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Re: single instance

From Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid>
Newsgroups comp.lang.java.programmer
Subject Re: single instance
Date 2013-01-05 13:02 -0500
Organization Zamps Anonymous
Message-ID <kc9psj$5k0$1@news.mixmin.net> (permalink)
References (1 earlier) <sm7be8dvh8ulkncsrh3s5a1f0a0h3d6ah3@4ax.com> <ml38v8maw1s1$.1gx93ez99j3rq$.dlg@40tude.net> <kc4rpu$4at$1@localhost.localdomain> <PNidnQgKw5vavHXNnZ2dnUVZ8t-dnZ2d@bt.com> <kc9onj$bp9$1@localhost.localdomain>

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On Sat, 5 Jan 2013 17:43:15 +0000 (UTC), Martin Gregorie wrote:

> On Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:48:41 +0000, Chris Uppal wrote:
> 
>> There may be something added to modern Linux (or whatever) that makes it
>> easier to create shared temporary files (not the requirement here, of
>> course).  But there's nothing in "classic" *NIX (say from around the
>> time of SysV).
>
> Correct: test C code written and checked to prove your point. The Stratus 
> VOS OS left the file in place: you could see it from list_directory after 
> it had been deleted, but Linux doesn't do that.
> 
> However, the automatic cleanup is easy enough to manage from C via the 
> atexit() function, which is very to use since you just call atexit() near 
> the start of the main() function: once atexit() has registered your exit 
> action(s) you get on with whatever the program is meant to do in the 
> knowledge that these actions will happen regardless of how the program 
> exits (power failures and system crashes excluded). 

In other words, atexit is a fine way to implement this if you're happy with
a solution that fails and leaves a stale lock every time there's a
thunderstorm. :)

> It looks as though the nearest we can come to this in Java is via 
> try...finally blocks.
> 
> However, I'm wondering if the finally block would always execute, e.g. if 
> the try...finally block is in the main() method of a program that exits 
> leaving thread(s) running to do the work, does the finally block still 
> get still run when the last thread(s) terminates?  I had a fairly cursory 
> look at JLS 14.20.1 but it wasn't clear on this point.

The finally will execute when the main method exits, which, in a GUI
program, is probably long *before* the app terminates. It won't execute at
all in a console app that ends via System.exit(0) or similar without
falling off the end of main. It will execute if it falls off the end of
main however.

Java has Runtime.getRuntime().addShutdownHook(Thread x), which *will* run
on System.exit(0) and *won't* run immediately if the startup thread of a
GUI app falls off the end of main.

However, both a main finally block and addShutdownHook are vulnerable to
the aforementioned thunderstorm, and, additionally, to all of the
following:

* VM crash
* Crash (e.g. segfault) in native method
* kill -9, force-quit, Task Manager End Task, and equivalents

C's atexit is probably vulnerable to the latter two, mitigatable only
partially by registering signal handlers.

The only thing I can think of that even the thunderstorm won't fuck up is
an active system where the lockfile is only considered valid if some
associated "heartbeat" is still going, so, the lockfile invalidates on a
deadman switch even if not deleted. An associated pulse you can test for on
a loopback port was already suggested elsewhere in this thread. Having the
lockfile contents be a representation of a time, updated by the live
application every 1 second, and treated as invalid if it's stale by at
least 5 seconds, is another possibility -- a fresh instance can simply
overwrite the file and carry on if it's older than 5 seconds, and otherwise
wait (5 - file's age at time of startup-attempt) seconds to see if the file
changes, then do whatever's appropriate based on whether it did or not. (On
Unix, at least, you can just "touch" the file to "heartbeat" and test its
modification time to "take a pulse".)

-- 
Hexapodia is the key insight.

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Thread

single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-01 12:23 -0800
  Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-01 16:40 -0500
    Re: single instance Robert Tomsick <robert+usenet@tomsick.net> - 2013-01-03 01:20 -0500
  Re: single instance Peter Duniho <NpOeStPeAdM@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> - 2013-01-03 00:55 -0800
    Re: single instance Knute Johnson <nospam@knutejohnson.com> - 2013-01-03 19:31 -0800
      Re: single instance Peter Duniho <NpOeStPeAdM@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> - 2013-01-03 19:49 -0800
      Re: single instance Peter Duniho <NpOeStPeAdM@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> - 2013-01-03 19:56 -0800
        Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-04 12:18 -0500
          Re: single instance Peter Duniho <NpOeStPeAdM@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> - 2013-01-04 10:22 -0800
            Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-04 13:44 -0500
              Re: single instance Peter Duniho <NpOeStPeAdM@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> - 2013-01-04 11:03 -0800
                Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-04 14:12 -0500
              Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-05 21:56 -0500
                Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-06 19:22 -0500
                Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-06 20:23 -0500
                Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-06 20:43 -0500
                Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-06 20:47 -0500
                Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-06 20:51 -0500
                Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-06 20:24 -0500
                Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-06 20:46 -0500
                Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-06 20:58 -0500
                Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-06 21:08 -0500
                Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-06 21:19 -0500
                Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-06 21:31 -0500
                Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-06 21:41 -0500
                Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-06 22:00 -0500
                Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-06 22:11 -0500
                Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-07 00:23 -0500
                Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-02-24 18:20 -0500
                Re: single instance Joshua Cranmer <Pidgeot18@verizon.invalid> - 2013-01-06 21:39 -0600
                Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-07 00:30 -0500
                Re: single instance lipska the kat <lipskathekat@yahoo.co.uk> - 2013-01-07 08:53 +0000
                Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-02-24 18:18 -0500
                Re: single instance lipska the kat <"nospam at neversurrender dot co dot uk"> - 2013-02-25 08:31 +0000
                Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-02-24 18:17 -0500
                Re: single instance Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2013-01-06 17:32 -0800
                Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-06 20:47 -0500
                Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-06 20:53 -0500
                Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-06 21:01 -0500
          Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-05 21:59 -0500
            Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-06 19:34 -0500
              Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-06 20:00 -0500
  Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-03 07:12 -0800
    Re: single instance Peter Duniho <NpOeStPeAdM@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> - 2013-01-03 09:56 -0800
      Re: single instance Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2013-01-03 21:05 +0000
        Re: single instance Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2013-01-03 22:08 +0000
        Re: single instance "Chris Uppal" <chris.uppal@metagnostic.REMOVE-THIS.org> - 2013-01-05 12:48 +0000
          Re: single instance Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2013-01-05 17:43 +0000
            Re: single instance Peter Duniho <NpOeStPeAdM@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> - 2013-01-05 09:49 -0800
            Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-05 13:02 -0500
              Re: single instance Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2013-01-05 20:29 +0000
                Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-05 19:07 -0800
                Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-06 20:04 -0500
            Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-05 21:40 -0500
    Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-05 22:10 -0500
      Re: single instance Knute Johnson <nospam@knutejohnson.com> - 2013-01-05 19:49 -0800
        Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-05 23:09 -0500
          Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-06 11:00 -0500
            Re: single instance Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2013-01-06 09:41 -0800
              Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-06 20:41 -0500
        Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-15 22:51 -0800
          Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-15 23:12 -0800
            Re: single instance Peter Duniho <NpOeStPeAdM@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> - 2013-01-15 23:49 -0800
          Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-15 23:16 -0800
            Re: single instance Peter Duniho <NpOeStPeAdM@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> - 2013-01-15 23:52 -0800
            Re: single instance Knute Johnson <nospam@knutejohnson.com> - 2013-01-16 08:46 -0800
              Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-16 10:46 -0800
                Re: single instance markspace <markspace@nospam.nospam> - 2013-01-16 13:01 -0800
                Re: single instance Knute Johnson <nospam@knutejohnson.com> - 2013-01-16 17:10 -0800
          Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-15 23:50 -0800
            Re: single instance Peter Duniho <NpOeStPeAdM@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> - 2013-01-16 00:13 -0800
              Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-16 02:48 -0800
                Re: single instance Peter Duniho <NpOeStPeAdM@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> - 2013-01-16 07:28 -0800
                Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-16 10:46 -0800
                Re: single instance Peter Duniho <NpOeStPeAdM@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> - 2013-01-16 16:53 -0800
                Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-16 23:44 -0800
                Re: single instance Peter Duniho <NpOeStPeAdM@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> - 2013-01-17 07:03 -0800
                Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-17 14:25 -0800
                Re: single instance Peter Duniho <NpOeStPeAdM@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> - 2013-01-17 16:31 -0800
                Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-17 22:11 -0800
                Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-17 22:36 -0800
              Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-16 13:34 -0500
          Re: single instance Knute Johnson <nospam@knutejohnson.com> - 2013-01-16 08:45 -0800
          Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-16 13:29 -0500
            Re: single instance Knute Johnson <nospam@knutejohnson.com> - 2013-01-16 17:14 -0800
              Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-16 20:20 -0500
              Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-16 23:52 -0800
              Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-17 01:44 -0800
        Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-18 01:47 -0800
          Re: single instance Knute Johnson <nospam@knutejohnson.com> - 2013-01-18 20:50 -0800
            Re: single instance Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2013-01-20 00:53 -0800
              Re: single instance Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2013-01-20 12:00 -0800
                Re: single instance Knute Johnson <nospam@knutejohnson.com> - 2013-01-20 13:33 -0800
                Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-02-24 18:12 -0500
              Re: single instance Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2013-01-20 21:33 -0500
      Re: single instance "Chris Uppal" <chris.uppal@metagnostic.REMOVE-THIS.org> - 2013-01-06 13:34 +0000
  Re: single instance Daniel Pitts <newsgroup.nospam@virtualinfinity.net> - 2013-01-04 10:26 -0800
    Re: single instance Twirlip of the Mists <twirlip@killfile.me.now.invalid> - 2013-01-04 14:04 -0500
  Re: single instance stledger@lanl.gov - 2013-01-16 14:51 -0800
    Re: single instance stledger@lanl.gov - 2013-01-16 15:09 -0800

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