anslog

Anslog is a cross-platform logging toolkit that combines asynchronous logging, structured data, and ANSI coloring to improve readability of terminal output. It provides both a library interface for application code and a command-line viewer for inspecting log files. The goal is to deliver fast, non-blocking logging with human- and machine-friendly formats.

Key features include non-blocking emission, multiple backends such as console and file, and structured logging via key-value pairs and JSON Lines. It supports configurable log levels, log rotation, and flexible timestamp formats. Output is colorized using ANSI escape codes with a per-level color scheme and is designed to be TTY-aware, disabling colors when not writing to a terminal. The API supports emitting messages with optional metadata, and configuration can be driven by environment variables or configuration files.

The toolkit is intended for use in command-line tools, services, and containerized applications where clear, searchable logs facilitate debugging and monitoring. It emphasizes a lightweight footprint and minimal dependencies to ease integration into existing codebases. The presence of a command-line viewing utility complements the library, helping developers tail, filter, and format logs post hoc.

An open-source ecosystem surrounds anslog, with multiple language implementations and backends contributing to broad adoption. While there is no single universal standard for anslog, compatible tools and plugins typically share common log formats and conventions, enabling interoperability across projects that adopt the anslog approach to terminal-friendly logging.