How to create a thread/Task with a continuous loop?

Question

I am looking for the correct way/structure to create a loop in a Thread/Task...

The reason for this is, i need to check the DB every 15sec for report re

Answer 1

Sounds like you want something like this. Please correct me if I am misinterpretting your intentions...

First, in your kick-off, set as a long running task so it doesn't consume a thread from the thread pool but creates a new one...

private void ViewBase_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
    // store this references as a private member, call Cancel() on it if UI wants to stop
    _cancelationTokenSource = new CancellationTokenSource();
    new Task(() => CreateAndStartReportRequestTask(), _cancelationTokenSource.Token, TaskCreationOptions.LongRunning).Start();
}

Then, in your report watching thread, loop until IsCancelRequested has been set. If there is no work, just wait on the cancel token for 15 seconds (this way if cancelled will wake sooner).

private bool CheckReportRequestsAndGenerateReports()
{
    while (!_cancellationTokenSource.Token.IsCancelRequested) 
    {
        var possibleReportRequest = //Some linq query
        var reportRequestTask = Task.Factory.StartNew(() => noRequest = CheckReportRequestsAndGenerateReports(), _cancellationTokenSource.Token);

        if (noRequest)
        {
            // it looks like if no request, you want to sleep 15 seconds, right?
            // so we'll wait to see if cancelled in next 15 seconds.
            _cancellationTokenSource.Token.WaitHandle.WaitOne(15000);

        }
        else
        {
            // otherwise, you just want to wait till the task is completed, right?
            reportRequestTask.Wait(_cancellationTokenSource.Token);
        }
    }
}

I'd also be wary of having your task kick off more tasks. I have a feeling you are spinning up so many you're consuming too many resources. I think the main reason your program was failing was that you had:

     if (noRequest)
     {
         reportRequestTask.Wait(15000);
         reportRequestTask = null;
     }

This will return immediately and not wait 15s, because the thread is already complete at this point. Switching it to the cancel token (or a Thread.Sleep(), but then you can't abort it as easily) will give you the processing wait you need.

Hope this helps, let me know if i'm off on my assumptions.