Application Client Agent Design

Question

I need to create a small app which will run on my client machines as "agent" which will periodically check in with a server for certain tasks.

Do I

1. Create the app as a windows service with an interface for configurations?

2. Create an app which will run in system tray, with an interface for configuration?

Many moons ago I read that windows service app should not have any configuration interface. I would assume that even if I do create a windows service, there will have to be a second app which interacts with the service as the interface for configuration, correct?

Answer 1

If the application needs to be started and configured by a user without administrator rights, then you would need to go with the system tray approach because a service can only be started by an administrator. Otherwise either approach would work. The best approach would depend on the application.