Develop Reference

What kind of services should I use for accessing sensors data in background?

I successfully used a service to do a certain task in the foreground. Now, to do it in the background, I'd remove the handler.removeCallbacks method in onDestroy().
But this would also prevents me from stopping the service using stopService(intent).
I saw on the official docs that I should maybe use JobScheduler (as I target API 28).
Here is a more precise indication of my code :
public class MainActivity {
private Intent intent;
onCreate() {
if (intent == null) {
intent = new Intent(this, MyService.class);
}
}
startService(intent);
... // Then is some code to stop the service if needed with stopService(intent)
}
--------------------------------------------------------------
public class myService {
private Handler handler = null;
private static Runnable runnable = null;
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
return null;
}
#Override
public void onCreate() {
handler = new Handler();
runnable = new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
System.out.println("Running service times " + i);
i++;
handler.postDelayed(runnable, 1000);
}
};
handler.post(runnable);
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
handler.removeCallbacks(runnable);
super.onDestroy();
}
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
return super.onStartCommand(intent, flags, startId);
}
I would like it to run in the background (even if the device is locked) but still being able to disable the service (or JobScheduler?).
What are your suggestions?

you can use work manager
or job dispatcher
and there is a lot of options like
SyncAdapter, Bound services, Intent Service
you can use one of these options according to your need

How Android O affect background service to reduce battery drain?

I create a service that start a new thread to do stuff. In Android O, the android document said if the service is not a foreground service, then it will be stopped by the system. But I tested the following code, the service is destroyed but the thread is still running.
My question is how the system can save user's battery if the thread is allowed to be run even if the service is stopped?
MainActivity
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
}
public void startService(View view) {
Intent intent = new Intent(this, MyService.class);
startService(intent);
}
public void stopService(View view) {
stopService(new Intent(this, MyService.class));
}
}
MyService
public class MyService extends Service {
#Nullable
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
return null;
}
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
new Thread(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
while (true) {
try {
Thread.sleep(1000);
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
System.out.println("run in service: ");
}
}
}).start();
return START_NOT_STICKY;
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
System.out.println("service onDestroy");
}
}

Did you test this behaviour for longer hours ? I had the same set-up with a service (started via main thread) running a worker thread inside. Upon testing the set-up for longer duration like 2-3 days. You will notice that system shuts down the entire process. So you can not rely on doing the background execution with a worker thread. Better approach is to use periodic or timed Jobs.

Android: Run code when application is permanently closed

So I have code that I want called when my application is closed. Not just when it is sent to the background or the surface is destroyed. How do I do this? Is there a method that I can override in a SurfaceView or Activity class?
New Edit - current BackgroundService class:
public class BackgroundService extends Service {
private String savedString;
public void onCreate() {
System.out.println("Service created");
super.onCreate();
}
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
System.out.println("start command: ");
savedString = intent.getStringExtra("myString);
return super.onStartCommand(intent, flags, startId);
}
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
return null;
}
public void onTaskRemoved(Intent rootIntent) {
System.out.println("the saved string was: " + savedString);
super.onTaskRemoved(rootIntent);
}
public void onDestroy() {
System.out.println("destroyed service");
super.onDestroy();
}
}
Where I then have this in my other class:
Intent serviceIntent = new Intent(activity.getApplicationContext(), BackgroundService.class);
serviceIntent.putExtra("myString", "this is my saved string");
activity.startService(serviceIntent);

you need to add a background service
public class BackgroundServices extends Service
{
#Override
public void onCreate() {
Toast.makeText(this, "start", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
super.onCreate();
}
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
}
#Nullable
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
return null;
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
}
}
then in your activity. where you want to trigger this service
use
startService(new Intent(getBaseContext(), BackgroundServices.class));
in your case it will be call on onDestory function of that activity

Yes when the process is terminated
That is not possible in general. Nothing in your app is called when the process is terminated.
For example when you open the running apps screen, and swipe away the app to stop it from running
That is a task removal. It may result in your process being terminated, and there are many ways in which your process can be terminated that has nothing to do with task removal.
To detect task removal, override onTaskRemoved() in a Service.

Android: Service is killed and restarted after a while

I know that is a well known subject, but I have tried lot of things. I have an simple application, dedicated to a specific user, application has an mainActivity which is displaying some status on screen and it's starting two services, one is making request from a server (at every 5 minutes) and one which is sending sms and replay to server (at every ten minutes).
The application is running on a Samsung pocket 2 with Android 4.4.2, this device is used only for this application. While the device is connected to ADB the services are working just fine, but if I disconnect the phone and let it running normally, the services are killed repeatable and restarted after a while. The messaged are send with very much delay. I would be thankful for any suggestions.
Here is my code:
Main activity:
public class MainActivity extends Activity {
private TextView _internet;
private TextView _signal;
private TextView _server;
private BroadcastReceiver receiver;
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
init();
IntentFilter intentFilter = new IntentFilter(Constants.SS);
receiverWorker();
registerReceiver(receiver, intentFilter);
startService(new Intent(this, RefreshDBService.class));
startService(new Intent(this, SmsService.class));
}
private void receiverWorker() {
receiver = new BroadcastReceiver() {
public void onReceive(Context arg0, Intent arg1) {
checkState();
}};
}
public void refreshButonClicked(View v) {
checkState();
}`
Here is my first service:
public class RefreshDBService extends Service {
private Thread _backgroundWork;
private ScheduledExecutorService scheduleTaskExecutor = Executors.newScheduledThreadPool(1);
private DataBaseOperations _dataSource;
#Override
public void onCreate() {
super.onCreate();
_dataSource = new DataBaseOperations(this);
_backgroundWork = new Thread(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
if(Checks.checkInternetConnection(getApplicationContext())){
if(ServerOperations.isServerAvailable(getApplicationContext())){
String inputData = ServerOperations.makeRequest(Constants.GET_DATA_ROUTE, ServerOperations.getMessagesFromServer(getApplicationContext()));
ArrayList<DataSmsObj> dataFromServer=null;
if(inputData!=null && !inputData.isEmpty()){
dataFromServer = ServerOperations.fromJsonToObjects(inputData);
if(dataFromServer.size()>0){
_dataSource.open();
_dataSource.insertDataFromServer(dataFromServer);
_dataSource.close();
}
}
System.out.println("check server for messages in pending status, received -> "+ dataFromServer.size());
}else{
System.out.println("no server");
sentErrorToUI(Constants.NO_SERVER);
}
}else{
System.out.println("no internet");
sentErrorToUI(Constants.NO_INTERNET);
}
}
});
}
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
scheduleTaskExecutor.scheduleWithFixedDelay(_backgroundWork, 0, Constants.NEXT_CYCLE/2, TimeUnit.MINUTES);
return START_REDELIVER_INTENT;
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
scheduleTaskExecutor.shutdownNow();
}
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
return null;
}
private void sentErrorToUI(String message){
Intent intent = new Intent(Constants.SS);
intent.putExtra(Constants.SS, message);
System.out.println("trimit" +message);
sendBroadcast(intent);
}
}
And this is the second one:
public class SmsService extends Service {
private Thread _backgroundWork;
private ScheduledExecutorService scheduleTaskExecutor = Executors.newScheduledThreadPool(1);
private DataBaseOperations _dataSource;
#Override
public void onCreate() {
super.onCreate();
_dataSource = new DataBaseOperations(this);
_backgroundWork = new Thread(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
sendFeedbackToServer();
List<DataSmsObj> dataToSent = new ArrayList<DataSmsObj>();
_dataSource.open();
dataToSent = _dataSource.getDataToSent();
_dataSource.close();
System.out.println("messages to sent: "+ dataToSent.size());
for (int i = 0; i < dataToSent.size(); i++) {
//here the messages are send, the code is to long to put it here, but if is need i can do it afterwards
}
}
});
}
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
scheduleTaskExecutor.scheduleWithFixedDelay(_backgroundWork, 0, Constants.NEXT_CYCLE, TimeUnit.MINUTES);
return START_REDELIVER_INTENT;
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
scheduleTaskExecutor.shutdownNow();
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
return null;
}

If you are using a background Service with a scheduled task, it could be killed by the system. The only way to prevent the killing is a foreground Service. Quoting the documentation:
A foreground service is a service that the user is actively aware of and is not a candidate for the system to kill when low on memory.
You have to call the method startForeground() inside your Service using a Notification to show it. For further information you can check: https://developer.android.com/guide/components/services.html#Foreground
By the way, I recommend you to use the new JobScheduler api above api 21.
https://developer.android.com/reference/android/app/job/JobScheduler.html

Android kills service based on priority stack.
Android: keeping a background service alive (preventing process death)
What is START_STICKY,START_NOT_STICKY and START_REDELIVER_INTENT Service
Above links might help you.

Your devices will sleeps if it is unplugged from computer . So, the solutions :
Use startForeground method to prevent service to be killed and/or use AlarmManager in order to charge event.
It is possible to use start_stiky flag but it just restarts the process if it killed by system.

Run a service in background continuously

Run a service in background continuously. For example, a service has to be kicked off which will display a toast message 20 seconds once even if the app is closed.
public class AppService extends IntentService {
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
return START_STICKY;
}
public AppService() {
super("AppService");
}
#Override
protected void onHandleIntent(Intent workIntent) {
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "hai", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
SystemClock.sleep(20000);
}
}

Below code works for me...
public class AppService extends Service {
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
return null;
}
#Override
public void onCreate() {
Toast.makeText(this, " MyService Created ", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
}
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
Toast.makeText(this, " MyService Started", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
return START_STICKY;
}
}

Accepted answer will not work on from Android 8.0 (API level 26), see the android's background limitations here
Modification in Accepted Answer:
1: You have to invoke the service's startForeground() method within 5 seconds after starting the service. To do this, you can call startForeground() in onCreate() method of service.
public class AppService extends Service {
....
#Override
public void onCreate() {
startForeground(9999, Notification())
}
....
}
2: You must call startForegroundService() instead of startService() by checking API level from where you want to start the service.
if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
context.startForegroundService(intent);
} else {
context.startService(intent);
}

This code work for me..
public class ServiceClass extends Service {
public static final int notify = 300000; //interval between two services(Here Service run every 5 Minute)
private Handler mHandler = new Handler(); //run on another Thread to avoid crash
private Timer mTimer = null; //timer handling
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Not yet implemented");
}
#Override
public void onCreate() {
if (mTimer != null) // Cancel if already existed
mTimer.cancel();
else
mTimer = new Timer(); //recreate new
mTimer.scheduleAtFixedRate(new TimeDisplay(), 0, notify); //Schedule task
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
mTimer.cancel(); //For Cancel Timer
Log.d("service is ","Destroyed");
}
//class TimeDisplay for handling task
class TimeDisplay extends TimerTask {
#Override
public void run() {
// run on another thread
mHandler.post(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
Log.d("service is ","running");
}
});
}
}
}

In your manifest, where you declare your service, add:
android:process=":processname"
This lets the service run on a separate process and thus it will not be killed with the app.
You can then chose if you want to use foreground. It will show a persistent notification, but reduces the likelihood if the service being killed.
Further, if you want to create a continuously running service, use Service, NOT IntentService. IntentService stops when it is finished doing its action.