NAME

Log::Fine - Yet another logging framework

SYNOPSIS

Provides fine-grained logging and tracing.

use Log::Fine;
use Log::Fine::Levels::Syslog;                # exports log levels
use Log::Fine::Levels::Syslog qw( :masks );   # exports masks and levels

# build a Log::Fine object
my $fine = Log::Fine->new();

# specify a custom map
my $fine = Log::Fine->new(levelmap => "Syslog");

# use logger() to get a new logger object.  If "foo" is not
# defined then a new logger with the name "foo" will be created.
my $log = Log::Fine->logger("foo");

# register a handle, in this case a handle that logs to console.
my $handle = Log::Fine::Handle::Console->new();
$log->registerHandle( $handle );

# log a message
$log->log(INFO, "Log object successfully initialized");

DESCRIPTION

Log::Fine provides a logging framework for application developers who need a fine-grained logging mechanism in their program(s). By itself, Log::Fine provides a mechanism to get one or more logging objects (called loggers) from its stored namespace. Most logging is then done through a logger object that is specific to the application.

For a simple functional interface to the logging sub-system, see Log::Fine::Utils.

Handles

Handlers provides a means to output log messages in one or more ways. Currently, the following handles are provided:

See the relevant perldoc information for more information. Additional handlers can be defined to the user's taste.

Formatters

A formatter specifies how Log::Fine displays messages. When a message is logged, it gets passed through a formatter object, which adds any additional information such as a time-stamp or caller information.

By default, log messages are formatted as follows using the Basic formatter object.

[<time>] <LEVEL> <MESSAGE>

For more information on the customization of log messages, see Log::Fine::Formatter.

METHODS

The Log::Fine module, by itself, simply exports a few constants, and allows the developer to get a new logger. After a logger is created, further actions are done through the logger object. The following two constructors are defined:

new

Creates a new Log::Fine object.

Parameters

A hash with the following keys

  • levelmap

    [default: Syslog] Name of level map to use. See Log::Fine::Levels for further details

Returns

The newly bless'd object

levelMap

Getter for the global level map.

Returns

A Log::Fine::Levels subclass

logger

Getter/Constructor for a logger object.

Parameters

  • logger name

    The name of the logger object. If the specified logger object does not exist, then a new one will be created.

Returns

an Log::Fine::Logger object

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I'd like the thank the following people for either inspiration or past work on logging: Josh Glover for his work as well as teaching me all I know about object-oriented programming in perl. Dan Boger for taking the time and patience to review this code and offer his own suggestions. Additional thanks to Tom Maher and Chris Josephs for encouragement.

The following logging frameworks provided inspiration for parts of Log::Fine.

  • Dave Rolsky's Log::Dispatch module

  • Sun Microsystem's java.utils.logging framework

  • The Python logging package

SEE ALSO

perl, syslog, Log::Fine::Handle, Log::Fine::Formatter, Log::Fine::Logger, Log::Fine::Utils, Sys::Syslog

AUTHOR

Christopher M. Fuhrman, <cfuhrman at panix.com>

BUGS

Please report any bugs or feature requests to bug-log-fine at rt.cpan.org, or through the web interface at http://rt.cpan.org/NoAuth/ReportBug.html?Queue=Log-Fine. I will be notified, and then you'll automatically be notified of progress on your bug as I make changes.

SUPPORT

You can find documentation for this module with the perldoc command.

perldoc Log::Fine

You can also look for information at:

REVISION INFORMATION

$Id: Fine.pm 224 2010-03-15 19:01:25Z cfuhrman $

COPYRIGHT & LICENSE

Copyright (c) 2008, 2009, 2010 Christopher M. Fuhrman, All rights reserved.

This program is free software licensed under the...

The BSD License

The full text of the license can be found in the LICENSE file included with this module.