diff --git a/swh/lister/bitbucket/tasks.py b/swh/lister/bitbucket/tasks.py
--- a/swh/lister/bitbucket/tasks.py
+++ b/swh/lister/bitbucket/tasks.py
@@ -17,20 +17,21 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.IncrementalBitBucketLister')
-def incremental_bitbucket_lister(**lister_args):
+def list_bitbucket_incremental(**lister_args):
+    '''Incremental update of the BitBucket forge'''
     lister = new_lister(**lister_args)
     lister.run(min_bound=lister.db_last_index(), max_bound=None)
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.RangeBitBucketLister')
-def range_bitbucket_lister(start, end, **lister_args):
+def _range_bitbucket_lister(start, end, **lister_args):
     lister = new_lister(**lister_args)
     lister.run(min_bound=start, max_bound=end)
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.FullBitBucketRelister', bind=True)
-def full_bitbucket_relister(self, split=None, **lister_args):
-    """Relist from the beginning of what's already been listed.
+def list_bitbucket_full(self, split=None, **lister_args):
+    """Full update of the BitBucket forge
 
     It's not to be called for an initial listing.
 
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@
         return
 
     random.shuffle(ranges)
-    promise = group(range_bitbucket_lister.s(minv, maxv, **lister_args)
+    promise = group(_range_bitbucket_lister.s(minv, maxv, **lister_args)
                     for minv, maxv in ranges)()
     self.log.debug('%s OK (spawned %s subtasks)', (self.name, len(ranges)))
     try:
@@ -53,5 +54,5 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.ping')
-def ping():
+def _ping():
     return 'OK'
diff --git a/swh/lister/cgit/tasks.py b/swh/lister/cgit/tasks.py
--- a/swh/lister/cgit/tasks.py
+++ b/swh/lister/cgit/tasks.py
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.CGitListerTask')
-def cgit_lister(**lister_args):
+def list_cgit(**lister_args):
+    '''Lister task for CGit instances'''
     CGitLister(**lister_args).run()
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.ping')
-def ping():
+def _ping():
     return 'OK'
diff --git a/swh/lister/cli.py b/swh/lister/cli.py
--- a/swh/lister/cli.py
+++ b/swh/lister/cli.py
@@ -3,14 +3,18 @@
 # License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
 # See top-level LICENSE file for more information
 
+import os
 import logging
 import pkg_resources
 from copy import deepcopy
+from importlib import import_module
 
 import click
 from sqlalchemy import create_engine
 
 from swh.core.cli import CONTEXT_SETTINGS
+from swh.scheduler import get_scheduler
+from swh.scheduler.task import SWHTask
 from swh.lister.core.models import initialize
 
 
@@ -21,6 +25,25 @@
            if entry_point.name.split('.', 1)[0] == 'lister'}
 SUPPORTED_LISTERS = list(LISTERS)
 
+# the key in this dict is the suffix used to match new task-type to be added.
+# For example for a task which function name is "list_gitlab_full', the default
+# value used when inserting a new task-type in the scheduler db will be the one
+# under the 'full' key below (because it matches xxx_full).
+DEFAULT_TASK_TYPE = {
+    'full': {  # for tasks like 'list_xxx_full()'
+      'default_interval': '90 days',
+      'min_interval': '90 days',
+      'max_interval': '90 days',
+      'backoff_factor': 1
+      },
+    '*': {  # value if not suffix matches
+      'default_interval': '1 day',
+      'min_interval': '1 day',
+      'max_interval': '1 day',
+      'backoff_factor': 1
+      },
+    }
+
 
 def get_lister(lister_name, db_url=None, **conf):
     """Instantiate a lister given its name.
@@ -66,6 +89,8 @@
             'cls': 'local',
             'args': {'db': db_url}
         }
+    if not config_file:
+        config_file = os.environ.get('SWH_CONFIG_FILENAME')
     conf = config.read(config_file, override_conf)
     ctx.obj['config'] = conf
     ctx.obj['override_conf'] = override_conf
@@ -89,20 +114,97 @@
     db_url = lister_cfg['args']['db']
     db_engine = create_engine(db_url)
 
+    registry = {}
     for lister, entrypoint in LISTERS.items():
         logger.info('Loading lister %s', lister)
-        registry_entry = entrypoint.load()()
+        registry[lister] = entrypoint.load()()
 
     logger.info('Initializing database')
     initialize(db_engine, drop_tables)
 
     for lister, entrypoint in LISTERS.items():
+        registry_entry = registry[lister]
         init_hook = registry_entry.get('init')
         if callable(init_hook):
             logger.info('Calling init hook for %s', lister)
             init_hook(db_engine)
 
 
+@lister.command(name='register-task-types', context_settings=CONTEXT_SETTINGS)
+@click.option('--lister', '-l', 'listers', multiple=True,
+              default=('all', ), show_default=True,
+              help='Only registers task-types for these listers',
+              type=click.Choice(['all'] + SUPPORTED_LISTERS))
+@click.pass_context
+def register_task_types(ctx, listers):
+    """Insert missing task-type entries in the scheduler
+
+    According to declared tasks in each loaded lister plugin.
+    """
+
+    cfg = ctx.obj['config']
+    scheduler = get_scheduler(**cfg['scheduler'])
+
+    for lister, entrypoint in LISTERS.items():
+        if 'all' not in listers and lister not in listers:
+            continue
+        logger.info('Loading lister %s', lister)
+
+        registry_entry = entrypoint.load()()
+        for task_module in registry_entry['task_modules']:
+            mod = import_module(task_module)
+            for task_name in (x for x in dir(mod) if not x.startswith('_')):
+                taskobj = getattr(mod, task_name)
+                if isinstance(taskobj, SWHTask):
+                    task_type = task_name.replace('_', '-')
+                    task_cfg = registry_entry.get('task_types', {}).get(
+                        task_type, {})
+                    ensure_task_type(task_type, taskobj, task_cfg, scheduler)
+
+
+def ensure_task_type(task_type, swhtask, task_config, scheduler):
+    """Ensure a task-type is known by the scheduler
+
+    Args:
+        task_type (str): the type of the task to check/insert (correspond to
+            the 'type' field in the db)
+        swhtask (SWHTask): the SWHTask instance the task-type correspond to
+        task_config (dict): a dict with specific/overloaded values for the
+            task-type to be created
+        scheduler: the scheduler object used to access the scheduler db
+    """
+    for suffix, defaults in DEFAULT_TASK_TYPE.items():
+        if task_type.endswith('-' + suffix):
+            task_type_dict = defaults.copy()
+            break
+    else:
+        task_type_dict = DEFAULT_TASK_TYPE['*'].copy()
+
+    task_type_dict['type'] = task_type
+    task_type_dict['backend_name'] = swhtask.name
+    if swhtask.__doc__:
+        task_type_dict['description'] = swhtask.__doc__.splitlines()[0]
+
+    task_type_dict.update(task_config)
+
+    current_task_type = scheduler.get_task_type(task_type)
+    if current_task_type:
+        # check some stuff
+        if current_task_type['backend_name'] != task_type_dict['backend_name']:
+            logger.warning('Existing task type %s for lister %s has a '
+                           'different backend name than current '
+                           'code version provides (%s vs. %s)',
+                           task_type,
+                           lister,
+                           current_task_type['backend_name'],
+                           task_type_dict['backend_name'],
+                           )
+    else:
+        logger.info('Create task type %s in scheduler', task_type)
+        logger.debug('  %s', task_type_dict)
+        scheduler.create_task_type(task_type_dict)
+
+
 @lister.command(name='run', context_settings=CONTEXT_SETTINGS,
                 help='Trigger a full listing run for a particular forge '
                      'instance. The output of this listing results in '
diff --git a/swh/lister/cran/tasks.py b/swh/lister/cran/tasks.py
--- a/swh/lister/cran/tasks.py
+++ b/swh/lister/cran/tasks.py
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.CRANListerTask')
-def cran_lister(**lister_args):
+def list_cran(**lister_args):
+    '''Lister task for the CRAN registry'''
     CRANLister(**lister_args).run()
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.ping')
-def ping():
+def _ping():
     return 'OK'
diff --git a/swh/lister/debian/tasks.py b/swh/lister/debian/tasks.py
--- a/swh/lister/debian/tasks.py
+++ b/swh/lister/debian/tasks.py
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.DebianListerTask')
-def debian_lister(distribution, **lister_args):
+def list_debian_distribution(distribution, **lister_args):
+    '''List a Debian distribution'''
     DebianLister(**lister_args).run(distribution)
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.ping')
-def ping():
+def _ping():
     return 'OK'
diff --git a/swh/lister/github/tasks.py b/swh/lister/github/tasks.py
--- a/swh/lister/github/tasks.py
+++ b/swh/lister/github/tasks.py
@@ -17,20 +17,21 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.IncrementalGitHubLister')
-def incremental_github_lister(**lister_args):
+def list_github_incremental(**lister_args):
+    'Incremental update of GitHub'
     lister = new_lister(**lister_args)
     lister.run(min_bound=lister.db_last_index(), max_bound=None)
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.RangeGitHubLister')
-def range_github_lister(start, end, **lister_args):
+def _range_github_lister(start, end, **lister_args):
     lister = new_lister(**lister_args)
     lister.run(min_bound=start, max_bound=end)
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.FullGitHubRelister', bind=True)
-def full_github_relister(self, split=None, **lister_args):
-    """Relist from the beginning of what's already been listed.
+def list_github_full(self, split=None, **lister_args):
+    """Full update of GitHub
 
     It's not to be called for an initial listing.
 
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@
         self.log.info('Nothing to list')
         return
     random.shuffle(ranges)
-    promise = group(range_github_lister.s(minv, maxv, **lister_args)
+    promise = group(_range_github_lister.s(minv, maxv, **lister_args)
                     for minv, maxv in ranges)()
     self.log.debug('%s OK (spawned %s subtasks)' % (self.name, len(ranges)))
     try:
@@ -52,5 +53,5 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.ping')
-def ping():
+def _ping():
     return 'OK'
diff --git a/swh/lister/gitlab/tasks.py b/swh/lister/gitlab/tasks.py
--- a/swh/lister/gitlab/tasks.py
+++ b/swh/lister/gitlab/tasks.py
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.IncrementalGitLabLister')
-def incremental_gitlab_lister(**lister_args):
+def list_gitlab_incremental(**lister_args):
+    """Incremental update of a GitLab instance"""
     lister_args['sort'] = 'desc'
     lister = new_lister(**lister_args)
     total_pages = lister.get_pages_information()[1]
@@ -31,23 +32,19 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.RangeGitLabLister')
-def range_gitlab_lister(start, end, **lister_args):
+def _range_gitlab_lister(start, end, **lister_args):
     lister = new_lister(**lister_args)
     lister.run(min_bound=start, max_bound=end)
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.FullGitLabRelister', bind=True)
-def full_gitlab_relister(self, **lister_args):
-    """Full lister
-
-    This should be renamed as such.
-
-    """
+def list_gitlab_full(self, **lister_args):
+    """Full update of a GitLab instance"""
     lister = new_lister(**lister_args)
     _, total_pages, _ = lister.get_pages_information()
     ranges = list(utils.split_range(total_pages, NBPAGES))
     random.shuffle(ranges)
-    promise = group(range_gitlab_lister.s(minv, maxv, **lister_args)
+    promise = group(_range_gitlab_lister.s(minv, maxv, **lister_args)
                     for minv, maxv in ranges)()
     self.log.debug('%s OK (spawned %s subtasks)' % (self.name, len(ranges)))
     try:
@@ -58,5 +55,5 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.ping')
-def ping():
+def _ping():
     return 'OK'
diff --git a/swh/lister/gnu/tasks.py b/swh/lister/gnu/tasks.py
--- a/swh/lister/gnu/tasks.py
+++ b/swh/lister/gnu/tasks.py
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.GNUListerTask')
-def gnu_lister(**lister_args):
+def list_gnu_full(**lister_args):
+    'List lister for the GNU source code archive'
     GNULister(**lister_args).run()
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.ping')
-def ping():
+def _ping():
     return 'OK'
diff --git a/swh/lister/npm/__init__.py b/swh/lister/npm/__init__.py
--- a/swh/lister/npm/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/lister/npm/__init__.py
@@ -10,4 +10,11 @@
     return {'models': [NpmVisitModel, NpmModel],
             'lister': NpmLister,
             'task_modules': ['%s.tasks' % __name__],
+            'task_types': {
+                'list-npm-full': {
+                    'default_interval': '7 days',
+                    'min_interval': '7 days',
+                    'max_interval': '7 days',
+                    },
+                },
             }
diff --git a/swh/lister/npm/tasks.py b/swh/lister/npm/tasks.py
--- a/swh/lister/npm/tasks.py
+++ b/swh/lister/npm/tasks.py
@@ -41,14 +41,16 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.NpmListerTask')
-def npm_lister(**lister_args):
+def list_npm_full(**lister_args):
+    'Full lister for the npm (javascript) registry'
     lister = NpmLister(**lister_args)
     with save_registry_state(lister):
         lister.run()
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.NpmIncrementalListerTask')
-def npm_incremental_lister(**lister_args):
+def list_npm_incremental(**lister_args):
+    'Incremental lister for the npm (javascript) registry'
     lister = NpmIncrementalLister(**lister_args)
     update_seq_start = get_last_update_seq(lister)
     with save_registry_state(lister):
@@ -56,5 +58,5 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.ping')
-def ping():
+def _ping():
     return 'OK'
diff --git a/swh/lister/packagist/tasks.py b/swh/lister/packagist/tasks.py
--- a/swh/lister/packagist/tasks.py
+++ b/swh/lister/packagist/tasks.py
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.PackagistListerTask')
-def packagist_lister(**lister_args):
+def list_packagist(**lister_args):
+    'List the packagist (php) registry'
     PackagistLister(**lister_args).run()
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.ping')
-def ping():
+def _ping():
     return 'OK'
diff --git a/swh/lister/phabricator/tasks.py b/swh/lister/phabricator/tasks.py
--- a/swh/lister/phabricator/tasks.py
+++ b/swh/lister/phabricator/tasks.py
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.FullPhabricatorLister')
-def full_phabricator_lister(**lister_args):
+def list_phabricator_full(**lister_args):
+    'Full update of a Phabricator instance'
     PhabricatorLister(**lister_args).run()
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.ping')
-def ping():
+def _ping():
     return 'OK'
diff --git a/swh/lister/pypi/tasks.py b/swh/lister/pypi/tasks.py
--- a/swh/lister/pypi/tasks.py
+++ b/swh/lister/pypi/tasks.py
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.PyPIListerTask')
-def pypi_lister(**lister_args):
+def list_pypi(**lister_args):
+    'Full update of the PyPI (python) registry'
     PyPILister(**lister_args).run()
 
 
 @app.task(name=__name__ + '.ping')
-def ping():
+def _ping():
     return 'OK'
diff --git a/swh/lister/tests/test_cli.py b/swh/lister/tests/test_cli.py
--- a/swh/lister/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/swh/lister/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -3,12 +3,43 @@
 # License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
 # See top-level LICENSE file for more information
 
+import glob
 import pytest
+import traceback
+from datetime import timedelta
+
+import yaml
+
+from swh.core.utils import numfile_sortkey as sortkey
+from swh.scheduler import get_scheduler
+from swh.scheduler.tests.conftest import DUMP_FILES
 
 from swh.lister.core.lister_base import ListerBase
-from swh.lister.cli import get_lister, SUPPORTED_LISTERS
+from swh.lister.cli import lister as cli, get_lister, SUPPORTED_LISTERS
 
 from .test_utils import init_db
+from click.testing import CliRunner
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def swh_scheduler_config(request, postgresql_proc, postgresql):
+    scheduler_config = {
+        'db': 'postgresql://{user}@{host}:{port}/{dbname}'.format(
+            host=postgresql_proc.host,
+            port=postgresql_proc.port,
+            user='postgres',
+            dbname='tests')
+    }
+
+    all_dump_files = sorted(glob.glob(DUMP_FILES), key=sortkey)
+
+    cursor = postgresql.cursor()
+    for fname in all_dump_files:
+        with open(fname) as fobj:
+            cursor.execute(fobj.read())
+    postgresql.commit()
+
+    return scheduler_config
 
 
 def test_get_lister_wrong_input():
@@ -64,3 +95,47 @@
         assert url_key not in lst.config
         assert 'priority' not in lst.config
         assert 'oneshot' not in lst.config
+
+
+def test_task_types(swh_scheduler_config, tmp_path):
+    db_url = init_db().url()
+
+    configfile = tmp_path / 'config.yml'
+    configfile.write_text(yaml.dump({'scheduler': {
+        'cls': 'local',
+        'args': swh_scheduler_config}}))
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    result = runner.invoke(cli, [
+        '--db-url', db_url,
+        '--config-file', configfile.as_posix(),
+        'register-task-types'])
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, traceback.print_exception(*result.exc_info)
+
+    scheduler = get_scheduler(cls='local', args=swh_scheduler_config)
+    all_tasks = [
+        'list-bitbucket-full', 'list-bitbucket-incremental',
+        'list-cran',
+        'list-cgit',
+        'list-debian-distribution',
+        'list-gitlab-full', 'list-gitlab-incremental',
+        'list-github-full', 'list-github-incremental',
+        'list-gnu-full',
+        'list-npm-full', 'list-npm-incremental',
+        'list-phabricator-full',
+        'list-packagist',
+        'list-pypi',
+        ]
+    for task in all_tasks:
+        task_type_desc = scheduler.get_task_type(task)
+        assert task_type_desc
+        assert task_type_desc['type'] == task
+        assert task_type_desc['backoff_factor'] == 1
+
+        if task == 'list-npm-full':
+            delay = timedelta(days=7)  # overloaded in the plugin registry
+        elif task.endswith('-full'):
+            delay = timedelta(days=90)  # default value for 'full' lister tasks
+        else:
+            delay = timedelta(days=1)  # default value for other lister tasks
+        assert task_type_desc['default_interval'] == delay, task