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Console.WriteLine() inside a Windows Service?

Asked 2012-01-09T18:01:08.243
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I am currently using TopShelf with a Console Application to create a Windows Service. When I run the code as a console application I use a few Console.WriteLine() to output results. Once the code does what it is supposed to do I install the console application as a Windows Service.

Are there any downsides with leaving the Console.WriteLine() code even though a Windows Service can not write to the console? Are there any risks of having unstable code if I leave the Console.WriteLine() in there?

c# windows-services topshelf
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If you use the System.Diagnostics.Trace functionality, you can redirect the output using the listeners and switches. If you compile with the TRACE symbol, then code will be included. If you don't add the TRACE, then it won't be compiled into the project.

If you run your services as console for debugging, the Trace will output to the console by default. I've taken to using Trace instead of Debug or Console writes since I can, from the config file, output the trace information to any combination of files, screen, database, etc.

answered 2012-01-09T20:39:04.817

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