How to resolve the algorithm Determine if only one instance is running step by step in the C# programming language

Published on 12 May 2024 09:40 PM

How to resolve the algorithm Determine if only one instance is running step by step in the C# programming language

Table of Contents

Problem Statement

This task is to determine if there is only one instance of an application running. If the program discovers that an instance of it is already running, then it should display a message indicating that it is already running and exit.

Let's start with the solution:

Step by Step solution about How to resolve the algorithm Determine if only one instance is running step by step in the C# programming language

Program 1:

  • This program creates a TCP server on port 12345.
  • It uses TcpListener to start the server.
  • If the port is already in use (i.e., another instance is already running), it catches the SocketException with error code SocketError.AddressAlreadyInUse and prints "Already running."

Program 2:

  • This program creates a class called RunOnce, which helps prevent multiple instances of a process from running simultaneously.
  • It uses a Mutex to check if another instance is already running.
  • The using statement ensures that the Mutex is automatically released when the program exits.
  • The main program checks if another instance is running using AlreadyRunning before proceeding with the program logic. This is achieved by using RunOnce in a using clause and checking its AlreadyRunning property.

Detailed Explanation of RunOnce:

  • The RunOnce class takes a name as its constructor argument. This name is used to create a named Mutex, which allows only one instance of the process with the same name to run at a time.
  • The AlreadyRunning property indicates if another instance of the process is already running.
  • The Dispose() method releases the Mutex.
  • The Main() method of the second program demonstrates how to use RunOnce. It creates a RunOnce instance with the name "App Name" and checks if AlreadyRunning is true. If it is, it prints "Already running" and terminates. Otherwise, it executes the program logic.

Source code in the csharp programming language

using System;
using System.Net;
using System.Net.Sockets;

class Program {        
    static void Main(string[] args) {        
        try {
            TcpListener server = new TcpListener(IPAddress.Any, 12345);
            server.Start();
        } 
       
        catch (SocketException e) {
            if (e.SocketErrorCode == SocketError.AddressAlreadyInUse) {
                Console.Error.WriteLine("Already running.");
            }
        }
    }
}


// Use this class in your process to guard against multiple instances
//
// This is valid for C# running on Windows, but not for C# with Linux.
//
using System;
using System.Threading;

/// <summary>
/// RunOnce should be instantiated in the calling processes main clause
/// (preferably using a "using" clause) and then calling process
/// should then check AlreadyRunning and do whatever is appropriate
/// </summary>
public class RunOnce : IDisposable
{
	public RunOnce( string name )
	{
		m_name = name;
		AlreadyRunning = false;

		bool created_new = false;

		m_mutex = new Mutex( false, m_name, out created_new );

		AlreadyRunning = !created_new;
	}

	~RunOnce()
	{
		DisposeImpl( false );
	}

	public bool AlreadyRunning
	{
		get { return m_already_running; }
		private set { m_already_running = value; }
	}

	private void DisposeImpl( bool is_disposing )
	{
		GC.SuppressFinalize( this );

		if( is_disposing )
		{
			m_mutex.Close();
		}
	}

	#region IDisposable Members

	public void Dispose()
	{
		DisposeImpl( true );
	}

	#endregion

	private string m_name;
	private bool m_already_running;
	private Mutex m_mutex;
}

class Program
{
    // Example code to use this
    static void Main( string[] args )
    {
        using ( RunOnce ro = new RunOnce( "App Name" ) )
        {
            if ( ro.AlreadyRunning )
            {
                Console.WriteLine( "Already running" );
                return;
            }

            // Program logic
        }
    }
}


  

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