Is there an alternative for getRunningTask API

Question

I was using getRunningTask API in one of my application to find the Foreground application. This API has been deprecated since Lollipop. After this deprecation, I preferred getRunningAppProcess API along with Importance_Foreground. I also ruled out REASON_SERVICE and REASON_PROVIDER from this list. I filtered out the system applications based on a logic, which worked perfectly. The problem is that, If Application A is on foreground, I get Application B as a spike. So, this approach is currently questionable. Is there any other alternative to the getRunningTask API?? Or am I missing any simple thing in the current approach. Please help guys.

Fructificative

This would really depend on your purpose for the information. If it's a legitimate one there are probably alternatives, but they would depend on what exactly you are trying to accomplish. – Cerecloth

Possible duplicate of Android: How can I get the current foreground activity (from a service)? – Anabel

I'm voting to close this since there are way too many questions about this on StackOverflow, and the original question already covers the techniques in this question. – Anabel

Answer 1

Based on the answer to this question

String getTopPackage(){
    long ts = System.currentTimeMillis();
    UsageStatsManager mUsageStatsManager = (UsageStatsManager)getSystemService("usagestats");
    List<UsageStats> usageStats = mUsageStatsManager.queryUsageStats(UsageStatsManager.INTERVAL_BEST, ts-1000, ts);
    if (usageStats == null || usageStats.size() == 0) {
        return NONE_PKG;
    }
    Collections.sort(usageStats, mRecentComp);
    return usageStats.get(0).getPackageName();
}

This is the mRecentComp:

static class RecentUseComparator implements Comparator<UsageStats> {

    @Override
    public int compare(UsageStats lhs, UsageStats rhs) {
        return (lhs.getLastTimeUsed() > rhs.getLastTimeUsed()) ? -1 : (lhs.getLastTimeUsed() == rhs.getLastTimeUsed()) ? 0 : 1;
    }
}

This permission is needed:

<uses-permission xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:name="android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS"
    tools:ignore="ProtectedPermissions" />

And you will need user authorization to request the stats, use this to direct the user to the settings page:

Intent intent = new Intent(Settings.ACTION_USAGE_ACCESS_SETTINGS);
startActivity(intent);

And you can check if you already have permission like this:

public static boolean needPermissionForBlocking(Context context) {
    try {
        PackageManager packageManager = context.getPackageManager();
        ApplicationInfo applicationInfo = packageManager.getApplicationInfo(context.getPackageName(), 0);
        AppOpsManager appOpsManager = (AppOpsManager) context.getSystemService(Context.APP_OPS_SERVICE);
        int mode = appOpsManager.checkOpNoThrow(AppOpsManager.OPSTR_GET_USAGE_STATS, applicationInfo.uid, applicationInfo.packageName);
        return  (mode != AppOpsManager.MODE_ALLOWED);
    } catch (PackageManager.NameNotFoundException e) {
        return true;
    }
}

Kindly

Thanks. All of the things mentioned works like a charm. But one more thing, can I use any kind of Content Observer on this to know when the user turns it off or on? I'll accept the answer soon after I get response for this. – Fructificative

I guess you could try this #6897246. – Kindly

If that doesn't work you could use the needPermission function in my answer to check if it's on. – Kindly

i tried the way u mentioned @gaston but the list always is empty. The permission in manifest, setting enabled from user , its all done but the list is still empty. Device used is Nexus 7 and android version is 5.0.1 – Darksome

on changing "ts-1000" to "ts-4000" the list started to fill up – Darksome

It's documented that there may not be a system activity to handle the Settings.ACTION_USAGE_ACCESS_SETTINGS intent. Samsung and LG are among the manufacturers who have removed this activity from their Lollipop builds, so this solution will never work on their devices. – Lunula

It's working on samsung for sure, I haven't tested it on an LG device. – Kindly

thanks for 'tools:ignore="ProtectedPermissions"'. otherwise 'Permission is only granted to system apps' compile error occur. – Avalos

You need an interval of at least a day to get the lists. Use following code to get the list List<UsageStats> usageStats = mUsageStatsManager.queryUsageStats(UsageStatsManager.INTERVAL_BEST, ts - 86400000, ts); 86400000 = (60*60*24*1000) – Corporal

Answer 2

Get the list of RunningAppProcessInfo by ActivityManager.getRunningAppProcesses(). Choose the RuningAppProcessInfo with whose importance == RunningAppProcessInfo.IMPORTANCE_FOREGROUND and whose processState == ActivityManager.START_TASK_TO_FRONT. (The former is easy, the latter is difficult because the reflection is necessary)

See my answer for this question getRunningTasks doesn't work in Android L

Tomkins

Doesn't work in Android M pre-release, unfortunately. – Anabel

Yes, it is. We should find new approach. – Tomkins