Provide a configuration file option to make a logger asynchronous

src/main/cpp/appenderskeleton.cpp

@@ -191,6 +191,11 @@ void AppenderSkeleton::setOption(const LogString& option,
 	{
 		setThreshold(Level::toLevelLS(value));
 	}
+	else if (StringHelper::equalsIgnoreCase(option,
+			LOG4CXX_STR("NAME"), LOG4CXX_STR("name")))
+	{
+		setName(value);
+	}
 }
 
 const spi::ErrorHandlerPtr AppenderSkeleton::getErrorHandler() const

src/main/cpp/asyncappender.cpp

@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ void AsyncAppender::dispatch()
 	if (LogLog::isDebugEnabled())
 	{
 		Pool p;
-		LogString msg(LOG4CXX_STR("AsyncAppender"));
+		LogString msg(LOG4CXX_STR("[") + getName() + LOG4CXX_STR("] AsyncAppender"));
 #ifdef _DEBUG
 		msg += LOG4CXX_STR(" iterationCount ");
 		StringHelper::toString(iterationCount, p, msg);

src/main/cpp/domconfigurator.cpp

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include <log4cxx/logstring.h>
 #include <log4cxx/xml/domconfigurator.h>
 #include <log4cxx/appender.h>
+#include <log4cxx/asyncappender.h>
 #include <log4cxx/layout.h>
 #include <log4cxx/logger.h>
 #include <log4cxx/logmanager.h>
@@ -132,6 +133,7 @@ IMPLEMENT_LOG4CXX_OBJECT(DOMConfigurator)
 #define ERROR_HANDLER_TAG "errorHandler"
 #define REF_ATTR "ref"
 #define ADDITIVITY_ATTR "additivity"
+#define ASYNCHRONOUS_ATTR "asynchronous"
 #define THRESHOLD_ATTR "threshold"
 #define STRINGSTREAM_ATTR "stringstream"
 #define CONFIG_DEBUG_ATTR "configDebug"
@@ -560,8 +562,18 @@ void DOMConfigurator::parseChildrenOfLoggerElement(
 	AppenderMap& appenders)
 {
 	PropertySetter propSetter(logger);
-	std::vector<AppenderPtr> newappenders;
+	auto loggerName = m_priv->repository->getRootLogger() == logger
+					? LogString(LOG4CXX_STR("root"))
+					: logger->getName();
+	AsyncAppenderPtr async;
+	auto lsAsynchronous = subst(getAttribute(utf8Decoder, loggerElement, ASYNCHRONOUS_ATTR));
+	if (!lsAsynchronous.empty() && OptionConverter::toBoolean(lsAsynchronous, true))
+	{
+		async = std::make_shared<AsyncAppender>();
+		async->setName(loggerName);
+	}
 
+	std::vector<AppenderPtr> newappenders;
 	for (apr_xml_elem* currentElement = loggerElement->first_child;
 		currentElement;
 		currentElement = currentElement->next)
@@ -572,13 +584,17 @@ void DOMConfigurator::parseChildrenOfLoggerElement(
 		{
 			if (auto appender = findAppenderByReference(p, utf8Decoder, currentElement, doc, appenders))
 			{
+				if (log4cxx::cast<AsyncAppender>(appender)) // An explicitly configured AsyncAppender?
+					async.reset(); // Not required
 				if (LogLog::isDebugEnabled())
 				{
 					LogLog::debug(LOG4CXX_STR("Adding ") + Appender::getStaticClass().getName()
 						+ LOG4CXX_STR(" named [") + appender->getName() + LOG4CXX_STR("]")
 						+ LOG4CXX_STR(" to logger [") + logger->getName() + LOG4CXX_STR("]"));
 				}
 				newappenders.push_back(appender);
+				if (async)
+					async->addAppender(appender);
 			}
 		}
 		else if (tagName == LEVEL_TAG)
@@ -594,7 +610,17 @@ void DOMConfigurator::parseChildrenOfLoggerElement(
 			setParameter(p, utf8Decoder, currentElement, propSetter);
 		}
 	}
-	if (newappenders.empty())
+	if (async && !newappenders.empty())
+	{
+		if (LogLog::isDebugEnabled())
+		{
+			LogLog::debug(LOG4CXX_STR("Asynchronous logging for [")
+					+ logger->getName() + LOG4CXX_STR("] is on"));
+		}
+		logger->replaceAppenders({async});
+		m_priv->appenderAdded = true;
+	}
+	else if (newappenders.empty())
 		logger->removeAllAppenders();
 	else
 	{

src/main/cpp/propertyconfigurator.cpp

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 #include <log4cxx/logstring.h>
 #include <log4cxx/propertyconfigurator.h>
+#include <log4cxx/asyncappender.h>
 #include <log4cxx/helpers/properties.h>
 #include <log4cxx/helpers/loglog.h>
 #include <log4cxx/helpers/exception.h>
@@ -413,13 +414,18 @@ void PropertyConfigurator::parseLogger(
 
 	}
 
-	AppenderPtr appender;
-	LogString appenderName;
-	std::vector<AppenderPtr> newappenders;
+	AsyncAppenderPtr async;
+	auto lsAsynchronous = OptionConverter::findAndSubst(LOG4CXX_STR("log4j.asynchronous.") + loggerName, props);
+	if (!lsAsynchronous.empty() && OptionConverter::toBoolean(lsAsynchronous, true))
+	{
+		async = std::make_shared<AsyncAppender>();
+		async->setName(loggerName);
+	}
 
+	std::vector<AppenderPtr> newappenders;
 	while (st.hasMoreTokens())
 	{
-		appenderName = StringHelper::trim(st.nextToken());
+		auto appenderName = StringHelper::trim(st.nextToken());
 
 		if (appenderName.empty() || appenderName == LOG4CXX_STR(","))
 		{
@@ -431,18 +437,30 @@ void PropertyConfigurator::parseLogger(
 			LogLog::debug(LOG4CXX_STR("Parsing ") + Appender::getStaticClass().getName()
 				+ LOG4CXX_STR(" named [") + appenderName + LOG4CXX_STR("]"));
 		}
-		appender = parseAppender(props, appenderName);
-
-		if (appender != 0)
+		if (auto appender = parseAppender(props, appenderName))
 		{
 			newappenders.push_back(appender);
+			if (log4cxx::cast<AsyncAppender>(appender)) // An explicitly configured AsyncAppender?
+				async.reset(); // Not required
+			if (async)
+				async->addAppender(appender);
 		}
 	}
 #if 15 < LOG4CXX_ABI_VERSION
 	if (!newappenders.empty())
 		m_priv->appenderAdded = true;
 #endif
-	logger->reconfigure( newappenders, additivity );
+	if (async && !newappenders.empty())
+	{
+		if (LogLog::isDebugEnabled())
+		{
+			LogLog::debug(LOG4CXX_STR("Asynchronous logging for [")
+					+ loggerName + LOG4CXX_STR("] is on"));
+		}
+		logger->reconfigure( {async}, additivity );
+	}
+	else
+		logger->reconfigure( newappenders, additivity );
 }
 
 AppenderPtr PropertyConfigurator::parseAppender(

src/main/include/log4cxx/appenderskeleton.h

@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ class LOG4CXX_EXPORT AppenderSkeleton :
 
 		Supported options | Supported values | Default value |
 		-------------- | ---------------- | --------------- |
+		Name      | {any} | - |
 		Threshold | Trace,Debug,Info,Warn,Error,Fatal,Off,All | All |
 		*/
 		void setOption(const LogString& option, const LogString& value) override;

src/main/include/log4cxx/asyncappender.h

@@ -34,14 +34,21 @@ The AsyncAppender stores the logging event in a bounded buffer
 and then returns control to the application.
 A separate thread forwards events to the attached appender(s).
 
+An AsyncAppender is used when you configure a logger to be asynchronous.
+These AsyncAppender(s) use [the default values](@ref log4cxx::AsyncAppender::setOption) for all options
+and they cannot be changed using configuration file entries.
+For more control over the AsyncAppender options,
+use <b>appender-ref</b> element in the logger configuration instead. 
+
 <b>Important notes:</b>
 - Your application must call LogManager::shutdown when it exits
 to prevent undefined behaviour when using this appender.
-- Runtime configuration requires an XML configuration file
+- Runtime configuration of options requires an XML configuration file
 (see the example below).
 
 This appender is useful when outputting to a slow event sink,
-for example, a remote SMTP server or a database.
+for example, unbuffered output to a file,
+a remote SMTP server or a database.
 Note that configuring a FileAppender to use [buffered output](@ref log4cxx::FileAppender::setOption)
 usually results in lower overhead than
 attaching the FileAppender to an AsyncAppender

src/site/markdown/change-report-gh.md

@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ and the LOG4CXX_CONFIGURATION environment variable (see log4cxx::spi::Configurat
    \[[#529](https://github.com/apache/logging-log4cxx/pull/529)\]
 * New logging macros that defer binary-to-text conversion until used in AsyncAppender's background thread
    \[[#548](https://github.com/apache/logging-log4cxx/pull/548)\]
+* A simplified way to attach an AsyncAppender to a logger using a configuration file
+   \[[#550](https://github.com/apache/logging-log4cxx/pull/550)\]
 
 The following issues have been addressed:
 

src/site/markdown/configuration-samples.md

@@ -86,6 +86,21 @@ The variable names are [documented here](@ref log4cxx.spi.Configurator.propertie
 To check the correct values are used when your configuration file is loaded,
 use [Log4cxx internal debugging].
 
+# Configuring a logger to use asynchronous output
+
+Log4cxx 1.6 allows you to more easily attach an [AsyncAppender](@ref log4cxx.AsyncAppender)
+to a logger using a configuration file.
+- If using a properties file, add the line <code>log4j.asynchronous.{LOGGER_NAME}=true</code> to your file
+- If using an XML file, add the <code>asynchronous="true"</code> attribute in the <code>\<logger></code> element.
+
+The "asynchronous" attribute is only relevent for a logger with attached appenders.
+The attribute is ignored if the logger does not have any directly attached appenders.
+
+The "asynchronous" attribute results in the configured appender(s)
+being attached an [AsyncAppender](@ref log4cxx.AsyncAppender)
+and it is the [AsyncAppender](@ref log4cxx.AsyncAppender)
+that is attached directly to the logger.
+
 # Configuration Samples {#configuration-samples}
 
 The following snippets show various ways of configuring Log4cxx.
@@ -124,6 +139,7 @@ to store a log file per executable in a product related logs directory:
 ~~~{.properties}
 # Uncomment a line to enable debugging for a category
 log4j.rootCategory=INFO, A1
+log4j.asynchronous.root=true
 
 log4j.appender.A1=org.apache.log4j.RollingFileAppender
 log4j.appender.A1.MaxFileSize=5MB
@@ -286,7 +302,7 @@ to store a log file per executable in a product related logs directory:
     </layout>
   </appender>
 
-  <root>
+  <root asynchronous="true" >
      <priority value="info" />
      <appender-ref ref="ConsoleAppender"/>
      <appender-ref ref="FileAppender"/>

src/test/cpp/asyncappendertestcase.cpp

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include <log4cxx/helpers/stringhelper.h>
 #include <log4cxx/spi/location/locationinfo.h>
 #include <log4cxx/xml/domconfigurator.h>
+#include <log4cxx/propertyconfigurator.h>
 #include <log4cxx/file.h>
 #include <thread>
 
@@ -138,8 +139,10 @@ class AsyncAppenderTestCase : public AppenderSkeletonTestCase
 		LOGUNIT_TEST(testBufferOverflowBehavior);
 		LOGUNIT_TEST(testLoggingAppender);
 #if LOG4CXX_HAS_DOMCONFIGURATOR
-		LOGUNIT_TEST(testConfiguration);
+		LOGUNIT_TEST(testXMLConfiguration);
+		LOGUNIT_TEST(testAsyncLoggerXML);
 #endif
+		LOGUNIT_TEST(testAsyncLoggerProperties);
 		LOGUNIT_TEST_SUITE_END();
 
 #ifdef _DEBUG
@@ -531,7 +534,7 @@ class AsyncAppenderTestCase : public AppenderSkeletonTestCase
 		}
 
 #if LOG4CXX_HAS_DOMCONFIGURATOR
-		void testConfiguration()
+		void testXMLConfiguration()
 		{
 			// Configure Log4cxx
 			auto status = xml::DOMConfigurator::configure("input/xml/asyncAppender1.xml");
@@ -562,8 +565,66 @@ class AsyncAppenderTestCase : public AppenderSkeletonTestCase
 			LOGUNIT_ASSERT_EQUAL(LEN, v.size());
 			LOGUNIT_ASSERT(vectorAppender->isClosed());
 		}
+
+		void testAsyncLoggerXML()
+		{
+			// Configure Log4cxx
+			auto status = xml::DOMConfigurator::configure("input/xml/asyncLogger.xml");
+			LOGUNIT_ASSERT_EQUAL(status, spi::ConfigurationStatus::Configured);
+
+			// Check configuration is as expected
+			auto  root = Logger::getRootLogger();
+			auto appenders = root->getAllAppenders();
+			LOGUNIT_ASSERT_EQUAL(1, int(appenders.size()));
+			auto asyncAppender = log4cxx::cast<AsyncAppender>(appenders.front());
+			LOGUNIT_ASSERT(asyncAppender);
+
+			// Log some messages
+			size_t LEN = 20;
+			for (size_t i = 0; i < LEN; i++)
+			{
+				LOG4CXX_INFO_ASYNC(root, "message" << i);
+			}
+			asyncAppender->close();
+
+			// Check all message were received
+			auto vectorAppender = log4cxx::cast<VectorAppender>(asyncAppender->getAppender(LOG4CXX_STR("VECTOR")));
+			LOGUNIT_ASSERT(vectorAppender);
+			auto& v = vectorAppender->getVector();
+			LOGUNIT_ASSERT_EQUAL(LEN, v.size());
+			LOGUNIT_ASSERT(vectorAppender->isClosed());
+		}
 #endif
 
+		void testAsyncLoggerProperties()
+		{
+			// Configure Log4cxx
+			auto status = PropertyConfigurator::configure("input/asyncLogger.properties");
+			LOGUNIT_ASSERT_EQUAL(status, spi::ConfigurationStatus::Configured);
+
+			// Check configuration is as expected
+			auto  root = Logger::getRootLogger();
+			auto appenders = root->getAllAppenders();
+			LOGUNIT_ASSERT_EQUAL(1, int(appenders.size()));
+			auto asyncAppender = log4cxx::cast<AsyncAppender>(appenders.front());
+			LOGUNIT_ASSERT(asyncAppender);
+
+			// Log some messages
+			size_t LEN = 20;
+			for (size_t i = 0; i < LEN; i++)
+			{
+				LOG4CXX_INFO_ASYNC(root, "message" << i);
+			}
+			asyncAppender->close();
+
+			// Check all message were received
+			auto vectorAppender = log4cxx::cast<VectorAppender>(asyncAppender->getAppender(LOG4CXX_STR("VECTOR")));
+			LOGUNIT_ASSERT(vectorAppender);
+			auto& v = vectorAppender->getVector();
+			LOGUNIT_ASSERT_EQUAL(LEN, v.size());
+			LOGUNIT_ASSERT(vectorAppender->isClosed());
+		}
+
 
 };
 

src/test/resources/input/asyncLogger.properties

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more
+# contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with
+# this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.
+# The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+# (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
+# the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+log4j.rootCategory=INFO, A1
+log4j.asynchronous.root=true
+
+log4j.appender.A1=org.apache.log4j.VectorAppender
+log4j.appender.A1.name=VECTOR

src/test/resources/input/xml/asyncLogger.xml

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
+<!DOCTYPE log4j:configuration SYSTEM "log4j.dtd">
+<!--
+ Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more
+ contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with
+ this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.
+ The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+ (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
+ the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+ Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ limitations under the License.
+
+-->
+
+<log4j:configuration xmlns:log4j='http://jakarta.apache.org/log4j/'>
+  <appender name="VECTOR" class="org.apache.log4j.VectorAppender"/>
+  <root asynchronous="true" >
+    <level value="INFO"/>
+    <appender-ref ref="VECTOR" />
+  </root>
+</log4j:configuration>