How to keep a foreground app running 24/7?

Question

I am looking into how to keep my Android app running in the foreground.

It will be a privately distributed app, so I can do anything possible to make sure it runs constantly on the device (HDMI TV Stick)

So, how can I make sure that the app stays running no matter what? The app is pretty light weight in terms of resource usage, so having it run 24/7 should hopefully not be a problem.

I read about the persistent parameter in the manifest, but it looks like it might only apply to system apps?

Should I make my app a system app? How would I do that and would it help?

Answer 1

• If you want an external app use: Autostart and StaY!

• If you want to do this programmatically you can use a service that polls every "x" milliseconds to see if your app is in the foreground. If it is not, it will start/bring your app in the foreground. Do it like this:

  public class PersistService extends Service {
  
      private static final int INTERVAL = 3000; // poll every 3 secs
      private static final string YOUR_APP_PACKAGE_NAME = "YOUR_APP_PACKAGE_NAME";
  
      private static boolean stopTask;
      private PowerManager.WakeLock mWakeLock;
  
      @Override
      public void onCreate() {
          super.onCreate();
  
          stopTask = false;
  
          // Optional: Screen Always On Mode!
          // Screen will never switch off this way
          mWakeLock = null;
          if (settings.pmode_scrn_on){
              PowerManager pm = (PowerManager) getSystemService(Context.POWER_SERVICE);
              mWakeLock = pm.newWakeLock(PowerManager.SCREEN_DIM_WAKE_LOCK, "a_tag");
              mWakeLock.acquire();
          }
  
          // Start your (polling) task
          TimerTask task = new TimerTask() {
              @Override
              public void run() {
  
                  // If you wish to stop the task/polling
                  if (stopTask){
                      this.cancel();
                  }
  
                  // The first in the list of RunningTasks is always the foreground task.
                  RunningTaskInfo foregroundTaskInfo = activityManager.getRunningTasks(1).get(0);
                  String foregroundTaskPackageName = foregroundTaskInfo .topActivity.getPackageName();
  
                  // Check foreground app: If it is not in the foreground... bring it!
                  if (!foregroundTaskPackageName.equals(YOUR_APP_PACKAGE_NAME)){
                      Intent LaunchIntent = getPackageManager().getLaunchIntentForPackage(YOUR_APP_PACKAGE_NAME);
                      startActivity(LaunchIntent);
                  }
              }
          };
          Timer timer = new Timer();
          timer.scheduleAtFixedRate(task, 0, INTERVAL);
      }
  
      @Override
      public void onDestroy(){
          stopTask = true;
          if (mWakeLock != null)
              mWakeLock.release();
          super.onDestroy();
      }
  }
  

The above code has also the "option" to force the Screen to stay always on! Of course you will need the following permissions:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.GET_TASKS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />

and do not also forget to register your service:

    <service android:name="YOURPACAKGE.PersistService" 
     android:enabled="true"/>