Multiple instances of Newsbin 6.31RC3

[magician1962]

In the past I am sure Newsbin used to tell you it was already running and then exit.

In the latest version it would appear you can load more than one copy. Is this correct or has a bug crept in?

[DThor]

Not near the computer atm, but no, never seen that. One behaviour that has changed, I believe, is that the popup is gone and instead of nagging you it just pops up the current session. I'll give it a quick try shortly. It's easy enough to test, though. You should very clearly see two active newsbin tasks. I'm pretty sure you won't.

DT

[EDIT] Yup, it's working the way it should. Set newsbin to do something that takes a while. Now start newsbin. It pops to the active session.

[magician1962]

Did some further testing and it seems to be a matter of timing

If Newsbin is up and running any shortcut just opens the existing session

If you double lauch newsbin, I have a single click shortcut, which I occasionally forget and double click, you get the following Warning dialogue, which I remember
Warning - Another Newsbin with the same Configuration is already Running - Exiting to Preserve data Files


Just reproduced it, but after several attempts at multiple clicking the link. A warning dialogue appeared saying

Configuratrion File not found, Attempt to restore Backup?

If you say no , you end up with a second Newsbin running

[DThor]

I too have a single click shortcut, and yup it's possible to click it fast enough to actually start a new process before the other one has gotten far enough initialized to be able to respond to new start attempts, which makes sense if you think about it, but I just got the "don't do that, shutting down now" message and the initial Newsbin was running fine. I don't doubt that if you repeatably hammer it you can get into a state where things might screw up, but I guess that falls into the Not Recommended category?

DT

[magician1962]

I can agree on the not recomended, or not supported feature Though when it first happened this morning It seemed like I may have only clicked twice. Maybe timing, maybe system readiness state. Was just odd

[magician1962]

Ok a little more info, which definitely indicates a timing issue. On starting my computer this morning, double clicked the icon before the computer had finished fully starting, and got the

Configuratrion File not found, Attempt to restore Backup? Warning

It looks like this can our if the system is not completely ready. So the moral of the story is to wait until the computer is fully booted, though how we really know that is another matter

Whether a delay could be added or is even necessary in newsbin is a thought,
i.e. didn't find the configuration file, double check for two instances, wait 60 seconds check for configuration file again, the warn if still missing.

[DThor]

The computer still starting is probably more about IO being somewhat intense at the time, which would compound any timing problems.

Honestly, I don't know of a single application that needs to access files that are designed to be used by only one instance of the program that couldn't fall prey to this. It needs to get to a certain state before it can respond to other startup attempts. Putting an artificial delay in starting up would be punishing the 99% of users that start the program correctly, plus when you think about it, wouldn't work in the oops-double click scenario half the time. As an end user, this is simply one of things I need to learn - either use standard windows start links, or get used to a single click alternative. Even with this 'problem ', I don't see it, apart from a warning, unless as you say there's intense IO going on.

Given you're starting up while the system is still coming up, maybe consider just putting newsbin in the autostart folder, assuming you want newsbin starting up most of the time? The memory footprint is pretty light if there's nothing being processed.

DT

[RayMark]

I often use two newsbin instances simultaneously, quite deliberately. I was doing so with older versions too.
It would be really bad if somehow only one instance were allowed - it is certainly not a bug. It is a requirement!

Just checked with 6.31 RC5 - everything is ok. Multiple instances are running nicely.

NOTE: I am using different nbi files, of course. They are pointing to different NBData locations.
And even Newsbin instances are launched from different copies of the NewsBin installation, just in case - multiple intances launched from the same copy of the Newsbin installation seem to be working ok too.
So there are no conflicts whatsoever, no common resources used.