WinSW
WinSW is an open-source Windows service wrapper that allows users to run any executable as a Windows service. It provides a simple configuration file for setting things like start mode, dependencies, account to run the service as, and logging options.
windows
service
wrapper
opensource
WinSW: Open-Source Windows Service Wrapper
A lightweight, flexible tool for running executables as Windows services, providing easy configuration options and support for various dependencies and logging settings.
What is WinSW?
WinSW is an open-source Windows service wrapper developed by Microsoft. It allows users to easily install any executable file as a Windows service, providing a simple way to wrap and manage applications running in the background.
Some key features of WinSW include:
- Ability to install any EXE file as a Windows service with simple XML configuration
- Options for setting service start mode, dependencies, account to run as, and logging
- Advanced configuration for triggers, timeouts, throttling, and more
- Powerful logging capabilities with archiving and rotation
- Open-source with an Apache 2.0 license, hosted on GitHub
WinSW removes a lot of the complexity involved in developing Windows services. Developers can focus on their application logic, while WinSW handles interacting with the Windows Service Control Manager. This simplifies development and reduces boilerplate code.
WinSW supports all versions of Windows still under Microsoft support. Its simple XML config file means developers don't have to handle low-level Windows APIs or write wrappers themselves. Overall, WinSW streamlines building and running Windows services for any application.
WinSW Features
Features
- Allows wrapping executables as Windows services
- Provides a simple configuration file for service settings
- Supports setting start mode, dependencies, account, and logging options
- Open source and free to use
Pricing
- Open Source
- Free
Pros
Easy way to create Windows services from executables
Flexible configuration for controlling service behavior
Actively maintained open source project
Free with no licensing costs
Cons
Limited to Windows platforms only
Less control compared to writing a custom Windows service
Requires some familiarity with configuration files
Official Links
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