Background service

Question

I want to create a little app, which logs data in the background. So I try it whit a bound service. This works fine but if i close the app the service stops too.
So, my question: Is it a good way to perform that with a instant service? And how can I keep the service running in the background when app is closend (i want to start it after boot too)?

Answer 1

Check out this link on system applications.

If the app is not a system app, Android can destroy the process in a low-memory situation, this includes services. Otherwise checkout the startForeground() for application services.

Answer 2

You can try this:

public class ServiceBackground extends Service {


    @Override
    public IBinder onBind( final Intent arg0 ) {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public void onCreate() {

        final ScheduledThreadPoolExecutor executor = new ScheduledThreadPoolExecutor( 1 ); // Number of threads keep in the pool

        executor.scheduleAtFixedRate( new Runnable() {

            @Override
            public void run() {

                Log.i( "LocalService", "service running" );

                if (stopCondition == true ) {
                    executor.shutdownNow();
                }

            }
        }, 1, 1000, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS );
        super.onCreate();
    }

    @Override
    public int onStartCommand( final Intent intent, final int flags, final int startId ) {
        return Service.START_STICKY;
    }

}

Remember to register the service in AndroidManifest.xml

More information about ScheduledThreadPoolExecutor

Starting the service

public class MainActivity extends Activity {

    @Override
    protected void onCreate( final Bundle savedInstanceState ) {
        super.onCreate( savedInstanceState );
        this.setContentView( R.layout.activity_main );

        this.startService( new Intent( this, ServiceBackground.class ) );

    }

}