Java-like synchronized methods in C#

To prevent Threads using a method at the same time and messing things up Java programmers usually use the synchronized statement when declaring a method.

In the C# world lock-blocks can be used to archieve similar effects. But putting a whole function into a block looks nasty, another way is to use this method decorator:

[MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.Synchronized)]

Please note, that System.Runtime.CompilerServices must be imported first.

How To Catch “Kill” Events in a C# console application

The fist step to catch a kill event in a C#/.NET console application is to install a “ConsoleCtrlCheck” HandlerRoutine. The HandlerRoutine will be called whenever the user presses CTRL+C or clicking on the X to close the console window.

So we have to define a delegate type for the HandlerRoutine then and import SetConsoleCtrlHandler from Kernel32.dll.

using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
...
class Foobar
{
     #region unmanaged

        /// <summary>
        /// This function sets the handler for kill events.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="Handler"></param>
        /// <param name="Add"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        [DllImport("Kernel32")]
        public static extern bool SetConsoleCtrlHandler(HandlerRoutine Handler, bool Add);

        //delegate type to be used of the handler routine
        public delegate bool HandlerRoutine(CtrlTypes CtrlType);

        // control messages
        public enum CtrlTypes
        {
            CTRL_C_EVENT = 0,
            CTRL_BREAK_EVENT,
            CTRL_CLOSE_EVENT,
            CTRL_LOGOFF_EVENT = 5,
            CTRL_SHUTDOWN_EVENT
        }

        #endregion
       ....
}

Now we need to implement the handler function ConsoleCtrlCheck and define this function as our ConsoleCtrlHandler function in the main method.

        /// <summary>
        /// This method will be called if the user closes the console window or presses CTRL+C
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="ctrlType"></param>
        /// <returns>always true</returns>
        private static bool ConsoleCtrlCheck(CtrlTypes ctrlType)
        {
            // TODO: implement exit handler routine
            return true;
        }

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {

            HandlerRoutine hr = new HandlerRoutine(ConsoleCtrlCheck);
            // we have to keep the handler routine alive during the execution of the program,
            // because the garbage collector will destroy it after any CTRL event
            GC.KeepAlive(hr);
            SetConsoleCtrlHandler(hr, true);
            ....
         }