Find the Current Windows Application

Question

I'm trying to write what I hope is a simple application tracker. That is, whenever a new application starts, or a running application becomes current, I want to note the event and start timing it's time "on top".

I have code that lists all the current applications that are running, and some code that tells me the top window (always my test console app, naturally).

What I think I'm missing is the Windows event stream to monitor or something.

I'm using .NET (C# preferred).

Any hints, tips or cheats available?

Thanks - Jonathan

Answer 1

I think the best way to do this would be using windows "hooks" (i.e. SetWindowsHookEx). These allow you to hook in to windows core functionality, specifically there is one called WH_CALLWNDPROC which calls a user function any time any window in the system receives a message.

You could use this to globally listen for messages that bring a window to the foreground, and/or messages for user interaction (mouse, keyboard).

However, this is a raw Windows API function primarily meant for use in a C/C++ windows DLL. You can implement it in C#, but that is a can of worms you may not want to open. But opening it would probably be the best way of doing what you're asking.