IllegalStateException: "not allowed to start service intent - app is in background" on Android 8+

[mathisdt]

java.lang.IllegalStateException: Not allowed to start service Intent { cmp=org.zephyrsoft.trackworktime/.location.LocationTrackerService (has extras) }: app is in background uid UidRecord{fbd005 u0a305 RCVR bg:+4m57s939ms idle procs:2 seq(223,223,223)}
	at android.app.ContextImpl.startServiceCommon(ContextImpl.java:1538)
	at android.app.ContextImpl.startService(ContextImpl.java:1484)
	at android.content.ContextWrapper.startService(ContextWrapper.java:663)
	at org.zephyrsoft.trackworktime.Basics.startLocationTrackerService(Basics.java:361)
	at org.zephyrsoft.trackworktime.Basics.checkLocationBasedTracking(Basics.java:341)
	at org.zephyrsoft.trackworktime.Basics.safeCheckLocationBasedTracking(Basics.java:218)
	at org.zephyrsoft.trackworktime.Basics.periodicHook(Basics.java:196)
	at org.zephyrsoft.trackworktime.Watchdog.onReceive(Watchdog.java:34)
	at android.app.ActivityThread.handleReceiver(ActivityThread.java:3390)
	at android.app.ActivityThread.-wrap18(Unknown Source:0)
	at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1780)
	at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:105)
	at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:164)
	at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:6938)
	at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
	at com.android.internal.os.Zygote$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(Zygote.java:327)
	at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:1374)

Starting with API level 21 (Android 5.0 Lollipop), the JobScheduler is available and apparently under Oreo it has to be used if the user didn't grant an exception.

Anyone may go to "Settings" -> "Apps & notifications" -> "Advanced" -> "Special app access" -> "Battery optimization", select "All apps", tap on "Track Work Time" in the list and select "Don't optimize". This will exclude TWT from some restrictions regarding background work.

[mathisdt]

also see: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/46445265/android-8-0-java-lang-illegalstateexception-not-allowed-to-start-service-inten

[mathisdt]

It seems that starting the services in the foreground is the better way.