# The Apache Commons Logging Component

$Id$
[Introduction] [Dependencies] [Release Info] [Committers] [Action Items]

### 1. INTRODUCTION

The commons-logging package provides a simple, component oriented interface (`org.apache.commons.logging.Log`) together with wrappers for logging systems. The user can choose at runtime which system they want to use. In addition, a small number of basic implementations are provided to allow users to use the package standalone.

commons-logging was heavily influenced by Avalon's Logkit and Log4J. The commons-logging abstraction is meant to minimize the differences between the two, and to allow a developer to not tie himself to a particular logging implementation.

The package does :

- Have an API which should be as simple to use as possible
- Provide support for Avalon's Logkit
- Provide support for JDK 1.4 logging
- Provide support for Log4J
- Provide support for Avalon-Framework's Logger
- Provide support for LumberJack logger
- Provide pluggable support for other logging APIs
- Provide a simple System.out logger

Non-goals:

- This package will not perform logging itself, except at the most basic level.
- We do not seek to become a "standard" API.

### 2. DEPENDENCIES

The Logging component is dependent upon the following external components for compilation:

- Java Development Kit (Version 1.2 or later)
- Apache Logging Log4j (Optional, Version 1.2.6 or later)
- Apache Avalon LogKit (Optional, Version 1.0.1 or later)
- Apache Avalon Framework (Optional, Version 4.0 or later)
- LumberJack
- Java Development Kit (Version 1.4 or later) logging APIs (Optional)

Of course, the user must ensure that any logging systems that they wish to use are present in the classpath when they use this component.

### 3. RELEASE INFO

Version | Release Date
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commons-logging-1.0.3 is available through the standard mirrors. Binaries are here and source is here | 7-Apr-2003
commons-logging-1.0.2 | 27-Sep-2002
commons-logging-1.0.1 | 12-Aug-2002
commons-logging-1.0 | 20-Feb-2002

Planned Next Release: TBD

### 4. COMMITTERS

The following individuals are the primary developers and maintainers of this component. Developers who plan to use Logging in their own projects are encouraged to collaborate on the future development of this component to ensure that it continues to meet a variety of needs.

- Morgan Delagrange
- Rodney Waldhoff
- Craig McClanahan
- Robert Burrell Donkin
- Scott Sanders
- Peter Donald
- Costin Manolache
- Richard A. Sitze
- Juozas Baliuka

### 5. ACTION ITEMS

TO DO List:

Action Item | Volunteer
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