Package org.eclipse.rap.rwt.service

Class ServerPushSession

java.lang.Object
org.eclipse.rap.rwt.service.ServerPushSession
public class ServerPushSession extends Object
A server push session is used to enable UI updates from a background thread for a certain period of time.

Due to the request-response nature of HTTP, the client does not automatically notice UI updates that happen outside of the UI thread (i.e. outside of a request). This is the case when e.g. Display.asyncExec() is called from a background thread. Therefore, the framework provides a mechanism called server push that maintains a standing connection to refresh the client immediately in case of a UI update.

To activate the server push, create and start a ServerPushSession. Normally, the server push is only needed for a certain period of time, e.g. while a background task is running and keeps updating a progress bar. The push session should be stopped when it is no longer needed to allow the server to free resources related to the server push.

Several independent server push sessions can be created and started in parallel within the same UISession. As long as there is at least one server push session running, the server push will remain active. A server push session can be re-used, i.e. started and stopped multiple times. If not stopped explicitly, all server push sessions will be stopped when the UI session terminates.

Example code: 

 final ServerPushSession pushSession = new ServerPushSession();
 Runnable bgRunnable = new Runnable() {
   public void run() {
     // do some background work ...
     // schedule the UI update
     display.asyncExec( new Runnable() {
       public void run() {
         if( !widget.isDisposed() ) {
           label.setText( "updated" );
         }
       }
     } );
     // close push session when finished
     pushSession.stop();
   } );
 };
 pushSession.start();
 Thread bgThread = new Thread( bgRunnable );
 bgThread.setDaemon( true );
 bgThread.start();
Since:
2.0
See Also:

  • Constructor Details

    • ServerPushSession

      public ServerPushSession()
      Creates a new ServerPushSession for the current UISession. This constructor must be called from the UI thread.
      Throws:
      IllegalStateException - when called from a non-UI thread

  • Method Details

    • start

      public void start()
      Starts this server push session. If the framework's server push system is not yet active for the current UI session, it will be activated. Calling this method while this server push session is already running has no effect.

      This method must be called from the UI thread.

      Throws:
      IllegalStateException - when called from a non-UI thread

    • stop

      public void stop()
      Stops this server push session. If no other server push sessions are currently running, the framework's server push system will be stopped for the current UI session. Calling this method while this server push session is not running has no effect.

      This method may be called from a background thread.