May be the Application not created? - android

I have some Apps where I use a static reference of the Application instance.
That's usefull when I need to use context in some singleton Class that has application lifetime.
Here an example:
public class MyApp extends Application
{
private static MyApp smApplication;
public MyApp()
{
MyApp.smApplication = this;
}
public void onCreate()
{
super.onCreate();
MyApp.smApplication = this;
}
public static MyApp getApp() {
return MyApp.smApplication;
}
}
class Settings // Example of Singleton class
{
...
public boolean loadSettings()
{
Context context = MyApp.getApp(); // NullPointerException on the next line
SharedPreferences pref = context.getSharedPreferences(SHAREDPREF_FILENAME, Context.MODE_PRIVATE);
...
}
}
This works like a charm in the majority of the cases.
But... I have a number of NullPointerException crashes reported in the Play Console about that Context. Usually called in the MainActivity.onCreate or MyService.onCreate.
Application should Always be created before any other Activiy or Service. So I can't understand what happens. I've never had a similar crash on any of my devices.
smApplication is initialized in the constructor and never set to null.
It seems that in that cases Application is not created. It's also weird that all these crashes are reported in the PlayConsole but I cannot find them in Firebase Crashlitics as if neither Crashlitics has yet initialized in that cases (and FC shoul be initialized by the Application)
This has been happening for years in a small part of my users.
Any suggestion?
PS. I Do not need suggestion on code refactoring, just to understand what happens and how to avoid it.

Related

Android WebView causing RuntimeException at WebViewDelegate.getPackageId

I have a WebView in the layout xml of my MainActivity, to which I setWebViewClient(new WebViewClient()), followed by loadUrl(...) in onCreate.
Most of the time the app runs fine and the Web content is displayed correctly.
But in some cases, opening the app causes a crash. I've noticed that it happens when the app scheduled a PendingIntent broadcast with AlarmManager, which triggers a Notification whose contentIntent is a PendingIntent.getActivity set to launch MainActivity.
But it happens only in the case when the user has removed the app from the stack of active apps in the meantime (Notification is visible, not yet clicked, and stack if apps cleared. So, app process probably stopped?).
Seemingly no other system modifications in between (in particular no app/system update, no playing around with user profiles or Chrome app.)
Stack trace:
java.lang.RuntimeException:
at android.webkit.WebViewDelegate.getPackageId (WebViewDelegate.java:164)
at yj.a (PG:16)
at xH.run (PG:14)
at java.lang.Thread.run (Thread.java:764)
Occurs with Android 7.0 thru 9. Also, seems to have started to occur when I upgraded target SDK to 28.
I don't use explicitly a WebViewDelegate. It must be internal system code (hence the obfuscation).
By reading the source code of AOSP, it seems that the WebView fails to retrieve the package to which it belongs -- but why sometimes only!?
Any help appreciated! Thanks.
It has taken weeks of investigation on and off, but I've finally found why I'm seeing this issue. For me, it was just because I'd overridden the getResources() method in my application scope to use the current activity. Something like this:
public class MyApplication extends MultiDexApplication {
private static MyApplication sInstance = null;
private WeakReference<Activity> mCurrentActivity;
public static MyApplication getInstance() {
return sInstance;
}
public void setCurrentActivity(Activity activity) {
mCurrentActivity = new WeakReference<>(activity);
}
public Activity getCurrentActivity() {
return mCurrentActivity == null ? null : mCurrentActivity.get();
}
#Override
public Resources getResources() {
// This is a very BAD thing to do
Activity activity = getCurrentActivity();
if (activity != null) {
return activity.getResources();
}
return super.getResources();
}
}
This was done as a shortcut as I often wanted to get strings that were activity-specific, so I was calling MyApplication.getInstance().getResources().getString(). I now know this was a bad thing to do - removing my override of this method instantly fixed it.
So the key takeaway from this for me is that when the WebView is initialising, it MUST be able to get hold of the application context, so that the resources passed into WebViewDelegate.getPackageId() are at the application level - the activity context isn't enough, and causes this error.
As a side note - I wasn't even trying to add a WebView to my application. I was only actually using the following:
String userAgent = WebSettings.getDefaultUserAgent(this);
I was then passing this value into a custom media player that I'm using. Passing "this" as either application or activity scope always failed, due to my override.
Looking through documentation,you can see that error is thrown when package can't be found.Check your syntax ,package name and try again.
https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/base/+/master/core/java/android/webkit/WebViewDelegate.java (Line 164)
/**
* Returns the package id of the given {#code packageName}.
*/
public int getPackageId(Resources resources, String packageName) {
SparseArray<String> packageIdentifiers =
resources.getAssets().getAssignedPackageIdentifiers();
for (int i = 0; i < packageIdentifiers.size(); i++) {
final String name = packageIdentifiers.valueAt(i);
if (packageName.equals(name)) {
return packageIdentifiers.keyAt(i);
}
}
throw new RuntimeException("Package not found: " + packageName);
}

Use of static member in Android Application bad?

I've stumpled upon an Android Application Class which implements the Singleton pattern and bind a static object to it.
public class App extends Application
{
public static BigObject myObj;
private static App instance;
public static App getInstance()
{
return instance;
}
#Override
public void onCreate() {
super.onCreate();
instance = this;
myObj = new BigObject(this);
}
}
Are there any problems with this implementation, regarding performance, memory leaks or maybe Exceptions, when getInstance().myObj.something() is called form BroadcastReceiver or Service?
The only drawback I see is somewhat ugly code, using dependency injection would be better. I don't know, but if OS guarantees that all other components will be launched after Application::onCreate than there is no issues. Even non-main threads will not cache value of bigObject. But if you want set value of bigObject after onCreate, or it's creation takes long time you can face issues with data racing or slow startup.
I don't see any problems with this implementation. The Application object is basically a singleton.

Can Application object get re-created while the app still running?

I have extended the Application object as MyApplication and the design is as follows
public class MyApplication extends Application {
private MyObject myObject;
public MyApplication () {
mInstance = this;
}
public static MyApplication getInstance() {
return mInstance;
}
public MyObject getMyObject(){
return myObject;
}
public setMyObject(MyObject object){
myObject = object;
}
}
I am accessing the myObject value in Activities as well as Services as MyApplication.getInstance().getMyObject(). I don't see any issue with this normally, but in production for few users sometimes suddenly getMyObject() is returning null i.e getting reset. First I was under the impression that the OS might be killing and re-creating the app due to which I am observing null. I am not avoiding the memory low scenario, however if that is the case it should be killing the Activities and the Services too before destroying the Application object.
Inside an Activity I am keeping a reference of MyApplication as
private MyApplication myApp = MyApplication.getInstance();
So this is how my observation from logs regarding the getMyObject() value.
myApp.getMyObject() prints != null
then a Service MyService gets called and inside that
MyApplication.getInstance().getMyObject() prints == null
again back in the activity myApp.getMyObject() or MyApplication.getInstance().getMyObject() prints != null
myObject has been initialized before printing these logs and in between these logs there is no myObject reset code getting called.
Can it happen that the Application object got re-created but the Acitivty is still active?
or
Can Service get a different instance of Application than that of the Activity thread?
As per my understanding in a app life-cycle myApp should always be equal to MyApplication.getInstance() as OS should maintain single instance of Application.
Note: Also would like to add that I am getting this un-usual behavior in Samsung Tab 4.
Don't store Data in the Application Object
The applicataion object will not stay in memory forever. When a user sends your application to the background by e.g. pressing the home button the application object might be killed if the system requires the memory. This might happen after minutes but could take hours. When the user then resumes the application the application object might not be the same as before and mMyObject will be null if it has no initial value.
Solutions
Make null checks and act accordingly
Use some form of data-storage
Initialize your object in the application constructor
public MyApplication () {
mInstance = this;
mMyObject = new MyObject()
}
You don't wanna have public constructor, but a onCreate() method.
You also want a static instance of the class.
public class MyApplication extends Application {
private MyObject myObject;
private static MyApplication mInstance;
#Override
public void onCreate() {
super.onCreate();
mInstance = this;
}
public static MyApplication getInstance() {
return mInstance;
}
public MyObject getMyObject(){
return myObject;
}
public setMyObject(MyObject object){
myObject = object;
}
}
And of course change your manifest to tell that's this is your class that will handle the application (if not done yet)
<application
android:name="com.XXX.MyApplication"
android:allowBackup="true"
android:icon="#drawable/ic_launcher"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:theme="#style/AppTheme">

Why is Context "becoming" null on Application class?

Problem using Application
I'm rewriting an app (first 'version' had little-to-nothing in terms of analysis and it ended up piling a bunch of problems I wanted to get rid of) and I'm bumping my head against a problem that never showed up in the first version.
Thing is: I have a Class for geographical data. It just supplies String arrays that I can tuck into spinners adapters. Since I used a values xml file, the class needs access to Context to get the proper resources.
Since I use this geographical data in several points of the app, I thought I could create a Class to extend Application and, in onCreate, instantiate the Geography Class, I thought it would be more efficient to load it just once and use it as many times as I wanted. This worked on my first version:
This is MyApplication class
private static Context context;
public void onCreate(){
super.onCreate();
MyApplication.context = getApplicationContext();
geografiaEspana = GeographyClass.getInstance(context);
}
public static GeographyClass getGeografiaEspana() {
if(ctx==null){
Log.w("TAPABOOK", "Tapabook.context nulo");
}
if (geografiaEspana==null){
Log.w("TAPABOOK", "Tapabook.geografiaEspana nula, instanciando");
geografiaEspana = GeographyClass.getInstance(ctx);
}
Log.i("TAPABOOK", "Tapabook.geografiaEspana instanciada");
return geografiaEspana;
}
And this is my GeographyClass
private static GeographyClass instance = null;
public static GeographySpain getInstance(Context context){
if(instance== null){
instance = new GeographySpain(context);
}
return instance;
}
public GeographySpain(Context context){
Resources res = context.getResources();
// load resources data
}
This worked, as I said, ok in my first version. However, in my new version I'm getting a NullPointerException on this line "Resources res = context.getResources();" I've checked and it turns out that the context I'm supplying it's null... And I don't get to understand why or what I'm doing wrong
Ok, I solved it (I'd swear I already commented on this, but since it's gone...).
Thing is, I'm not used to use Application classes and I had forgotten to declare MyApplication in the Manifest file. Noob mistake. As soon as I declared it, the app ran OK

What version of RoboGuice works with Android SDK 8?

That's probably part one of my question.
Basically I'm struggling with the actual injection for version 1.1.2. I've read the couple of pages on the site, and I feel I'm missing something.
Basically I've done the RoboApplication extension. I've overridden the addApplicationModules method. I've even made a module.
My module looks like this:
public class DataRepository extends AbstractAndroidModule
{
#Override
protected void configure() {
/*
* This tells Guice that whenever it sees a dependency on a TransactionLog,
* it should satisfy the dependency using a DatabaseTransactionLog.
*/
bind(IDataBaseAdapter.class).to(DataBaseAdapter.class);
}
}
In my adapter I have this:
public class DataBaseAdapter implements IDataBaseAdapter
{
private DataBaseHelper _dbHelper;
private SQLiteDatabase _db;
#Inject
protected static Provider<Context> contextProvider;
public DataBaseAdapter()
{
_dbHelper = new DataBaseHelper(contextProvider.get());
}
}
If I don't do there, where is the opportune place for the chunk of code to reside... where I associate injectors?
Finally... my Application has an injection of it like so:
public class MyApplication extends RoboApplication
{
public MyApplication()
{
super();
}
public MyApplication(Context context)
{
super();
attachBaseContext(context);
}
#Override
protected void addApplicationModules(List<Module> modules)
{
modules.add(new DataRepository());
}
#Inject
private IDataBaseAdapter adapter;
public IDataBaseAdapter getAdapter()
{
return adapter;
}
public void setAdapter(IDataBaseAdapter value)
{
adapter = value;
}
...
}
I'm trying to use the Inject attribute as shown. For example:
#Inject
private IDataProvider provider;
A couple of reasons why I'm lost is that I come from a .NET and Flash/ActionScript background plus I've only used StructureMap instead of Ninject (in the .NET world), which I've heard Guice is designed with some of the ideas of Ninject in mind. Could someone help me figure out this small piece?
I'd really like to focus on using 1.1.2 instead of jumping to 2.x of RoboGuice... especially since it is still in beta, so I hope you all don't mind.
Thanks again,
Kelly
Android is quite different from standalone / hosted java application. You do not have main() , but you have certain activity units, which are managed by android framework (activities, services , broadcast receivers)
DI is a technique which allows you to eliminate booler plate code by wiring together
parts in good object oriented way.
As your unit of work is mostly activity, you shall do wiring / creation of your collaborating objects in onCreate() method , and there are dedicated onResume() and onPause() methods (see actviity lifecycle)
Rule of thumb is, does this thing needs to be restarted every time activity loses it focus? If yes, initialize / destroy it in inResume() / onPause(), otherwise - in onCreate()
And if you like to share objects withing entire application ( running in same JVM ) , it is OK to use singleton pattern in android. So you may just have singleton injector factory , and cosult it from everywhere:
InjectorFactory.getInstance(<context if necessary?>).getInstance(whatever you need);
OK, I've figured out what was needed, but I'm not quite sure why after seeing all the information floating out there.
I basically made this change, and now my test passes.
public class DataBaseAdapter implements IDataBaseAdapter
{
private DataBaseHelper _dbHelper;
private SQLiteDatabase _db;
#Inject
public DataBaseAdapter(Provider<Context> contextProvider)
{
_dbHelper = new DataBaseHelper(contextProvider.get());
}
}
While I like using constructors as the tool for injecting, I wonder why it had to work this way, considering that examples I have seen are some kind of reflection class injection.
Anyway, that's this part. Hopefully someone else will find this useful.
Cheers,
Kelly

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