Question

I want to port my client from Java Swing(Java client) to Android(Android client).

Basically, my Java client have a thread, which run a forever while loop to receive UDP packets, and base on content of UDP packets, UI of the corresponding JFrame will be updated.

Now I want my Android client has a background worker like the thread in the Java client, and that worker will be initialized in the main activity. Then when there are some requests from the UDP socket, the main activity will start some corresponding activities (Chat Activities), then there are some other requests come from the UDP socket, the worker will update on the activity(this activity can be main activity or a Chat Activity) which is being displayed on the screen.

So my question is what the background worker should be:

• Service
• Normal Java thread
• Asynctask
• or what…

Which is the most appropriate with my requirements?

Thanks!

Answer 1

The background worker should be a service, because

A Service is an application component that can perform long-running
operations in the background and does not provide a user interface.

while your UI will be a activity, your service will read the UDP packets and the activity will be modified accordingly.