Is this how to schedule a java method to run 1 second later?

Question

In my method, I want to call another method that will run 1 second later. This is what I have.

final Timer timer = new Timer();

timer.schedule(new TimerTask() {
    public void run() {
          MyMethod();
          Log.w("General", "This has been called one second later");
        timer.cancel();
    }
}, 1000);

Is this how it's supposed to be done? Are there other ways to do it since I'm on Android? Can it be repeated without any problems?

score 29 · Answer 1 · edited May 31 '12 at 04:33

29

There are several alternatives. But here is Android specific one.

If you thread is using Looper (and Normally all Activity's, BroadcastRecevier's and Service's methods onCreate, onReceive, onDestroy, etc. are called from such a thread), then you can use Handler. Here is an example:

Handler handler = new Handler();
handler.postDelayed(new Runnable()
{
     @Override
     public void run()
     {
         myMethod();
     }
}, 1000);

Note that you do not have to cancel anything here. This will be run only once on the same thread your Handler was created.

edited May 31 '12 at 04:33

Community

1
1

answered Jun 01 '11 at 17:34

inazaruk

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+1, this is a neat approach. I've never done anything with the Android platform, so this is probably the better approach. my answer is more generic. – mre Jun 01 '11 at 17:40

mre · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-01T17:37:50.120

17

Instead of a Timer, I'd recommend using a ScheduledExecutorService

final ScheduledExecutorService exec = Executors.newScheduledThreadPool(1);

exec.schedule(new Runnable(){
    @Override
    public void run(){
        MyMethod();
    }
}, 1, TimeUnit.SECONDS);

edited Jun 01 '11 at 17:37

answered Jun 01 '11 at 17:26

mre

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The code I'm using doesn't happen in an activity, so I'm going with this one. Thanks! – djcouchycouch Jun 01 '11 at 17:48
1

Can you explain why you recommend this over the Timer? – nhaarman Jun 01 '11 at 17:48
@Niek, [Timer vs. ExecutorService](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/409932/java-timer-vs-executorservice) – mre Jun 01 '11 at 17:50
1

That's quite overkill...This answer should explain more about UI Thread and background job. If someone has time to improve it. – Snicolas May 23 '13 at 21:06

score 2 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '13 at 12:33

2

If you are not in UI thread, consider adding a very simple:

try
{
  Thread.sleep( 1000 );
}//try
catch( Exception ex)
{ ex.printStackTrace(); }//catch

//call your method

edited May 23 '13 at 12:33

answered Jun 01 '11 at 17:44

Snicolas

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Paul Verest · Answer 4 · 2015-03-24T03:12:29.770

ScheduledExecutorService or AsyncTask for UI related.

Note that if you are to update UI, that code should be posted to UI thread. as in Processes and Threads Guide

        final Bitmap bitmap = loadImageFromNetwork("http://example.com/image.png");
        mImageView.post(new Runnable() {
            public void run() {
                mImageView.setImageBitmap(bitmap);
            }
        });

There is also nice postDelayed method in View

    mImageView.postDelayed(new Runnable(){
        @Override
        public void run() {
            mImageView.setImageResource(R.drawable.ic_inactive);
        }
    }, 1000);

that will update UI after 1 sec.

Is this how to schedule a java method to run 1 second later?

4 Answers4

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