How to implement a single instance Java application?

Question

Sometime I see many application such as msn, windows media player etc that are single instance applications (when user executes while application is running a new applicatio

Answer 1

Yes this is a really decent answer for eclipse RCP eclipse single instance application below is my code

in application.java

if(!isFileshipAlreadyRunning()){
        MessageDialog.openError(display.getActiveShell(), "Fileship already running", "Another instance of this application is already running.  Exiting.");
        return IApplication.EXIT_OK;
    } 


private static boolean isFileshipAlreadyRunning() {
    // socket concept is shown at http://www.rbgrn.net/content/43-java-single-application-instance
    // but this one is really great
    try {
        final File file = new File("FileshipReserved.txt");
        final RandomAccessFile randomAccessFile = new RandomAccessFile(file, "rw");
        final FileLock fileLock = randomAccessFile.getChannel().tryLock();
        if (fileLock != null) {
            Runtime.getRuntime().addShutdownHook(new Thread() {
                public void run() {
                    try {
                        fileLock.release();
                        randomAccessFile.close();
                        file.delete();
                    } catch (Exception e) {
                        //log.error("Unable to remove lock file: " + lockFile, e);
                    }
                }
            });
            return true;
        }
    } catch (Exception e) {
       // log.error("Unable to create and/or lock file: " + lockFile, e);
    }
    return false;
}