NAME

Log::Message::Simple - Simplified interface to Log::Message

SYNOPSIS

    use Log::Message::Simple qw[msg error debug
                                carp croak cluck confess];

    use Log::Message::Simple qw[:STD :CARP];

    ### standard reporting functionality
    msg(    "Connecting to database",           $verbose );
    error(  "Database connection failed: $@",   $verbose );
    debug(  "Connection arguments were: $args", $debug );

    ### standard carp functionality
    carp(   "Wrong arguments passed: @_" );
    croak(  "Fatal: wrong arguments passed: @_" );
    cluck(  "Wrong arguments passed -- including stacktrace: @_" );
    confess("Fatal: wrong arguments passed -- including stacktrace: @_" );

    ### retrieve individual message
    my @stack = Log::Message::Simple->stack;
    my @stack = Log::Message::Simple->flush;

    ### retrieve the entire stack in printable form
    my $msgs  = Log::Message::Simple->stack_as_string;
    my $trace = Log::Message::Simple->stack_as_string(1);

    ### redirect output
    local $Log::Message::Simple::MSG_FH     = \*STDERR;
    local $Log::Message::Simple::ERROR_FH   = \*STDERR;
    local $Log::Message::Simple::DEBUG_FH   = \*STDERR;

    ### force a stacktrace on error
    local $Log::Message::Simple::STACKTRACE_ON_ERROR = 1

DESCRIPTION

This module provides standardized logging facilities using the Log::Message module.

FUNCTIONS

msg("message string" [,VERBOSE])

Records a message on the stack, and prints it to STDOUT (or actually $MSG_FH, see the GLOBAL VARIABLES section below), if the VERBOSE option is true. The VERBOSE option defaults to false.

Exported by default, or using the :STD tag.

debug("message string" [,VERBOSE])

Records a debug message on the stack, and prints it to STDOUT (or actually $DEBUG_FH, see the GLOBAL VARIABLES section below), if the VERBOSE option is true. The VERBOSE option defaults to false.

Exported by default, or using the :STD tag.

error("error string" [,VERBOSE])

Records an error on the stack, and prints it to STDERR (or actually $ERROR_FH, see the GLOBAL VARIABLES sections below), if the VERBOSE option is true. The VERBOSE options defaults to true.

Exported by default, or using the :STD tag.

carp();

Provides functionality equal to Carp::carp() while still logging to the stack.

Exported by using the :CARP tag.

croak();

Provides functionality equal to Carp::croak() while still logging to the stack.

Exported by using the :CARP tag.

confess();

Provides functionality equal to Carp::confess() while still logging to the stack.

Exported by using the :CARP tag.

cluck();

Provides functionality equal to Carp::cluck() while still logging to the stack.

Exported by using the :CARP tag.

CLASS METHODS

Log::Message::Simple->stack()

Retrieves all the items on the stack. Since Log::Message::Simple is implemented using Log::Message, consult its manpage for the function retrieve to see what is returned and how to use the items.

Log::Message::Simple->stack_as_string([TRACE])

Returns the whole stack as a printable string. If the TRACE option is true all items are returned with Carp::longmess output, rather than just the message. TRACE defaults to false.

Log::Message::Simple->flush()

Removes all the items from the stack and returns them. Since Log::Message::Simple is implemented using Log::Message, consult its manpage for the function retrieve to see what is returned and how to use the items.

GLOBAL VARIABLES

$ERROR_FH

This is the filehandle all the messages sent to error() are being printed. This defaults to *STDERR.

$MSG_FH

This is the filehandle all the messages sent to msg() are being printed. This default to *STDOUT.

$DEBUG_FH

This is the filehandle all the messages sent to debug() are being printed. This default to *STDOUT.

$STACKTRACE_ON_ERROR

If this option is set to true, every call to error() will generate a stacktrace using Carp::shortmess(). Defaults to false