Creating Android Services with Delphi and RAD Studio 10 Seattle Covers: Why Android Services, Services vs. Threads, Service Types, Service Wizard, Service Limitations, etc. More information http://delphi.org/?p=2084

1. Android Services
Jim McKeeth
Lead Developer Evangelist
Embarcadero Technologies

2. About Jim McKeeth
• Lead World Wide Developer Evangelist
• Host of Podcast at Delphi.org
• Longtime developer
– Object Pascal, Java, C#, JavaScript, Objective-C, etc.
• Invented and patented swipe to unlock in 2000
– US Patent # 8352745 & 6766456, etc.
• Improvisational performer with ComedySportz Boise

3. Why Android Services?
• Provide background functionality
• Can run even when app is closed
• Can start on boot or other events
• Can be accessible by multiple apps

4. Android Services vs. Threads
Android Services
• Cannot access the UI
• Runs in main thread of
host app process
• Can contain multiple
threads
• Used for long running
processes
Threads
• Cannot access the UI
• Not accessible to other
apps
• Terminated with app
• Used to improve
responsiveness

5. Android Service Type Variations
• IntentService
– Handle asynchronous requests (onHandleIntent(Intent) event)
– Otherwise are syncronous (onStartCommand(Intent) event)
– Both are Bindable (onBind event)
• Local vs. Remote
– Local only accessible by host (exported = false in manifest)
– Remote cross app access (exported = true in manifest)

6. Android Service Wizard
• Local Service
– Synchronous local access
• Intent Local Service
– Asynchronous local access
• Remote Service
– Synchronous local & remote access
• Intent Remote Service
– Asynchronous local & remote access

7. Service Class Hierarchy
TDataModule
TAndroidBaseService
Adds OnBind, OnUnBind,
OnRebind, OnTaskRemoved,
OnConfigurationChanged,
OnLowMemory, OnTrimMemory,
OnHandleMessage*,
JavaService & JavaIntentService**
TAndroidService
Adds OnStartCommand
TAndroidIntentService
Adds OnHandleIntent
*OnHandleMessage only
occurs in remote services
**Only JavaService xor
JavaIntentService will have a
value, otherwise nil

8. Services in Delphi
• The Service is a separate project
• Referenced by, and included in host app
• Must build service before adding to host
• For best results put service in its own directory

9. How to use a Service
• We have two ways to use a Service:
1. Sending a request (startService(Intent))
It is used to execute an unattended work in background
return START_STICKY or START_REDELIVER_INTENT in OnStartCommand to
restart the service in case the app is closed
2. Bound to the service (bindService)
It is used to create a long-standing connection to interact with the service
3. Can use a combination of both

10. Service lifecycle
• Lifecycle and events
are different
depending on how
the service is started:
– Started
– Bound
More information
http://developer.android.com/guide/components/services.html

11. Restrictions for Services
• Cannot Access UI
• Not use components from the FMX namespace
• Be aware of power consumption
– Using a lot of CPU
– Using network connection
• Respect users expectations and privacy

12. Service Workarounds
• Use RTL or low-level calls instead of FMX
components. If the service fails when started, use
a lower level call.
• Manually edit manifest to make remote services
published.
• Manually edit Java Templates for Intent and
Remote Services (see http://delphi.org/?p=2084)

13. DEMONSTRATIONS
Android Services

14. Summary
• Android services allow for execution even when
app is not running.
• Add a new Android Service project to your app.
• Build service before adding reference.
• More information:
– http://delphi.org/tag/android-services/
– http://embt.co/creating_android_services
– http://embt.co/android_service