Node.js Logging: Local, Testing, and Production

Hey there, developers! We have an awesome tool for logging in Node.js and it's open source. It works great whether you’re coding locally, running tests on multiple servers, or handling real-world traffic in production. Let's see how to use Errsole for local development, testing (even with multiple servers), and production. Let’s keep it simple and practical!

Errsole

Errsole is your one-stop solution for managing logs. It lets you:

• Collect all logs automatically.
• View and search logs in a web dashboard.
• Store logs locally or in centralized databases like MongoDB, MySQL, or PostgreSQL.

Step 1: Local Development

For local coding, SQLite is a simple and lightweight choice. You can store logs as files on your computer, making setup quick and easy.

npm install errsole errsole-sqlite

const express = require('express');
const errsole = require('errsole');
const ErrsoleSQLite = require('errsole-sqlite');

// Initialize Errsole with SQLite
errsole.initialize({
  storage: new ErrsoleSQLite('/tmp/local_logs.sqlite') // Change path if needed
});

const app = express();
app.get('/', (req, res) => res.send('Hello from Local!'));
app.listen(3000, () => console.log('App running on http://localhost:3000'));

View Logs
Open your browser and go to http://localhost:8001/ to see your logs.

Step 2: Testing with Multiple Servers

If you have more than one testing server, SQLite might not be enough. Use MongoDB/MySQL/Postgres to centralize your logs from all servers. This keeps everything organized and accessible in one place.

npm install errsole errsole-mongodb

Configure MongoDB for Testing
Set up Errsole to log to a central MongoDB instance.

const ErrsoleMongoDB = require('errsole-mongodb');

errsole.initialize({
  storage: new ErrsoleMongoDB('mongodb://test-db-host:27017/', 'test_logs')
});

const ErrsoleMongoDB = require('errsole-mongodb');

errsole.initialize({
  storage: new ErrsoleMongoDB('mongodb://test-db-host:27017/', 'test_logs')
});

Debugging Logs in Testing
Use detailed logs for troubleshooting:

errsole.debug('Test case started', { testName: 'LoginTest', server: 'server1' });

View Logs
Access the web dashboard for all testing servers at http://your-test-db-host:8001/.

Use filters in the dashboard to find logs from specific servers or test cases.

Step 3: Production Setup

In production, you want a reliable setup that can handle high traffic and provide instant alerts for critical issues. MongoDB is a great choice for centralized logging in production.

Configure MongoDB for Production

errsole.initialize({
  storage: new ErrsoleMongoDB('mongodb://prod-db-host:27017/', 'prod_logs')
});

Example with Alerts
Get notified of critical errors in production:

errsole.alert('Critical issue in production', { server: 'main-server' });

Metadata for Context
Include extra details in your logs:

errsole.meta({ userId: 123, action: 'purchase' }).log('Purchase completed');

Unified Setup for All Environments

Here’s how to handle logging across local, testing, and production environments in one setup:

const errsole = require('errsole');
const ErrsoleSQLite = require('errsole-sqlite');
const ErrsoleMongoDB = require('errsole-mongodb');

let storage;

// Configure storage based on the environment
if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production') {
  storage = new ErrsoleMongoDB('mongodb://prod-db-host:27017/', 'prod_logs');
} else if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'testing') {
  storage = new ErrsoleMongoDB('mongodb://test-db-host:27017/', 'test_logs');
} else {
  storage = new ErrsoleSQLite('/tmp/local_logs.sqlite');
}

errsole.initialize({ storage });
console.log(`Errsole is running in ${process.env.NODE_ENV || 'development'} mode.`);

Environment Variables

• Local: Set NODE_ENV=development.
• Testing: Use NODE_ENV=testing.
• Production: Set NODE_ENV=production.

Why Choose Errsole?

Scalable Logging: Works seamlessly with local, testing, and production setups.

Centralized Logs: Use MongoDB/MySQL/Postgres to manage logs from multiple servers.

Web Dashboard: View, search, and filter logs easily.

Custom Alerts: Get real-time notifications for critical issues.

Errsole is the ultimate tool for managing logs in every environment. Start with SQLite for local development, scale to SQL/NoSQL for testing across multiple servers, and stay production-ready with centralized logging and alerts. It’s simple, flexible, and powerful.

Ready to level up your logging? Errsole has your back. 🚀

GitHub Url: https://github.com/errsole/errsole.js