Question

I want to log data to a txt file, i.e. I will receive the data from the com port and then write it to the text file. Does this qualify as logging? or is logging referring to error logging? If the first case is true I guess I am supposed to use log4j as I have read that this is the standard for logging? However if this is not the case is it then ok to use FileWriter?

Answer 1

Use java.util.logging.Logger. Use the following steps:

1. At startup, create a Logger with Logger.getLogger(name) (you define whatever logging name you want to use for your system).
2. Decide where you want the logs to go by using Logger.addHandler. For example, if you want to output the logs to a file, use java.util.logging.FileHandler.
3. Everywhere you want to log something, use Logger.getLogger(name).log().

That’s it! The FileHandler will write your text file automatically. If you want to put the logs somewhere else (for example, a database), add a different Handler.