chromalog

a modern c++ logging library with colored output and simple formatting

features

• color coded log levels for better readability
• precise timestamps with millisecond precision
• easy message formatting with {} placeholders
• single header file implementation
• thread safe logging with mutex protection
• file logging support
• logger registry system
• auto-detection of terminal color support
• thread id tracking in log output
• support for linux, windows, and mac
• lightweight and fast

what's new

thread safety

• full thread safe implementation with mutexes
• safe concurrent logging from multiple threads

file logging

• log to files with set_log_file(path)
• automatic color stripping for file output
• thread safe file operations with proper cleanup

logger registry

• named logger management system
• get_logger(name) to retrieve loggers by name
• get_default_logger() for global logging
• unknown logger fallback with random suffixes
• get_logger_names() to list all registered loggers

enhanced output

• thread id included in log format
• better aligned output formatting
• cross-platform terminal color detection
• improved timestamp precision

memory safety

• proper raii with destructor cleanup
• move semantics support
• smart pointer usage throughout
• disabled copy operations to prevent issues

additional features

• shutdown_all_loggers() for clean shutdown
• set_global_level() to change all loggers at once
• auto-detect colors based on terminal capability
• better cross-platform compatibility

installation

download chromalog.h and include it in your project:

#include "chromalog.h"

getting started

#include <iostream>
#include "chromalog.h"

int main() {
    // basic; create logger
    auto logger = create_logger("veryproniceapplication", chromalog::debug, true);
    logger->log_debug("Bananas are berries, but strawberries are not.");
    logger->log_info("The Eiffel Tower can grow about 15 cm taller in summer.");
    logger->log_warning("Sharks existed before trees.");
    logger->log_error("Octopuses have three hearts.");
    logger->log_critical("Honey never spoils — 3000-year-old honey is still edible.");
    auto db = create_logger("db", chromalog::info, true);
    auto test = create_logger("test", chromalog::warning, true);

    db->log_info("Sloths can hold their breath longer than dolphins.");
    test->log_warning("A day on Venus is longer than a year on Venus.");

    logger->set_log_file("app.log");
    logger->log_info("Random fact: Wombat poop is cube-shaped.");

    return 0;
}

logging levels

chromalog supports the following log levels in order of severity:

• trace - very detailed diagnostic info
• debug - detailed diagnostic info for debugging
• info - general informational messages
• warning - warning about potential issues
• error - error conditions that do not stop execution
• critical - critical errors that may stop execution
• off - disable all logging

configuration

auto logger = create_logger("app", chromalog::debug, true);
logger->set_level(chromalog::warning);
logger->set_colors(false);
logger->set_auto_detect_colors(true);  // terminal support
logger->set_log_file("app.log");  // file log

basic usage

create logger

// logger with default settings
auto logger = create_logger("name");

// custom level w colors
auto logger = create_logger("name", chromalog::debug, true);

// default logger
auto default_logger = chromalog::get_default_logger();

// gets logger by its name
auto existing = chromalog::get_logger("existing_name");

log messages

logger->log_trace("detailed info: {}", value);
logger->log_debug("debug info: {}", value);
logger->log_info("information: {}", value);
logger->log_warning("warning: {}", message);
logger->log_error("error: {}", message);
logger->log_critical("critical: {}", message);

settings

logger->set_level(level);              // set minimum log level
logger->set_colors(enable);            // enable/disable colors
logger->set_auto_detect_colors(auto);  // auto-detect terminal support
logger->set_log_file("path.log");      // enable file logging
logger->close_log_file();              // close file logging
logger->get_level();                   // get current log level
logger->get_name();                    // get logger name

global operations

chromalog::set_global_level(level);    // set level for all loggers
chromalog::shutdown_all_loggers();     // clean shutdown
chromalog::get_logger_names();         // get list of logger names

log levels

log levels follow this hierarchy: trace < debug < info < warning < error < critical < off

setting a log level will display that level and all levels above it....

quick logging

for quick logging without creating a logger:

get_logger().log_info("message: {}", value);

file logging

enable file logging for any logger:

auto logger = create_logger("app");
logger->set_log_file("application.log");
logger->log_info("this appears in both console and file");

files automatically strip color codes and include full formatting.

thread safety

all logging operations are thread safe. multiple threads can safely:

• log to the same logger simultaneously
• create and manage different loggers
• access the logger registry

platform support

• linux/macos: colors work in all standard terminals
• windows: colors work in windows 10+ cmd, powershell
• auto detection: automatically disables colors when output is redirected

credits

created by bitflags

license

mit license - see license file for details.

if you encounter any issues, feel free to add me on discord - oi2qq

thanks for using chromalog!