C# Logging Libraries
C# logging libraries are deeply integrated with the .NET ecosystem. Serilog, NLog, Microsoft.Extensions.Logging, and others provide features optimized for .NET applications including structured logging, rich sinks, and ASP.NET Core integration.
Key Features
- Multiple Output Levels
- Structured Logging
- High Performance
- Multiple Output Destinations
- Rich Ecosystem
Representative Libraries
- Pino: Ultra-fast JSON logging library
- Winston: Most versatile logging library
- Bunyan: Structured JSON-focused logging library
- Morgan: Express.js HTTP logging middleware
GitHub Star Comparison
| No | Name | GitHub Stars | Description | Trend | License | Type | Official Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft.Extensions.Logging | - | Standard logging abstraction layer for .NET Core/ASP.NET Core. Enables routing logs to various libraries like Serilog or NLog through provider system. Provides dependency injection integration and configuration-based log level control, standard choice in .NET ecosystem. | Established as most recommended starting point in .NET ecosystem for 2025. De facto standard for new projects due to Microsoft official support and depth of .NET integration. Adoption rapidly expanding in cloud-native applications. | MIT | Abstraction Layer | Official |
| 2 | Serilog | - | Latest logging framework released in 2013. Designed specifically for structured logging with standard JSON format support. Provides rich sinks (outputs), powerful filtering capabilities, and efficient querying of complex data types. | First place in GitHub stars for 2025 (due to rapid increase in structured logging demand). First choice for projects emphasizing modern log management and analysis. Adoption expanding in DevOps teams through integration with analysis platforms like ELK stack and Splunk. | Apache-2.0 | Modern Framework | Official |
| 3 | NLog | - | Mature logging framework valued for simplicity and performance. Provides cleaner code-based configuration than log4net with sensible default settings. Excellent throttling performance under high log generation loads, also provides structured logging features. | Competing for first place with log4net in NuGet downloads for 2025. Adoption continues in projects prioritizing performance while avoiding configuration complexity. Selected in scenarios requiring structured logging features without computational overhead of Serilog. | BSD-3-Clause | Traditional Framework | Official |
| 4 | Apache log4net | - | Most historic .NET logging framework by Apache Foundation (ported from Java log4j). Known for rich configuration options and flexibility, capable of handling complex requirements. Mature solution providing diverse output destinations and customization. | Recommendation for new projects declining in 2025. Only involved in maintenance of existing systems due to limitations in structured logging support, maintainability issues, and performance disadvantages. Important role in legacy systems continues. | Apache-2.0 | Traditional Framework | Official |
| 5 | Console.WriteLine | - | Standard .NET console output method. Simplest logging means available immediately without configuration. Suitable for rapid output verification during development and debugging stages, but functionality limited in production environments. Optimal for prototyping. | Usage in learning and prototyping stages remains unchanged in 2025. Continued use by .NET beginners and simple console applications. Strong recommendation for migration to dedicated logging libraries in full-scale application development. | .NET License | Native Method | Official |
| 6 | System.Diagnostics.Debug | - | Standard .NET debug output class. Automatically disabled in production builds through DEBUG conditional compilation. Specialized for debug sessions in IDEs like Visual Studio, lightweight debug tool used for trace information output during development. | Maintains stable position as debug-specific tool in .NET development in 2025. Continued use in Visual Studio integrated development environment. Contributes to improved developer experience through specialized use for development-time diagnostic information acquisition rather than production logging. | .NET License | Debug Class | Official |