Question

I defined some global variables in my app by extending Application, as shown below. When I leave the app, open more apps and play a bit with them, and go back to my app, the global variables have been deleted and my app crashes. I’ve got 2 questions:

1- How can this be possible?

2- How can I force my app to exit when going to background? I know I’m not supposed to do it, but I can’t find other solution…

Thanks

public class GlobalVars extends Application { 

    public static HashMap<Integer, String> ID2Cat = new HashMap<Integer, String>();

    // User logged bool
    public static boolean isLogged = false;

    // Current menu item
    public static int currentMenuItem = 0;
    public static boolean isHome = false;

    // Goodideas    
    public static JSONObject goodIdeas = new JSONObject();

    // Meteo
    public static JSONArray weatherItems = new JSONArray();

    // More stuff

}

Logcat

Here’s what makes me think my app is killed. This is shown at some point while playing with other apps.

I/ActivityManager( 2465): Process com.mysite.myapp (pid 23538) has died.
I/WindowManager( 2465): WIN DEATH: Window{4852a678 com.mysite.myapp/com.mysite.myapp.Home paused=false}
I/WindowManager( 2465): WIN DEATH: Window{485b63a8 com.mysite.myapp/com.mysite.myapp.Home paused=false}
I/WindowManager( 2465): WIN DEATH: Window{4826fbf8 com.mysite.myapp/com.mysite.myapp.ItemList paused=false}
I/WindowManager( 2465): WIN DEATH: Window{48286f90 com.mysite.myapp/com.mysite.myapp.ItemDetail paused=false}
W/GpsLocationProvider( 2465): Unneeded remove listener for uid 1000
D/GpsLocationProvider( 2465): stopNavigating
D/gps_BRCM( 2465): [status check] on_stop() : GPS_STATUS_SESSION_END
D/gps_BRCM( 2465): gps_engine_status_update 2
D/GpsLocationProvider( 2465): send an intent to notify that the GPS has been enabled or disabled
D/gps_BRCM( 2465): gps_stop: called
V/GpsLocationProvider( 2465): hybridGpsSensorDeregister : No registered sensorManager
D/GpsLocationProvider( 2465): hybridGpsSensorDeregister

Answer 1

1- How can this be possible?

Your process may be terminated at any point. You cannot assume how long any static data members or custom Application objects will live. They should only be used as a cache, at best.

2- How can I force my app to exit when going to background?

You don’t.

I know I’m not supposed to do it

Not only that, but it will not help you in this case. All it will do is mean that you crash 100% of the time, since you didn’t actually bother to initialize properly.

but I can’t find other solution.

Initialize your data. If your application is crashing because a new custom Application instance was created, your Application subclass has bugs, which you need to fix.