Error & Exceptions Logging:
1. Exception Handling:
Importance: Exception handling is vital for robust software. It provides insights into unexpected events, enabling proactive identification and resolution of issues that disrupt normal program flow.
Implementation: Use try-catch blocks to capture exceptions. Log relevant details like the error message, stack trace, and context to aid in debugging.
Example:
try
{
// Code that may throw an exception
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
// Log the exception details
LogException(ex);
}
2. Failed Validations:
Importance: Logging failed validations helps in understanding and identifying incorrect data formats or unacceptable values early in the processing, ensuring data integrity.
Implementation: Log details of failed validations, including the input data and the reason for failure.
Example:
if (!IsValidDataFormat(inputData))
{
// Log the failed validation
LogError(“Invalid data format for input: ” + inputData);
}
3. Critical Failures:
Importance: Logging critical failures is essential as it provides immediate visibility into severe issues that significantly impact application functionality and user experience.
Implementation: Log details of critical failures, including the impacted functionality and any additional context for debugging.
Example:
if (criticalFunction() == null)
{
// Log the critical failure
LogError(“Critical function failed: ” + criticalFunctionName);
}
4. Security Breaches:
Importance: Logging security-related errors or unauthorized access attempts is crucial for identifying and responding to potential security threats promptly.
Implementation: Log security-related events, such as failed authentication attempts, unauthorized access, or suspicious activities.
Example:
if (!IsAuthorized(user))
{
// Log the unauthorized access attempt
LogError(“Unauthorized access attempt by user: ” + user);
}
Info Logging
1. User Actions:
Why Log User Actions?
Understanding how users interact with the game is essential for improving user experience, identifying popular features, and optimizing game mechanics.
How to Log User Actions:
Create log entries for significant user actions, capturing details like the action type, relevant game state, and user identifier.
Example:
{
“logs”: [
{
“type”: “info”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T13:45:00Z”,
“device_id”: “ABC456”,
“action_type”: “LevelCompleted”,
“user_id”: “user123”,
“game_state”: “Level 3”
},
{
“type”: “info”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T14:30:00Z”,
“device_id”: “DEF789”,
“action_type”: “ItemPurchased”,
“user_id”: “user456”,
“game_state”: “InGameShop”
}
]
}
Space Ninja Example:
{
“logs”: [
{
“type”: “info”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T13:45:00Z”,
“action_type”: “Game Over”,
“user_name”: “Bluboy123”,
“game_score”: “1520”
},
{
“type”: “info”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T13:50:00Z”,
“action_type”: “New High Score Achieved”,
“user_name”: “Bluboy123”,
“game_score”: “2500”
}
]
}
2. System Startup/Shut Down:
Why Log System Startup/Shut Down?
Monitoring the system/application lifecycle helps in understanding performance patterns and potential issues during startup or shutdown.
How to Log System Startup/Shut Down:
Create log entries indicating system startup and shutdown, including relevant details like startup time and shutdown reason.
Example:
{
“logs”: [
{
“type”: “info”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T12:00:00Z”,
“startup_time”: “12.5s”,
“message”: “Game started successfully.”
},
{
“type”: “info”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T23:45:00Z”,
“shutdown_reason”: “User exited the game.”,
“message”: “Game closed.”
}
]
}
3. External Integrations:
Why Log External Integrations?
Logging interactions with external systems or APIs is vital for diagnosing integration problems, monitoring performance, and ensuring data consistency.
How to Log External Integrations:
Create log entries for each interaction with external systems, recording details like API endpoint and response.
Example:
{
“logs”: [
{
“type”: “info”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T15:00:00Z”,
“androidFunctionCalled”: “gameStart”,
“response message”: “Score sent to server successfully.”
},
{
“type”: “info”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T16:30:00Z”,
“androidFunctionCalled”: “updateScore”,
“message”: “No score received.”
}
]
}
4. Configuration Changes:
Why Log Configuration Changes?
Logging configuration changes helps in tracking modifications, understanding system behavior, and identifying potential issues related to configurations.
How to Log Configuration Changes:
Create log entries whenever there’s a configuration change, including details like the changed configuration parameter and its new value.
Example:
{
“logs”: [
{
“type”: “info”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T17:00:00Z”,
“config_change”: “DifficultyLevel”,
“new_value”: “Medium”,
“message”: “Difficulty level changed to Medium.”
},
{
“type”: “info”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T18:45:00Z”,
“config_change”: “SoundButton”,
“new_value”: “Off”,
“message”: “Sound button is turned off”
}
]
}
General Best Practices for Info Logging:
- Structured Data: Use a clear and consistent structure for logged data to enable easy parsing and analysis.
- Relevant Details: Include only relevant information in the log entries to keep the log files concise and useful.
- Timestamps: Always include timestamps to track when events occurred.
- Granularity: Log at an appropriate level of granularity to ensure useful insights without overwhelming the logs.
Debug Logging
1. Function Entry/Exit:
Why Log Function Entry/Exit?
Understanding the flow of functions is crucial for identifying issues, optimizing code, and improving the overall performance of the game.
How to Log Function Entry/Exit:
Create log entries at the beginning and end of important functions to log entry and exit points.
Example:
{
“logs”: [
{
“type”: “debug”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T12:00:00Z”,
“device_id”: “ABC123”,
“message”: “Entering function: LoadLevel”
},
{
“type”: “debug”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T12:05:00Z”,
“device_id”: “ABC123”,
“message”: “Exiting function: LoadLevel”
}
]
}
2. Intermediate Values:
Why Log Intermediate Values?
Logging intermediate values during critical operations helps in diagnosing data-related issues and understanding the program’s behavior.
How to Log Intermediate Values:
Create log entries to capture intermediate variable values during critical operations.
Example:
{
“logs”: [
{
“type”: “debug”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T14:00:00Z”,
“device_id”: “DEF456”,
“message”: “Intermediate Value: x = 42”
},
{
“type”: “debug”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T14:05:00Z”,
“device_id”: “DEF456”,
“message”: “Intermediate Value: y = 15”
}
]
}
3. Algorithm Steps:
Why Log Algorithm Steps?
Logging important steps and decisions in algorithms facilitates a deeper understanding of the game’s logic and aids in debugging.
How to Log Algorithm Steps:
Create log entries to record critical steps and decisions within the game’s algorithms.
Example:
{
“logs”: [
{
“type”: “debug”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T15:00:00Z”,
“device_id”: “GHI789”,
“message”: “Algorithm Step: Initializing game data”
},
{
“type”: “debug”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T15:15:00Z”,
“device_id”: “GHI789”,
“message”: “Algorithm Step: Calculating player score”
}
]
}
4. Verbose Information:
Why Log Verbose Information?
Logging detailed information about the application’s state, behavior, and internal processes is crucial for comprehensive debugging and optimization.
How to Log Verbose Information:
Create log entries with detailed verbose information, capturing application state and behavior.
Example:
{
“logs”: [
{
“type”: “debug”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T16:00:00Z”,
“device_id”: “JKL789”,
“message”: “Verbose Info: Player position – (x: 10, y: 15)”
},
{
“type”: “debug”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T16:30:00Z”,
“device_id”: “JKL789”,
“message”: “Verbose Info: Game state – Running”
}
]
}
General Best Practices for Debug Logging:
- Granular Logging: Log at an appropriate level of granularity to capture the necessary details for debugging without overwhelming the logs.
- Selective Usage: Use debug logs selectively to avoid cluttering production logs while ensuring vital debugging information is captured during development and testing.
- Consistency: Maintain a consistent log message format and structure for ease of analysis and interpretation.
Trace Logging
1. Detailed Tracing:
Why Use Detailed Tracing?
Detailed tracing is essential for providing a comprehensive view of the game’s critical processes or modules, aiding in understanding intricate behaviors and optimizing those areas.
How to Use Detailed Tracing:
Log detailed traces of every significant step or action within critical processes or modules to provide in-depth insights.
Example:
{
“logs”: [
{
“type”: “trace”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T14:00:00Z”,
“device_id”: “ABC123”,
“message”: “Detailed Trace: Initializing game data”
},
{
“type”: “trace”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T14:05:00Z”,
“device_id”: “DEF456”,
“message”: “Detailed Trace: Loading game assets”
}
]
}
2. Performance Metrics:
Why Log Performance Metrics?
Logging performance metrics, including execution times, memory usage, and resource utilization, is crucial for identifying performance bottlenecks and optimizing the game.
How to Log Performance Metrics:
Record performance-related metrics like execution times, memory usage, and other resource utilization information.
Example:
{
“logs”: [
{
“type”: “trace”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T15:00:00Z”,
“device_id”: “GHI789”,
“message”: “Performance Metric: Execution Time – 25ms”
},
{
“type”: “trace”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T15:15:00Z”,
“device_id”: “JKL012”,
“message”: “Performance Metric: Memory Usage – 150MB”
}
]
}
3. Low-Level Debugging:
Why Use Low-Level Debugging?
Logging extremely detailed information, such as variable values, method calls, or low-level system operations, is vital for thorough debugging and analysis.
How to Use Low-Level Debugging:
Log detailed information like variable values, method calls, or any low-level system operations for precise debugging and analysis.
Example:
{
“logs”: [
{
“type”: “trace”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T16:00:00Z”,
“device_id”: “MNO345”,
“message”: “Low-Level Debug: Method XYZ() called with parameters (x: 10, y: 15)”
},
{
“type”: “trace”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T16:30:00Z”,
“device_id”: “PQR678”,
“message”: “Low-Level Debug: Variable ‘playerPosition’ updated to (x: 20, y: 25)”
}
]
}
3. Low-Level Debugging:
Why Use Low-Level Debugging?
Logging extremely detailed information, such as variable values, method calls, or low-level system operations, is vital for thorough debugging and analysis.
How to Use Low-Level Debugging:
Log detailed information like variable values, method calls, or any low-level system operations for precise debugging and analysis.
Example:
{
“logs”: [
{
“type”: “trace”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T16:00:00Z”,
“device_id”: “MNO345”,
“message”: “Low-Level Debug: Method XYZ() called with parameters (x: 10, y: 15)”
},
{
“type”: “trace”,
“timestamp”: “2023-10-11T16:30:00Z”,
“device_id”: “PQR678”,
“message”: “Low-Level Debug: Variable ‘playerPosition’ updated to (x: 20, y: 25)”
}
]
}