The Ultimate Guide To Dart Logging Packages For Flutter Developers

In application development, logging is a critical tool that aids developers in debugging and understanding the flow of their applications. Regarding Flutter, a popular cross-platform framework, logging is no less critical. With dedicated packages like 'logging' and 'logger ', developers can quickly implement and manage logs in their Flutter applications.

Logging is essential to software development, especially when debugging Flutter apps. With logging, developers can keep track of log events, log messages, and log lines. Logging helps identify issues in the code, track user activities, and monitor the program's flow. It's like having a black box in an airplane that records all the activities.

The log can be of different log levels such as debug log, error log, info log, warning log, trace log, and fatal log. Each log level represents a certain severity level. For instance, an error log indicates a problem that has prevented a function from executing, while a debug log is information useful for debugging.

Flutter and its Logging Capabilities

Flutter provides excellent support for logging through various packages such as the logger and logging packages. These packages allow developers to start logging in to their Flutter apps with ease.

The logger package is an extensible logger that prints beautiful logs. It's easy to use and is inspired by the logger for Android. On the other hand, the logging package is a more fundamental package for logging in Dart.

Both packages allow developers to define their log levels, log events, and log messages. They also support debugging, error, warning, and info-logging methods.

In debug mode, these packages allow all log events at or above the current level to be sent to the onRecord stream. This helps developers track the log events and messages in their Flutter apps.

With these packages, you can log simple string messages and more complex data types. For example, you can log network calls, HTTP requests, and even closure js logger events.

All logs are omitted by default for performance reasons when in release mode. However, this behavior can be customized according to the needs of your Flutter project.

An Overview of the Dart Logging Packages

Understanding the logging Package

In Flutter, the logging package is a popular choice among developers for implementing logging in their applications. The logging package is a simple yet powerful tool that provides a robust framework for defining and handling log messages.

The logging package allows developers to create logs of different levels, including debug log, error log, info log, warning log, and more. Each log level represents a different severity level, allowing developers to categorize their logs based on their importance.

Using the logging package, developers can start logging in to their Flutter apps with just a few lines of code. They can create an instance of the Logger class, set the log level, and then create log messages. The package also provides a way to listen to log events and handle them according to the current level.

Exploring the logger Package

The logger package, on the other hand, is an extensible logger that prints beautiful logs. Inspired by the logger for Android, it has been designed to be easy to use while providing a high level of customization.

The logger package supports all the standard log levels like debug, error, info, and warning logs. It also allows developers to create their log levels if needed.

One of the key features of the logger package is its ability to print colorful and well-formatted logs, making it easier for developers to read and understand the log messages. It also supports printing emojis with log messages, adding a visual element to the logs.

The logger package also provides a way to filter logs based on their level, making it easier to focus on the logs that matter the most during debugging.

Just like the logging package, the logger package also allows developers to start logging in to their Flutter apps with ease. They need to create an instance of the Logger class, and then they can start logging.

Setting Up the logging Package in Flutter

Installation and Configuration

To start using the logging package in your Flutter project, you must first add it as a dependency in your pubspec.yaml file.

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dependencies:
  flutter:
    sdk: flutter
  logging: ^latest_version

After adding the dependency, run the flutter packages get command in your terminal to fetch the package.

Next, you must import the logging package into the Dart file where you want to use it. You can do this by adding the following line at the top of your Dart file:

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import 'package:logging/logging.dart';

You can now create an instance of the Logger class and start logging.

Implementing Logging with the logging Package

To start logging with the logging package, you first need to create an instance of the Logger class. Each logger instance has a name that can help you identify the source of the log messages.

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final Logger log = Logger('MyLoggerName');

Once you have an instance of the Logger class, you can start logging. The logging package provides several methods for logging such as info, warning, severe, and shout.

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log.info('This is an info log message');
log.warning('This is a warning log message');
log.severe('This is a severe log message');
log.shout('This is a shout log message');

Sample Code and Explanation

Here's a very simple code snippet showing how to use the logging package in a Flutter app:

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import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:logging/logging.dart';

void main() {
  final Logger log = Logger('MyApp');
  log.info('App started');
  runApp(MyApp());
}

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MaterialApp(
      title: 'Flutter Logging Demo',
      theme: ThemeData(
        primarySwatch: Colors.blue,
      ),
      home: MyHomePage(),
    );
  }
}

class MyHomePage extends StatelessWidget {
  final Logger log = Logger('MyHomePage');

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    log.info('Building MyHomePage');
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(
        title: Text('Flutter Logging Demo'),
      ),
      body: Center(
        child: Text('Check the console for log messages'),
      ),
    );
  }
}

In this example, we have two logger instances - one for the main function and another for the MyHomePage widget. The info message is logged when the app starts and the MyHomePage widget is built. If you run this app and check the console, you will see the log messages printed out.

Setting Up the logger Package in Flutter

Installation and Configuration

The first step to using the logger package in your Flutter project is to add it as a dependency. You can do this by adding the following line to your pubspec.yaml file.

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dependencies:
  flutter:
    sdk: flutter
  logger: ^latest_version

After adding the dependency, run the flutter packages get command in your terminal to fetch the package.

Next, import the logger package into the Dart file where you want to use it. You can do this by adding the following line at the top of your Dart file:

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import 'package:logger/logger.dart';

Now, you're ready to create an instance of the Logger class and start logging.

Implementing Logging with the logger Package

To start logging with the logger package, you first need to create an instance of the Logger class.

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var logger = Logger();

Once you have an instance of the Logger class, you can start logging. The logger package provides several methods for logging such as d (debug), i (info), w (warning), and e (error).

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logger.d('Debug log');
logger.i('Info log');
logger.w('Warning log');
logger.e('Error log');

Sample Code and Explanation

Here's a sample code snippet showing how to use the logger package in a Flutter app:

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import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:logger/logger.dart';

void main() {
  var logger = Logger();
  logger.i('App started');
  runApp(MyApp());
}

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  final logger = Logger();

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    logger.d('Building MyApp');
    return MaterialApp(
      title: 'Flutter Logger Demo',
      theme: ThemeData(
        primarySwatch: Colors.blue,
      ),
      home: MyHomePage(),
    );
  }
}

class MyHomePage extends StatelessWidget {
  final logger = Logger();

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    logger.d('Building MyHomePage');
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(
        title: Text('Flutter Logger Demo'),
      ),
      body: Center(
        child: Text('Check the console for log messages'),
      ),
    );
  }
}

In this example, we have two logger instances - one for the main function and another for the MyApp and MyHomePage widgets. We log an info message when the app starts and debug messages when the widgets are built. If you run this app and check the console, you will see the log messages printed out.

Best Practices for Logging in Flutter apps

Do’s and Don’ts

Logging is a powerful tool when used correctly, but it can lead to clutter and confusion if not handled properly. Here are some do's and don'ts to keep in mind while implementing logging in your Flutter apps.

Do's:

1. Use meaningful log messages: Your log messages should be clear and descriptive. They should provide helpful information about the state of your app and help you identify any issues.
2. Do categorize your logs: Use different log levels like debug, info, warning, and error to order your logs based on their importance and severity.
3. Use the logger package for pretty-printing logs: The logger package prints beautiful logs that are easy to read and understand. This can be especially helpful when you're dealing with a large number of logs.
4. Do filter your logs: Both the logging and logger packages provide options to filter logs based on their level. This can help you focus on the logs that matter the most during debugging.

Don'ts:

1. Don't log sensitive information: Avoid logging sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, and user IDs. If you need to log such information for debugging purposes, remove it before releasing the app.
2. Don't ignore errors: If you see an error log in your console, don't ignore it. Error logs indicate problems that have prevented a function from executing, and they should be addressed as soon as possible.
3. Don't overuse logging: While logging can be very useful, overusing it can lead to clutter and confusion. Try to log only the information necessary for debugging and understanding the flow of your app.

Conclusion

In conclusion, logging is a powerful tool that can significantly assist in debugging your Flutter applications. You can quickly implement effective logging in your Flutter apps using packages such as logging and logger. These packages offer a variety of features, from defining your log levels to filtering and pretty-printing your logs. By following the best practices mentioned in this blog, you can ensure that your logging is efficient and effective. Remember, a well-implemented logging system can save you significant time in the debugging process and help you deliver a more stable and reliable application.