[java] Why are the Level.FINE logging messages not showing?

The Why

java.util.logging has a root logger that defaults to Level.INFO, and a ConsoleHandler attached to it that also defaults to Level.INFO. FINE is lower than INFO, so fine messages are not displayed by default.


Solution 1

Create a logger for your whole application, e.g. from your package name or use Logger.getGlobal(), and hook your own ConsoleLogger to it. Then either ask root logger to shut up (to avoid duplicate output of higher level messages), or ask your logger to not forward logs to root.

public static final Logger applog = Logger.getGlobal();
...

// Create and set handler
Handler systemOut = new ConsoleHandler();
systemOut.setLevel( Level.ALL );
applog.addHandler( systemOut );
applog.setLevel( Level.ALL );

// Prevent logs from processed by default Console handler.
applog.setUseParentHandlers( false ); // Solution 1
Logger.getLogger("").setLevel( Level.OFF ); // Solution 2

Solution 2

Alternatively, you may lower the root logger's bar.

You can set them by code:

Logger rootLog = Logger.getLogger("");
rootLog.setLevel( Level.FINE );
rootLog.getHandlers()[0].setLevel( Level.FINE ); // Default console handler

Or with logging configuration file, if you are using it:

.level = FINE
java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler.level = FINE

By lowering the global level, you may start seeing messages from core libraries, such as from some Swing or JavaFX components. In this case you may set a Filter on the root logger to filter out messages not from your program.