background_task

Developed with 💙 by Never inc.

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Motivation

Enable developers to continue processing even when the application transitions to the background, we have created a package that allows processing to continue using location updates.This package was created with reference to background_location.

Can be used when you want to run the program periodically in the background.

• Monitor and notify the distance walked and steps.
• Notification of destination arrival.
• Tracking location information (sending it to a server).

Usage

// Monitor notifications of background processes.
// However, Cannot be used while the app is in task kill.
BackgroundTask.instance.stream.listen((event) {
  // Implement the process you want to run in the background.
  // ex) Check health data.
});

// Start background processing with location updates.
await BackgroundTask.instance.start();

// Stop background processing and location updates.
await BackgroundTask.instance.stop();

This is an implementation for receiving updates even when the task is task-killed. In this package, iOS uses startMonitoringSignificantLocationChanges and Android uses ForegroundService.

// Define callback handler at the top level.
@pragma('vm:entry-point')
void backgroundHandler(Location data) {
  // Implement the process you want to run in the background.
  // ex) Check health data.
}

void main() {
  WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();
  BackgroundTask.instance.setBackgroundHandler(backgroundHandler); // 👈 Set callback handler.
  runApp(const MyApp());
}

To get the latest location information in a task-killed status, set the app to Always.

This is an implementation for when you want to stop using the application when it is killed.

await BackgroundTask.instance.start(
  isEnabledEvenIfKilled: false,
);

Recommended to use with permission_handler.

final status = Platform.isIOS
    ? await Permission.locationAlways.request()
    : await Permission.location.request();
if (!status.isGranted) {
  return;
}
await BackgroundTask.instance.start();

Setup

pubspec.yaml

dependencies:
  background_task:

iOS: Info.plist

<key>NSLocationAlwaysAndWhenInUseUsageDescription</key>
<string>Used to monitor location in the background and notify to app.</string>
<key>NSLocationAlwaysUsageDescription</key>
<string>Used to monitor location in the background and notify to app.</string>
<key>NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription</key>
<string>Used to monitor location in the background and notify to app.</string>
<key>UIBackgroundModes</key>
<array>
    <string>fetch</string>
    <string>location</string>
</array>

To use an external package (shared_preference etc..) in callback handler, register DispatchEngine in AppDelegate.

iOS: AppDelegate.swift

import UIKit
import Flutter
import background_task // 👈 Add

@UIApplicationMain
@objc class AppDelegate: FlutterAppDelegate {
    override func application(
        _ application: UIApplication,
        didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?
    ) -> Bool {
        GeneratedPluginRegistrant.register(with: self)
        // 👇 Add
        BackgroundTaskPlugin.onRegisterDispatchEngine = {
            GeneratedPluginRegistrant.register(with: BackgroundTaskPlugin.dispatchEngine)
        }
        return super.application(application, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions: launchOptions)
    }
}

Android: AndroidManifest.xml

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS"/>

References

• Executing Dart in the Background with Flutter Plugins and Geofencing