How do i make my C program run in the background on windows?

To make a C program run in the background on Windows, you can create a Windows service. Windows services are background processes that run independently of user interaction and can be started automatically when the system boots up.

Here are the general steps to create a Windows service for your C program:

1. Write your C program:
   Implement your program's functionality in a C source file.

2. Create a Windows service wrapper:
   In a separate source file, create a wrapper for your C program that includes the necessary code to run it as a Windows service. This typically involves registering the service with the Service Control Manager (SCM), handling service control events, and starting your C program's main functionality within the service entry point.

3. Compile your code:
   Compile your C program and the service wrapper code into an executable file using a C compiler, such as GCC or Microsoft Visual C++.

4. Install the service:
   Install the service on your system using the sc command or a service management tool like NSSM (Non-Sucking Service Manager). This step registers the service with the SCM and sets it up to run as a background process.

5. Start the service:
   Start the service using the sc command, net start command, or the service management tool you used for installation.

Once your service is running, it will continue to run in the background, even if no user is logged in.

Note that creating a Windows service involves writing platform-specific code and understanding the Windows service infrastructure. It may require administrative privileges to install and start the service. Additionally, handling service-specific events and managing the lifecycle of the service can be complex.

It's recommended to refer to the Windows Service documentation and use a service framework or library, such as the Windows Service Control Manager API or a third-party library, to simplify the process of creating and managing Windows services in C.