Understanding the UI thread - android

I am a beginner to Android and I have some confusions regarding Android UI Thread. Now, I know that no thread apart from the one that created the UI can modify it.
Great.
Here is the Activity from my first Android app which slightly confuses me.
public class NasaDailyImage extends Activity{
public ProgressDialog modalDialog = null;
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState){
//Instantiate progress dialog, skipping details.
Button b = //get reference to button
b.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
#Override
public void onClick(View v) {
modalDialog.show(); // show modal
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Getting feeds", 500).show();
new AsyncRetriever().execute(new IotdHandler()); // Get the feeds !!
}
});
}
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
public synchronized void resetDisplay(boolean parseErrorOccured,
boolean imageErrorOccured,
IotdHandler newFeeds){
if(parseErrorOccured || imageErrorOccured){
// make a Toast
// do not update display
}else{
// make a Toast
// update display
// based on new feed
}
}
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
class AsyncRetriever extends AsyncTask<IotdHandler,Void,IotdHandler>{
#Override
protected IotdHandler doInBackground(IotdHandler... arg0) {
IotdHandler handler = arg0[0];
handler.processFeed(); // get the RSS feed data !
return handler;
}
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#Override
protected void onPostExecute(IotdHandler fromInBackground){
resetDisplay( // call to update the display
fromInBackground.errorOccured,
fromInBackground.imageError,
fromInBackground);
}
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
}
1. onCreate is on the UI thread so I can do whatever I want but onClick is not. Why can I make a ProgressDialog and a Toast in that method? Why no error there?
2. The AsyncTask is subclass of the the NasaDailyImage. This means it can access all the methods of NasaDailyImage including resetDisplay() which updates the display. resetDisplay() is called in the onPostExecute which runs on a different thread from UI. So, why can I update the display there and yet get no errors ?

onClick() is indeed on the UI thread. Most of what happens in an Activity happens on the UI thread.
onPostExecte() (and its counterpart onPreExecute()) runs on the UI thread as well. The AsyncTask.onPostExecte() documentation clearly states this. AsyncTask was deliberately designed such that developers could update the UI before and after they do background work.
In general, your code will be running on the UI thread unless you explicitly tell it otherwise. Once you create AsyncTasks, Runnables, or Threads, you need to ensure you understand where your code is executing. In an Activity, it is typically safe to assume you are on the UI thread.

You are extending AsyncTask class , where async task class is calling its sequential method automatically. First onPreExecute then doBackground and finally onPost. If you want to change any ui change you can use onProgressUpdate method.
To use your activity class simple call activityclass.this.resetDisplay(). Because inner class scope sometimes failed to integrate except global varible.
Thanks

Related

Make operation only when activity is running

I have a loading activity which makes few requests to server and converts data.
And layout of this activity is just simple logo image and progressBar.
All my operations were made in onCreate() and according to received request from server I start different activities:
if (request == 1) { start activity A}
else { start activity B}
The problem is loading takes 2-3 sec and operations are made even before onResume(), before activity's view come to UI.
So its just blank activity which does some work.
How can I ensure that those operations are made only after activity complete its creation?
If i clearly understand you you want to start activity 0 in which onCreate function is doing internet requests and after getting feedback from it you decide to call activity A or B. Is that correct? If yes you need to do network request in backgroud so your user interface thread doesnt freez. You can use AsyncTask for example and on it's onPostExecute method decide to fire acitivty A or B
EDIT
private class YourAsyncTask extends AsyncTask<String, Long, String> {
protected Long doInBackground(String... params) {
//here is background thread work calling net API request, hard working etc... but you can't touch UserInterface thread, since we are in background
//here call your API and parse answear
String ret = flag
return flag;
}
protected void onProgressUpdate(Long... progress) {
}
protected void onPostExecute(String result) { //here you are getting your flag from doInBackground as a result parameter
// this is executed after doInBackground, fired automatically and run on User interface thread here you can for example modify layout so you can run activity A OR B
}
}
and if you have your logic in AsyncTask you can run it from onCreate for example it doesn't matter.
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.your_layout);
new YourAsyncTask().execute();
}
So you layot will be displayed and after executed your onPostExecute will be called
You need to move that server call off the main ui thread. Use an IntentService or something similar.
What I understand from this question, you must be using AsyncTask or Service to connect to server. You put the main thread in while loop and AsyncTask or Service is doing the required operation for you. After operation is complete, it will break out of while loop and then use if/else loop and decide which activity to start next.
Something like this:
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
{
boolean isDone = false;
// initialization code here
// start AsyncTask
BackgroundThread.execute(params);
while(!isDone)
{
Thread.sleep(1000); // 1 sec
}
}
doInBackground()
{
// your code
isDone = true;
}
onPostExecute() is executed on main thread, not on background thread.

Thread is stopping until the execution of a method is complete. (Android)

I'm trying to do an Android game using a Thread which repeats a loop for draw, move and others.
I have a problem with the execution of a method, which searches a value with a "do while" loop. When this method is executed, the thread does not continue until this process does not end.
What would be the best option for avoid this? Make another thread within that method? If you can give an example I'd really appreciate it.
Here's some pseudocode:
void mainLoop(){
drawElements();
moveElements();
//...
//...
reposition();
}
void reposition(){
// this stops my thread
do{
// do stuff
}while(!end);
// do stuff
}
As wqrahd suggested use AsyncTask.
I assume mainLoop is a main UI thread.
public class RepositionClass extends AsyncTask {
private Context mContext;
public RepositionClass(Context context) {
mContext = context;
}
#Override
protected void onPreExecute() {
// do UI related here, this function will run in main thread context.
}
#Override
protected Boolean doInBackground(String... params) {
// call non-ui(computation intensive) part of reposition function here.
return true;
}
#Override
protected void onPostExecute(Boolean result) {
// do UI related part of reposition function here.
}
}
Creating another thread won't help you if you still have to block and wait for the loop to complete the search. The problem really is what is happening in the "do stuff" loop, you just need to optimize that to solve the issue.
use asyntask and in asyntask's doInBackground , do your thread work and in asyntask's onPostExecute call your repositionMethod.

How to create a while(true) in a AsyncTask whithout blocking the Activity?

I have created an AsyncTask and I have to create an while(true) on my AsyncTask.
How can I execute such an unbounded loop upon handling a button click in my Activity class without blocking?
How others said a infinit loop without a break condition isn't a nice user experience.
First get a instance for your AsyncTask:
PostTask pt = new PostTask(this);
pt.execute();
Try this in your doInBackground():
while(!this.isCancelled()){
// doyourjobhere
}
If the app is getting closed by the user the AsyncTask have to be stopped in your onPause().
#Override
public void onPause(){
pt.cancel(false);
}
TheAsyncTask.cancel(boolean) sets isCancelled() to true, calls the AsyncTask.onCanceled() method instead of onPostExecute() and can be overwritten for your own purpose.
If you don't like this put your task in a Service.
As said by the others, you should put your 'infinite loop' inside the doInBackground() method of AsyncTask.
However, this loop is not so infinite, because it must end when you exist the activity, or the application.
I suggest changing your while (true) { } to while (! mustStop) { } and set the boolean mustStop as an instance variable of your activity. So you'll be able to cleanly stop the process by setting mustStop=true (it would be a good idea to set this in the onPause method).
So this will be :
public class AsyncBigCalculActivity extends Activity {
private boolean mustStop = false;
#Override
public void onPause() {
super.onPause();
mustStop=true; // Stop the infinite loop
}
....
#Override
protected String doInBackground(String... params) {
mustStop=false;
while (!mustStop) {
...
}
}
you can put the loop within the doInBackground() method of the AsyncTask. As a suggestion, you can add the AsyncTask as an inner class within your Activity.That way you can easily access the variables declared in your activity. Although the android documentation suggests to use AsyncTask only for short tasks. Its more advisable to create a runnable object and put your while loop within the run() method and execute it using ExecutorService, which allows you to run asynchronous code in android in a thread-safe manner.
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/util/concurrent/ExecutorService.html
http://developer.android.com/reference/java/util/concurrent/ExecutorService.html

AsyncTask cannot work in thread android

I use AsyncTask to change text of TextView like this:
private class LongOperation extends AsyncTask<String, Void, String> {
#Override
protected String doInBackground(String... urls) {
String response = "";
for (String url : urls) {
response += url;
}
return response;
}
#Override
protected void onPostExecute(String result) {
textView.setText(result);
}
}
Everything will fine if I call it in OnClick event:
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
textView = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.txt);
Button button = (Button)this.findViewById(R.id.button);
button.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
#Override
public void onClick(View v) {
new LongOperation().execute(new String[]{"Hello"});
}
});
}
But the problem when I called it in my thread, the program forced close
this.closeButton.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
#Override
public void onClick(View v) {
Thread t= new Thread(){
#Override
public void run(){
try{
//Do something
//Then call AsyncTask
new LongOperation().execute(new String[]{"Hello"});
}catch(Exception e){}
}
};
t.start();
}
});
Where am I wrong? I dont' understand how difference call AsyncTask in thread or not.
I recommend you consult the AsyncTask documentation and Processes and Threads for a better understanding of how it works. Essentially, you should create your AsyncTask subclass on the main thread.
When you call AsyncTask.execute(), your provided, AsyncTask.onPreExecute is called on the main thread, so you can do UI setup.
Next AsyncTask.doInBackground method is called, and runs in its own thread.
Finally, when your AsyncTask.doInBackground method completes, a call is made to AsyncTask.onPostExecute on the main thread, and you can do any UI cleanup.
If you need to update the UI from within your AsyncTask.doInBackground method, call AsyncTask.publishProgress, which will invoke onProgressUpdate in the main thread.
When you call it from the UI thread, the associated Context is the running Activity. When you call it from a regular thread, there is no valid Context associated with that thread. AsyncTask executes in its own thread, you shouldn't be creating its own thread. If that is actual code, then you have missunderstood the point of AsyncTask. Search for tutorials on how to use it.
Adding to what the others have said: I think you can use AsyncTask to launch off a task in another thread, even if you start the AsyncTask from a different thread than the UI already.
But in that case, the only way you'll only be able to modify the UI indirectly, for example: pass the handler of the current Activity somehow to this AsyncTask instance, and send messages to it (handler messages get processed on the UI thread). Or use broadcast intents that the Activity catches and updates the UI accordingly, etc. These solutions seem to be overkills though.

android work thread and ui thread

onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState){
// show dialog A if something is not correct
new Thread(){
public void run(){
if(something is wrong) {
runOnUIThread(new Runnable(){
public void run(){
showDialog(A);
}
});
}
}
}.start();
// show dialog B
showDialog(B);
}
I want to know
which dialog will be shown first, and is the order indeterminate? why?
if the order is indeterminate, how can i reproduce the case that A is shown before B?
Thanks!
Which dialog will be shown first is not defined and you should not rely on one occurring before the other as above. The thread scheduler is not identically deterministic in all situations.
You need to lock on a mutex (or any other locking device) to make sure one is shown before the other.
Your question about which dialog will show first is indeterminate. There are cases where the order will flip flop. But generally B would be shown first since 9/10 it will get to place it's event on the UI thread before your thread could detect there was a problem.
I'd suggest using AsyncTask to perform whatever mechanisms are needed to startup, then in the onPostExecute() allow your program to resume starting up so it can showDialog(B) for whatever it needs. That way if dialog A is showing you can stop the startup process there and not show b.
public class MyAsyncStartup extends AsyncTask<Integer,Integer,MyResult> {
MyActivity activity;
public MyResult handleBackground() {
if( somethingWentWrong ) return null;
}
public onPostExecute( MyResult result ) {
if( result == null ) {
showDialog(B);
} else {
activity.resumeStartupAndShowA();
}
}
}
I don't think it is possible that A is shown before B... this is because runOnUIThread adds the event TO THE END of the event queue. The code in that event (showing dialog A) is not going to get executed until after the onCreate() finishes (which means that dialog B gets shown first).
What cannot be guaranteed is the order between showing dialog B and calling runOnUIThread, but that doesn't matter. Here is a fragment from the official docs:
[runOnUIThread] Runs the specified action on the UI thread. If the current thread is the UI thread, then the action is executed immediately. If the current thread is not the UI thread, the action is posted to the event queue of the UI thread.
N/A
You can't show B until you know whether or not A will be shown. So you have to wait for the worker thread no matter what. Would it be possible to put showDialog(B) in your other thread like this?
onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState){
// show dialog A if something is not correct
new Thread(){
public void run(){
runOnUiThread(new Runnable(){
public void run(){
if(something is wrong) {
showDialog(A);
}
showDialog(B);
}
});
}
}
}.start();
}

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