Write Your Own Windows Services

If you're using Windows, you're no stranger to Windows services, but do you know how to write one of your own? In this article, you'll learn not only how to build your own Windows service, but how to build a client with which to control it.

by Wei-Meng Lee

Jun 20, 2007

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indows services are applications that run in the background without the need for a user interface. If you’re using Windows, you should not be new to Windows services. The Themes service running in Windows XP provides you with the various user interface features that you have come to expect from Windows. And the Wireless Zero Configuration service provides automatic configuration for your wireless adapters.

Windows services can be started automatically when the computer system boots up and they will run in the background without user intervention. The nature of Windows services makes it particularly suitable for situations in which you want to perform some required operation without interfering with the execution of other applications.

This article will show you how to write your own Windows services using Visual Studio 2005. In addition, you’ll also learn how to minimize your application to the System Tray so that it can always remain running.