WPF Single Instance Best Practices

Question

This is the code I implemented so far to create a single instance WPF application:

#region Using Directives
using System;
using System.Globalization;
using S         


        

Answer 1

There are Several choices,

• Mutex
• Process manager
• Named Semaphore
• Use a listener socket

Mutex

Mutex myMutex ;

private void Application_Startup(object sender, StartupEventArgs e)
{
    bool aIsNewInstance = false;
    myMutex = new Mutex(true, "MyWPFApplication", out aIsNewInstance);  
    if (!aIsNewInstance)
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Already an instance is running...");
        App.Current.Shutdown();  
    }
}

Process manager

private void Application_Startup(object sender, StartupEventArgs e)
{
    Process proc = Process.GetCurrentProcess();
    int count = Process.GetProcesses().Where(p=> 
        p.ProcessName == proc.ProcessName).Count();

    if (count > 1)
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Already an instance is running...");
        App.Current.Shutdown(); 
    }
}

Use a listener socket

One way to signal another application is to open a Tcp connection to it. Create a socket, bind to a port, and listen on a background thread for connections. If this succeeds, run normally. If not, make a connection to that port, which signals the other instance that a second application launch attempt has been made. The original instance can then bring its main window to the front, if appropriate.

“Security” software / firewalls might be an issue.

Single Instance Application C#.Net along with Win32