IntentService + WakefulBroadcastReceiver + AlarmManager are deprecated with API 26 (Android 8.0 Oreo). Which is the best alternative?

Question

Sometimes in my apps I need to do something in the background repeatedly (every X hours).

Up to API 25 i use:

• AlarmManager with setInexactRepeating (to respect battery)
• WakefulBroadcastReceiver to have enough times to do all works
• IntentService to do all in background thread

On API 26 all of this are deprecated or limited and are suggested to use JobScheduler with JobService instead.

The problem is that JobService run in main thread.

I think to use AsyncTask inside JobService and call JobService.jobFinished inside onPostExecute

this is the correct way to do this?

Answer 1

You can use JobIntentService of support library 26 which has the exact workflow of IntentService. For pre Oreo devices, JobIntentService will use old IntentService. JobIntentService class relies on JobScheduler API of android.

For more, https://developer.android.com/reference/android/support/v4/app/JobIntentService.html

Answer 2

On API 26 all of this are deprecated or limited

AlarmManager did not change in Android 8.0, IIRC. IntentService did not change in Android 8.0 either. However, you would need to make the IntentService be a foreground service and use a getForegroundService() PendingIntent.

The problem is that JobIntentService run in main thread.

onHandleWork() is called on a background thread, both for Android 8.0+ and pre-8.0 devices. I used this sample app of mine, adding logging statements to log the current thread ID inside enqueueWork() (called on the main application thread) and onHandleWork(). They are different thread IDs, and hence they are different threads.

this is the correct way to do this?

No, just do your work in onHandleWork().