Package org.apache.commons.io

Class FileCleaner

java.lang.Object
org.apache.commons.io.FileCleaner
@Deprecated public class FileCleaner extends Object
Deprecated.
Use FileCleaningTracker
Keeps track of files awaiting deletion, and deletes them when an associated marker object is reclaimed by the garbage collector.

This utility creates a background thread to handle file deletion. Each file to be deleted is registered with a handler object. When the handler object is garbage collected, the file is deleted.

In an environment with multiple class loaders (a servlet container, for example), you should consider stopping the background thread if it is no longer needed. This is done by invoking the method exitWhenFinished(), typically in javax.servlet.ServletContextListener.contextDestroyed(javax.servlet.ServletContextEvent) or similar.

  • Constructor Details

  • Method Details

    • exitWhenFinished

      @Deprecated public static void exitWhenFinished()
      Deprecated.
      Use FileCleaningTracker.exitWhenFinished().
      Call this method to cause the file cleaner thread to terminate when there are no more objects being tracked for deletion.

      In a simple environment, you don't need this method as the file cleaner thread will simply exit when the JVM exits. In a more complex environment, with multiple class loaders (such as an application server), you should be aware that the file cleaner thread will continue running even if the class loader it was started from terminates. This can constitute a memory leak.

      For example, suppose that you have developed a web application, which contains the commons-io jar file in your WEB-INF/lib directory. In other words, the FileCleaner class is loaded through the class loader of your web application. If the web application is terminated, but the servlet container is still running, then the file cleaner thread will still exist, posing a memory leak.

      This method allows the thread to be terminated. Simply call this method in the resource cleanup code, such as javax.servlet.ServletContextListener.contextDestroyed(javax.servlet.ServletContextEvent). One called, no new objects can be tracked by the file cleaner.

    • getInstance

      public static FileCleaningTracker getInstance()
      Deprecated.
      Gets the singleton instance, which is used by the deprecated, static methods. This is mainly useful for code, which wants to support the new FileCleaningTracker class while maintain compatibility with the deprecated FileCleaner.
      Returns:
      the singleton instance

    • getTrackCount

      @Deprecated public static int getTrackCount()
      Deprecated.
      Use FileCleaningTracker.getTrackCount().
      Gets the number of files currently being tracked, and therefore awaiting deletion.
      Returns:
      the number of files being tracked

    • track

      @Deprecated public static void track(File file, Object marker)
      Deprecated.
      Use FileCleaningTracker.track(File, Object).
      Track the specified file, using the provided marker, deleting the file when the marker instance is garbage collected. The normal deletion strategy will be used.
      Parameters:
      file - the file to be tracked, not null
      marker - the marker object used to track the file, not null
      Throws:
      NullPointerException - if the file is null

    • track

      @Deprecated public static void track(File file, Object marker, FileDeleteStrategy deleteStrategy)
      Deprecated.
      Use FileCleaningTracker.track(File, Object, FileDeleteStrategy).
      Track the specified file, using the provided marker, deleting the file when the marker instance is garbage collected. The specified deletion strategy is used.
      Parameters:
      file - the file to be tracked, not null
      marker - the marker object used to track the file, not null
      deleteStrategy - the strategy to delete the file, null means normal
      Throws:
      NullPointerException - if the file is null

    • track

      @Deprecated public static void track(String path, Object marker)
      Deprecated.
      Use FileCleaningTracker.track(String, Object).
      Track the specified file, using the provided marker, deleting the file when the marker instance is garbage collected. The normal deletion strategy will be used.
      Parameters:
      path - the full path to the file to be tracked, not null
      marker - the marker object used to track the file, not null
      Throws:
      NullPointerException - if the path is null

    • track

      @Deprecated public static void track(String path, Object marker, FileDeleteStrategy deleteStrategy)
      Deprecated.
      Use FileCleaningTracker.track(String, Object, FileDeleteStrategy).
      Track the specified file, using the provided marker, deleting the file when the marker instance is garbage collected. The specified deletion strategy is used.
      Parameters:
      path - the full path to the file to be tracked, not null
      marker - the marker object used to track the file, not null
      deleteStrategy - the strategy to delete the file, null means normal
      Throws:
      NullPointerException - if the path is null