'rt')]
+                lines = [line for line in cronlines if line and not line.startswith('#')]
+                tasks = [parsecronline(cline) for cline in lines]
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.error('crontab read error %s', e)
+                continue
+
+            for task in tasks:
+                if _stopping:
+                    break
+                if not task:
+                    continue
+                task_min = task.get('min', [])
+                if not startup and task_min == [-1]:
+                    continue
+                citems = [(k in task and not v in task[k]) for k, v in checks]
+                if task_min != [-1] and reduce(lambda a, b: a or b, citems):
+                    continue
+
+                logger.info('%s cron: %s executing %r in %s at %s',
+                    ctype, app, task.get('cmd'),
+                    os.getcwd(), datetime.datetime.now())
+                action = models = False
+                command = task['cmd']
+                if command.startswith('**'):
+                    action = True
+                    command = command[2:]
+                elif command.startswith('*'):
+                    action = models = True
+                    command = command[1:]
+
+                if action:
+                    commands = base_commands[:]
+                    if command.endswith('.py'):
+                        commands.extend(('-S', app, '-R', command))
+                    else:
+                        commands.extend(('-S', app + '/' + command))
+                    if models:
+                        commands.append('-M')
+                else:
+                    commands = shlex.split(command)
+
+                try:
+                    if not _launcher(commands):
+                        logger.warning('no thread available, cannot execute %r', task['cmd'])
+                except Exception:
+                    logger.exception('error executing %r', task['cmd'])
+    finally:
+        token.release()
diff --git a/gluon/packages/dal b/gluon/packages/dal
index 66a00fa3..1fd32c51 160000
--- a/gluon/packages/dal
+++ b/gluon/packages/dal
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 66a00fa39b7d9a643395f5070501cdc9a1483348
+Subproject commit 1fd32c51338abce26b3c328887cfb513c9a2ce6f
diff --git a/gluon/tests/test_cron.py b/gluon/tests/test_cron.py
index c25f3ce5..b31b7f78 100644
--- a/gluon/tests/test_cron.py
+++ b/gluon/tests/test_cron.py
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@ import unittest
 import os
 import shutil
 import time
+import sys
 
-from gluon.newcron import Token, crondance, subprocess_count
+from gluon.newcron import (Token, crondance, subprocess_count,
+    SimplePool, stopcron, reset)
 from gluon.fileutils import create_app, write_file
 
 
@@ -28,13 +30,18 @@ def tearDownModule():
 
 TEST_CRONTAB = """@reboot peppe **applications/%s/cron/test.py
 """ %  test_app_name
-TEST_SCRIPT = """
+TEST_SCRIPT1 = """
 from os.path import join as pjoin
 
 with open(pjoin(request.folder, 'private', 'cron_req'), 'w') as f:
     f.write(str(request))
 """
 TARGET = os.path.join(appdir, 'private', 'cron_req')
+TEST_SCRIPT2 = """
+import time
+
+time.sleep(13)
+"""
 
 class TestCron(unittest.TestCase):
 
@@ -44,7 +51,7 @@ class TestCron(unittest.TestCase):
             if os.path.exists(master):
                 os.unlink(master)
 
-    def test_Token(self):
+    def test_1_Token(self):
         app_path = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), 'applications', test_app_name)
         t = Token(path=app_path)
         self.assertEqual(t.acquire(), t.now)
@@ -52,10 +59,10 @@ class TestCron(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIsNone(t.acquire())
         self.assertTrue(t.release())
 
-    def test_crondance(self):
+    def test_2_crondance(self):
         base = os.path.join(appdir, 'cron')
         write_file(os.path.join(base, 'crontab'), TEST_CRONTAB)
-        write_file(os.path.join(base, 'test.py'), TEST_SCRIPT)
+        write_file(os.path.join(base, 'test.py'), TEST_SCRIPT1)
         if os.path.exists(TARGET):
             os.unlink(TARGET)
         crondance(os.getcwd(), 'hard', startup=True, apps=[test_app_name])
@@ -65,3 +72,19 @@ class TestCron(unittest.TestCase):
             time.sleep(1)
         time.sleep(1)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(TARGET))
+
+    def test_3_SimplePool(self):
+        base = os.path.join(appdir, 'cron')
+        write_file(os.path.join(base, 'test.py'), TEST_SCRIPT2)
+        w2p_path = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), 'web2py.py')
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(w2p_path))
+        launcher = SimplePool(1)
+        cmd1 = [sys.executable, w2p_path,
+            '--cron_job', '--no_banner', '--no_gui', '--plain',
+            '-S', test_app_name, '-R', "applications/%s/cron/test.py" % test_app_name]
+        self.assertTrue(launcher(cmd1))
+        self.assertFalse(launcher(None))
+        time.sleep(1)
+        stopcron()
+        time.sleep(1)
+        reset()
diff --git a/gluon/widget.py b/gluon/widget.py
index 4cfca0d2..c5944420 100644
--- a/gluon/widget.py
+++ b/gluon/widget.py
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ class web2pyDialog(object):
         self.update_schedulers()
 
         # softcron is stopped with HttpServer, thus if starting again
-        # need to reset newcron._cron_stopping to re-enable cron
+        # need to reset newcron._stopping to re-enable cron
         if self.options.soft_cron:
             newcron.reset()
 
@@ -746,11 +746,9 @@ def start():
 
     if options.cron_run:
         # run cron (extcron) and exit
-        logger.debug('Starting extcron...')
+        logger.debug('Running extcron...')
         global_settings.web2py_crontype = 'external'
-        extcron = newcron.extcron(options.folder, apps=options.crontabs)
-        extcron.start()
-        extcron.join()
+        newcron.extcron(options.folder, apps=options.crontabs)
         return
 
     if not options.with_scheduler and options.schedulers: