timonus / TJBackgroundTask

Convenient wrapper around UIApplication background tasks

TJBackgroundTask

This project is a wrapper around UIApplication's background task APIs that reduces boiler plate and helps avoid common pitfalls.

What does this do for me?

This project class does the following handy things

• It automatically ends background tasks that are about to expire.
• It uses object lifecycles instead of background task IDs for managing tasks, which makes it harder to "leak" or mismanage tasks. Tasks are automatically ended when TJBackgroundTasks are deallocated.
• It avoids starting background tasks if < 5 seconds of background time remains, which is recommended in this WWDC talk.

Usage

TJBackgroundTask *const task = [[TJBackgroundTask alloc] initWithName:@"my async work"];
dispatch_async(..., ^{
    // Do some work
    // ...
    [task endTask];
});

// or, more simply

TJBackgroundTask *const task = [[TJBackgroundTask alloc] initWithName:@"my sync work"];
// Do some work
// ...
[task endTask];

Some notes:

• You can call -endTask any number of times, it'll do the right thing if you call it more than once.
• TJBackgroundTask's initializers will return nil if the app is in a state it deems isn't eligible for background tasks.
• TJBackgroundTask can be used from any thread if you're into that sort of thing.