Caching in a console application

Question

I need to cache a generic list so I dont have to query the databse multiple times. In a web application I would just add it to the httpcontext.current.cache . What is the proper way to cache objects in console applications?

Answer 1

Here is a very simple cache class I use in consoles that has self clean up and easy implementation.

The Usage:

return Cache.Get("MyCacheKey", 30, () => { return new Model.Guide().ChannelListings.BuildChannelList(); });

The Class:

    using System;
    using System.Collections.Generic;
    using System.Linq;
    using System.Text;
    using System.Timers;

    namespace MyAppNamespace
    {
        public static class Cache
        {
            private static Timer cleanupTimer = new Timer() { AutoReset = true, Enabled = true, Interval = 60000 };
            private static readonly Dictionary<string, CacheItem> internalCache = new Dictionary<string, CacheItem>();

            static Cache()
            {
                cleanupTimer.Elapsed += Clean;
                cleanupTimer.Start();
            }

            private static void Clean(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e)
            {
                internalCache.Keys.ToList().ForEach(x => { try { if (internalCache[x].ExpireTime <= e.SignalTime) { Remove(x); } } catch (Exception) { /*swallow it*/ } });
            }

            public static T Get<T>(string key, int expiresMinutes, Func<T> refreshFunction)
            {
                if (internalCache.ContainsKey(key) && internalCache[key].ExpireTime > DateTime.Now)
                {
                    return (T)internalCache[key].Item;
                }

                var result = refreshFunction();

                Set(key, result, expiresMinutes);

                return result;
            }

            public static void Set(string key, object item, int expiresMinutes)
            {
                Remove(key);

                internalCache.Add(key, new CacheItem(item, expiresMinutes));
            }

            public static void Remove(string key)
            {
                if (internalCache.ContainsKey(key))
                {
                    internalCache.Remove(key);
                }
            }

            private struct CacheItem
            {
                public CacheItem(object item, int expiresMinutes)
                    : this()
                {
                    Item = item;
                    ExpireTime = DateTime.Now.AddMinutes(expiresMinutes);
                }

                public object Item { get; private set; }
                public DateTime ExpireTime { get; private set; }
            }
        }

}