Android线程间通信（补充）：UI线程

  前文提到，Android只允许UI线程更新应用界面。当我们在其他线程中想要更改应用界面时，就需要用到线程间通信，这是最常见的线程通信场景。在UI线程或者使用主Looper创建Handler，其他线程通过这个Handler往UI线程发送操作消息，UI线程根据消息做出相应的反应。

  我们前面说接收线程是需要申请和绑定Looper对象才能接收和处理消息的。但是在我们用Handler+Message更新UI线程时，却没有申请和绑定过任何的Looper对象。这是为什么呢？

  不知道诸君眼里的UI线程是怎么样的？我们在Looper类提到过，Looper类中prepareMainLooper()的注释强调了只能UI线程调用。我尝试查看这个方法的调用列表，然后发现在一个叫做ActivityThread类的方法中调用了它。这个方法的代码如下：

public static void main(String[] args) {
……（省略）

Looper.prepareMainLooper();

ActivityThread thread = new ActivityThread();
thread.attach(false);

if (sMainThreadHandler == null) {
sMainThreadHandler = thread.getHandler();
}

if (false) {
Looper.myLooper().setMessageLogging(new
LogPrinter(Log.DEBUG, "ActivityThread"));
}

Looper.loop();

throw new RuntimeException("Main thread loop unexpectedly exited");
}

  没错，这居然是一个Java的主方法！在这里我们不展开分析ActivityThread类，来看一下前辈们对这个类的定义：

  它管理应用进程的主线程的执行(相当于普通Java程序的main入口函数)，并根据AMS的要求（通过IApplicationThread接口，AMS为Client、ActivityThread.ApplicationThread为Server）负责调度和执行activities、broadcasts和其它操作。

     —— Android ActivityThread(主线程或UI线程)简介

  不严格地说，可以理解成Android是一个Java应用，ActivityThread是这个Java应用的主类，它对应的线程可以叫做主/UI线程。再进一步说，Android的UI线程其实和我们之前提到的receiver线程一样，都需要申请和绑定Looper，都会无限循环地从消息队列中取消息。只不过这些操作藏在了Android源码中。这意味着UI线程涉及的所有包括创建Activity、销毁Activity、开始应用和退出应用等基础操作都是通过消息类传达的！

  在ActivityThread类中，还定义了一个Handler的子类H，H重写了Handler的handleMessage()。很显然这个H适用于其他线程与UI线程通信的。我们来看一下它的代码：

private class H extends Handler {
public static final int LAUNCH_ACTIVITY         = 100;
public static final int PAUSE_ACTIVITY          = 101;
public static final int PAUSE_ACTIVITY_FINISHING= 102;
public static final int STOP_ACTIVITY_SHOW      = 103;
public static final int STOP_ACTIVITY_HIDE      = 104;
public static final int SHOW_WINDOW             = 105;
public static final int HIDE_WINDOW             = 106;
public static final int RESUME_ACTIVITY         = 107;
public static final int SEND_RESULT             = 108;
public static final int DESTROY_ACTIVITY        = 109;
public static final int BIND_APPLICATION        = 110;
public static final int EXIT_APPLICATION        = 111;
public static final int NEW_INTENT              = 112;
public static final int RECEIVER                = 113;
public static final int CREATE_SERVICE          = 114;
public static final int SERVICE_ARGS            = 115;
public static final int STOP_SERVICE            = 116;

public static final int CONFIGURATION_CHANGED   = 118;
public static final int CLEAN_UP_CONTEXT        = 119;
public static final int GC_WHEN_IDLE            = 120;
public static final int BIND_SERVICE            = 121;
public static final int UNBIND_SERVICE          = 122;
public static final int DUMP_SERVICE            = 123;
public static final int LOW_MEMORY              = 124;
public static final int ACTIVITY_CONFIGURATION_CHANGED = 125;
public static final int RELAUNCH_ACTIVITY       = 126;
public static final int PROFILER_CONTROL        = 127;
public static final int CREATE_BACKUP_AGENT     = 128;
public static final int DESTROY_BACKUP_AGENT    = 129;
public static final int SUICIDE                 = 130;
public static final int REMOVE_PROVIDER         = 131;
public static final int ENABLE_JIT              = 132;
public static final int DISPATCH_PACKAGE_BROADCAST = 133;
public static final int SCHEDULE_CRASH          = 134;
public static final int DUMP_HEAP               = 135;
public static final int DUMP_ACTIVITY           = 136;
public static final int SLEEPING                = 137;
public static final int SET_CORE_SETTINGS       = 138;
public static final int UPDATE_PACKAGE_COMPATIBILITY_INFO = 139;
public static final int TRIM_MEMORY             = 140;
public static final int DUMP_PROVIDER           = 141;
public static final int UNSTABLE_PROVIDER_DIED  = 142;
public static final int REQUEST_ASSIST_CONTEXT_EXTRAS = 143;
public static final int TRANSLUCENT_CONVERSION_COMPLETE = 144;
public static final int INSTALL_PROVIDER        = 145;
public static final int ON_NEW_ACTIVITY_OPTIONS = 146;
public static final int CANCEL_VISIBLE_BEHIND = 147;
public static final int BACKGROUND_VISIBLE_BEHIND_CHANGED = 148;
public static final int ENTER_ANIMATION_COMPLETE = 149;

String codeToString(int code) {
if (DEBUG_MESSAGES) {
switch (code) {
case LAUNCH_ACTIVITY: return "LAUNCH_ACTIVITY";
case PAUSE_ACTIVITY: return "PAUSE_ACTIVITY";
case PAUSE_ACTIVITY_FINISHING: return "PAUSE_ACTIVITY_FINISHING";
case STOP_ACTIVITY_SHOW: return "STOP_ACTIVITY_SHOW";
case STOP_ACTIVITY_HIDE: return "STOP_ACTIVITY_HIDE";
case SHOW_WINDOW: return "SHOW_WINDOW";
case HIDE_WINDOW: return "HIDE_WINDOW";
case RESUME_ACTIVITY: return "RESUME_ACTIVITY";
case SEND_RESULT: return "SEND_RESULT";
case DESTROY_ACTIVITY: return "DESTROY_ACTIVITY";
case BIND_APPLICATION: return "BIND_APPLICATION";
case EXIT_APPLICATION: return "EXIT_APPLICATION";
case NEW_INTENT: return "NEW_INTENT";
case RECEIVER: return "RECEIVER";
case CREATE_SERVICE: return "CREATE_SERVICE";
case SERVICE_ARGS: return "SERVICE_ARGS";
case STOP_SERVICE: return "STOP_SERVICE";
case CONFIGURATION_CHANGED: return "CONFIGURATION_CHANGED";
case CLEAN_UP_CONTEXT: return "CLEAN_UP_CONTEXT";
case GC_WHEN_IDLE: return "GC_WHEN_IDLE";
case BIND_SERVICE: return "BIND_SERVICE";
case UNBIND_SERVICE: return "UNBIND_SERVICE";
case DUMP_SERVICE: return "DUMP_SERVICE";
case LOW_MEMORY: return "LOW_MEMORY";
case ACTIVITY_CONFIGURATION_CHANGED: return "ACTIVITY_CONFIGURATION_CHANGED";
case RELAUNCH_ACTIVITY: return "RELAUNCH_ACTIVITY";
case PROFILER_CONTROL: return "PROFILER_CONTROL";
case CREATE_BACKUP_AGENT: return "CREATE_BACKUP_AGENT";
case DESTROY_BACKUP_AGENT: return "DESTROY_BACKUP_AGENT";
case SUICIDE: return "SUICIDE";
case REMOVE_PROVIDER: return "REMOVE_PROVIDER";
case ENABLE_JIT: return "ENABLE_JIT";
case DISPATCH_PACKAGE_BROADCAST: return "DISPATCH_PACKAGE_BROADCAST";
case SCHEDULE_CRASH: return "SCHEDULE_CRASH";
case DUMP_HEAP: return "DUMP_HEAP";
case DUMP_ACTIVITY: return "DUMP_ACTIVITY";
case SLEEPING: return "SLEEPING";
case SET_CORE_SETTINGS: return "SET_CORE_SETTINGS";
case UPDATE_PACKAGE_COMPATIBILITY_INFO: return "UPDATE_PACKAGE_COMPATIBILITY_INFO";
case TRIM_MEMORY: return "TRIM_MEMORY";
case DUMP_PROVIDER: return "DUMP_PROVIDER";
case UNSTABLE_PROVIDER_DIED: return "UNSTABLE_PROVIDER_DIED";
case REQUEST_ASSIST_CONTEXT_EXTRAS: return "REQUEST_ASSIST_CONTEXT_EXTRAS";
case TRANSLUCENT_CONVERSION_COMPLETE: return "TRANSLUCENT_CONVERSION_COMPLETE";
case INSTALL_PROVIDER: return "INSTALL_PROVIDER";
case ON_NEW_ACTIVITY_OPTIONS: return "ON_NEW_ACTIVITY_OPTIONS";
case CANCEL_VISIBLE_BEHIND: return "CANCEL_VISIBLE_BEHIND";
case BACKGROUND_VISIBLE_BEHIND_CHANGED: return "BACKGROUND_VISIBLE_BEHIND_CHANGED";
case ENTER_ANIMATION_COMPLETE: return "ENTER_ANIMATION_COMPLETE";
}
}
return Integer.toString(code);
}
public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
if (DEBUG_MESSAGES) Slog.v(TAG, ">>> handling: " + codeToString(msg.what));
switch (msg.what) {
case LAUNCH_ACTIVITY: {
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "activityStart");
final ActivityClientRecord r = (ActivityClientRecord) msg.obj;

r.packageInfo = getPackageInfoNoCheck(
r.activityInfo.applicationInfo, r.compatInfo);
handleLaunchActivity(r, null);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
} break;
case RELAUNCH_ACTIVITY: {
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "activityRestart");
ActivityClientRecord r = (ActivityClientRecord)msg.obj;
handleRelaunchActivity(r);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
} break;
case PAUSE_ACTIVITY:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "activityPause");
handlePauseActivity((IBinder)msg.obj, false, (msg.arg1&1) != 0, msg.arg2,
(msg.arg1&2) != 0);
maybeSnapshot();
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case PAUSE_ACTIVITY_FINISHING:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "activityPause");
handlePauseActivity((IBinder)msg.obj, true, (msg.arg1&1) != 0, msg.arg2,
(msg.arg1&1) != 0);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case STOP_ACTIVITY_SHOW:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "activityStop");
handleStopActivity((IBinder)msg.obj, true, msg.arg2);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case STOP_ACTIVITY_HIDE:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "activityStop");
handleStopActivity((IBinder)msg.obj, false, msg.arg2);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case SHOW_WINDOW:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "activityShowWindow");
handleWindowVisibility((IBinder)msg.obj, true);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case HIDE_WINDOW:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "activityHideWindow");
handleWindowVisibility((IBinder)msg.obj, false);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case RESUME_ACTIVITY:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "activityResume");
handleResumeActivity((IBinder) msg.obj, true, msg.arg1 != 0, true);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case SEND_RESULT:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "activityDeliverResult");
handleSendResult((ResultData)msg.obj);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case DESTROY_ACTIVITY:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "activityDestroy");
handleDestroyActivity((IBinder)msg.obj, msg.arg1 != 0,
msg.arg2, false);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case BIND_APPLICATION:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "bindApplication");
AppBindData data = (AppBindData)msg.obj;
handleBindApplication(data);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case EXIT_APPLICATION:
if (mInitialApplication != null) {
mInitialApplication.onTerminate();
}
Looper.myLooper().quit();
break;
case NEW_INTENT:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "activityNewIntent");
handleNewIntent((NewIntentData)msg.obj);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case RECEIVER:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "broadcastReceiveComp");
handleReceiver((ReceiverData)msg.obj);
maybeSnapshot();
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case CREATE_SERVICE:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "serviceCreate");
handleCreateService((CreateServiceData)msg.obj);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case BIND_SERVICE:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "serviceBind");
handleBindService((BindServiceData)msg.obj);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case UNBIND_SERVICE:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "serviceUnbind");
handleUnbindService((BindServiceData)msg.obj);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case SERVICE_ARGS:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "serviceStart");
handleServiceArgs((ServiceArgsData)msg.obj);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case STOP_SERVICE:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "serviceStop");
handleStopService((IBinder)msg.obj);
maybeSnapshot();
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case CONFIGURATION_CHANGED:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "configChanged");
mCurDefaultDisplayDpi = ((Configuration)msg.obj).densityDpi;
handleConfigurationChanged((Configuration)msg.obj, null);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case CLEAN_UP_CONTEXT:
ContextCleanupInfo cci = (ContextCleanupInfo)msg.obj;
cci.context.performFinalCleanup(cci.who, cci.what);
break;
case GC_WHEN_IDLE:
scheduleGcIdler();
break;
case DUMP_SERVICE:
handleDumpService((DumpComponentInfo)msg.obj);
break;
case LOW_MEMORY:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "lowMemory");
handleLowMemory();
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case ACTIVITY_CONFIGURATION_CHANGED:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "activityConfigChanged");
handleActivityConfigurationChanged((IBinder)msg.obj);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case PROFILER_CONTROL:
handleProfilerControl(msg.arg1 != 0, (ProfilerInfo)msg.obj, msg.arg2);
break;
case CREATE_BACKUP_AGENT:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "backupCreateAgent");
handleCreateBackupAgent((CreateBackupAgentData)msg.obj);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case DESTROY_BACKUP_AGENT:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "backupDestroyAgent");
handleDestroyBackupAgent((CreateBackupAgentData)msg.obj);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case SUICIDE:
Process.killProcess(Process.myPid());
break;
case REMOVE_PROVIDER:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "providerRemove");
completeRemoveProvider((ProviderRefCount)msg.obj);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case ENABLE_JIT:
ensureJitEnabled();
break;
case DISPATCH_PACKAGE_BROADCAST:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "broadcastPackage");
handleDispatchPackageBroadcast(msg.arg1, (String[])msg.obj);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case SCHEDULE_CRASH:
throw new RemoteServiceException((String)msg.obj);
case DUMP_HEAP:
handleDumpHeap(msg.arg1 != 0, (DumpHeapData)msg.obj);
break;
case DUMP_ACTIVITY:
handleDumpActivity((DumpComponentInfo)msg.obj);
break;
case DUMP_PROVIDER:
handleDumpProvider((DumpComponentInfo)msg.obj);
break;
case SLEEPING:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "sleeping");
handleSleeping((IBinder)msg.obj, msg.arg1 != 0);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case SET_CORE_SETTINGS:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "setCoreSettings");
handleSetCoreSettings((Bundle) msg.obj);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case UPDATE_PACKAGE_COMPATIBILITY_INFO:
handleUpdatePackageCompatibilityInfo((UpdateCompatibilityData)msg.obj);
break;
case TRIM_MEMORY:
Trace.traceBegin(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER, "trimMemory");
handleTrimMemory(msg.arg1);
Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_ACTIVITY_MANAGER);
break;
case UNSTABLE_PROVIDER_DIED:
handleUnstableProviderDied((IBinder)msg.obj, false);
break;
case REQUEST_ASSIST_CONTEXT_EXTRAS:
handleRequestAssistContextExtras((RequestAssistContextExtras)msg.obj);
break;
case TRANSLUCENT_CONVERSION_COMPLETE:
handleTranslucentConversionComplete((IBinder)msg.obj, msg.arg1 == 1);
break;
case INSTALL_PROVIDER:
handleInstallProvider((ProviderInfo) msg.obj);
break;
case ON_NEW_ACTIVITY_OPTIONS:
Pair<IBinder, ActivityOptions> pair = (Pair<IBinder, ActivityOptions>) msg.obj;
onNewActivityOptions(pair.first, pair.second);
break;
case CANCEL_VISIBLE_BEHIND:
handleCancelVisibleBehind((IBinder) msg.obj);
break;
case BACKGROUND_VISIBLE_BEHIND_CHANGED:
handleOnBackgroundVisibleBehindChanged((IBinder) msg.obj, msg.arg1 > 0);
break;
case ENTER_ANIMATION_COMPLETE:
handleEnterAnimationComplete((IBinder) msg.obj);
break;
}
if (DEBUG_MESSAGES) Slog.v(TAG, "<<< done: " + codeToString(msg.what));
}

private void maybeSnapshot() {
if (mBoundApplication != null && SamplingProfilerIntegration.isEnabled()) {
// convert the *private* ActivityThread.PackageInfo to *public* known
// android.content.pm.PackageInfo
String packageName = mBoundApplication.info.mPackageName;
android.content.pm.PackageInfo packageInfo = null;
try {
Context context = getSystemContext();
if(context == null) {
Log.e(TAG, "cannot get a valid context");
return;
}
PackageManager pm = context.getPackageManager();
if(pm == null) {
Log.e(TAG, "cannot get a valid PackageManager");
return;
}
packageInfo = pm.getPackageInfo(
packageName, PackageManager.GET_ACTIVITIES);
} catch (NameNotFoundException e) {
Log.e(TAG, "cannot get package info for " + packageName, e);
}
SamplingProfilerIntegration.writeSnapshot(mBoundApplication.processName, packageInfo);
}
}
}

  虽然大部分调用的方法我们不知道其作用，但是可以根据消息表示可以看出大部分方法都涉及到Android系统的管理。看到这些我们可以断定，Android的UI线程其实就是一个Message机制的接收线程，其他线程遇到需要更新界面的情况，都只需通过H对象往UI线程发送一个更新界面的消息。当然，因为Looper.getMainLooper()方法的存在，我们也可以自己定义绑定主Looper的Handler类并实现更新界面消息的发送。