What is the best way to create background application?

bonzaiholding

If i want to create an application without any console and without any form that for example: 1. every 20 hours send an email 2. backup some folder or doing anything without the user interaction. 3. Will write a log to a file. 4. will run a process if some event occur. I know that i can make a form application but then i need to mark the form with 0% Opacity. That will take a lot of memory for the process. What is the best way?

Saksida Bojan

write it as service. But why do you need such app. Such app can be easly considered malicious programs

bonzaiholding

Thanks. I need it to backup files in my system and to sync between some computer in my office.

Saksida Bojan

Then i suggest writing it so that it will move to system tray

Baeltazor

Why not try chucking it in the system tray?

Regards, Jason Pezzimenti.

If you liked the answer that I have provided, then please click the 'Good Answer' link on the bottom-right of this post. Thank you.

Natural_Demon

you can't make an application without a window. but you can hide it. you can make a DLL and hook it windows explorer, like a service or something. but don't ask me how to do it, because i never tried

Bad = knowing 2 much

Saksida Bojan

Natural_Demon wrote:

you can't make an application without a window.

That is only expection for service. They don't have any window.

Mycroft Holmes

Your sig says it all - you are quite wrong. A windows/web service does not cannot have a form. This is lousy advice, although admitting you have no idea at least puts it in context. Please be a little more careful about what advice you give. If you had been the first responder and the asker was a newbie then you may have damaged a potential developer.

Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

Natural_Demon

eh, i remember i asked the same question when i played with MFC c++ 5,6 years ago. it's impossible for an normal application to operate without a form/cmd. than as solution, i said, you can write a DLL and hooked it the windows explorer, be it as service or something else, like a virus.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Threading;

namespace nowindow_application
{
static class Program
{
/// <summary>
/// The main entry point for the application.
/// </summary>
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
Application.EnableVisualStyles();
Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
//MessageBox.Show(bobo(1, 2).ToString(), "", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information);
Thread.Sleep(1000);
Main();
//Application.Run(new Form1(bobo(1, 2)));
}

    private static int bobo(int a, int b)
    {
        return (a + b);
    }
}

}

this application wil not not produce an executable file using visual studio 2008 //MessageBox.Show(bobo(1, 2).ToString(), "", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information); uncomment this file and you have a executable file in your bin folder. so you can't build a application without a CMD or form layout. i dind't spread any false hope or something, i asked this question before.

Bad = knowing 2 much

Natural_Demon

or try to compile this

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Threading;

namespace nowindow_application
{
static class Program
{
/// <summary>
/// The main entry point for the application.
/// </summary>
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
Application.EnableVisualStyles();
Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
//MessageBox.Show(bobo(1, 2).ToString(), "", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information);
bobo(1, 2);
Thread.Sleep(1000);
Main();
//Application.Run(new Form1(bobo(1, 2)));
}

    private static int bobo(int a, int b)
    {
        return (a + b);
    }
}

}

Bad = knowing 2 much

Alan N

Hi, What's your point here? Apart from the recursive call to Main there is nothing that would prevent your example from running to completion. When a program is compiled as a console application then a window, the console, is always created. Counter intuitively a windows application only has a message loop and window if the programmer writes the appropriate code, usually Application.Run(new Form1());. A simple windowless windows application does not show in the taskbar but will be present in Task Manager's process list.

static void Main() {
  System.IO.File.AppendAllText(
    "log.txt",
    "NoWindow started at " + System.DateTime.Now.ToString() + System.Environment.NewLine);
  System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(20 \* 1000);
  System.IO.File.AppendAllText(
    "log.txt",
    "and ended at " + System.DateTime.Now.ToString() + System.Environment.NewLine);
}

Alan.

Natural_Demon

hi, i have been playing with you code. i tried with threading and other methods. creating endless/limited loops. again .... whitout System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(20 * 1000); or MessageBox you code want compile, wel it doesn't produce an executable. i have achieved 99% cpu usage on a intel 9450. i think this is a very lousy methode off programming. to get something valueble on this methode of programming.

    static void Main()
    {
        begin:
        if (!testLoop())
        {
            // System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1 \* 1000);
            // MessageBox.Show("new", "", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information);
            goto begin;
        }
        
    }

    private static bool testLoop()
    {
        while (baba != 101)
        {
            //Thread.Sleep(1 \* 100);
            baba++;
        }
        baba = 0;
        return false;
    }

this code comsumes 25% cpu usages and is self sustainable. but it doesn't produce an executable. but if you uncomment System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1 * 1000); it wil compile but terribly remove the realtime feeling. it's like imitating the Assembler

Bad = knowing 2 much