Swift Logging Libraries
Swift logging libraries are optimized for Apple platforms. OSLog, SwiftLog, CocoaLumberjack, and others provide Apple ecosystem-specific features including iOS/macOS integration, performance optimization, and privacy protection.
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 | OSLog / Logger | - | Apple's official unified logging system. Improved APIs introduced at WWDC 2020, designed with high performance and privacy considerations. Provides system log integration, category-based filtering, and automatic metadata collection. Supported across iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. | Established firm position as Apple's officially recommended Swift logging standard in 2025. Default choice for new iOS projects as excellent alternative to print statements. Gaining positive evaluation in App Store reviews through privacy protection and performance optimization. | Apple Developer License | System Logger | Official |
| 2 | Swift-Log | - | Apple's official open-source Swift logging API. Specialized for server-side Swift and cross-platform development, provides standardization of logging implementations. High compatibility with server-side frameworks like SwiftNIO and Vapor. | Established as standard choice for server-side Swift development in 2025. Adopted by web frameworks like Vapor and Perfect, improving development experience through unified logging API. Increasing importance in cross-platform development. | Apache-2.0 | Cross-platform API | Official |
| 3 | CocoaLumberjack | - | Fast, simple, yet powerful and flexible logging framework for macOS, iOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Orders of magnitude faster than NSLog, available with single-line configuration at application launch. Provides rich customization options and extensibility. | Veteran library maintaining popularity in Swift community in 2025. Continued use in existing projects and new adoption by developers prioritizing flexibility seen. However, new project adoption declining due to proliferation of Apple's official OSLog. | BSD-3-Clause | Feature-rich Framework | Official |
| 4 | print() (Built-in) | - | Swift's standard output function. Suitable for rapid log output during development stage as simplest debugging means. Immediately available without configuration, but not automatically disabled in production builds, posing performance and security challenges. | Usage continues in Swift development learning stages and quick debugging in 2025. However, migration to OSLog or CocoaLumberjack strongly recommended for full-scale application development. Print statement removal before App Store submission recognized as important task. | Swift License | Native Function | Official |
| 5 | NSLog | - | Traditional logging method available in Objective-C and Swift. Simple usage but limitations in performance and flexibility. Not recommended in modern Swift development, but may be used for maintaining compatibility with legacy code. | Not recommended for new development in 2025, only used for maintaining compatibility with existing Objective-C code. Migration to OSLog completed in Swift-first projects, NSLog usage examples significantly decreased. | Apple Developer License | Legacy Function | Official |
| 6 | Pulse | - | Powerful logging system for Apple platforms. Provides log and network request recording and inspection functionality with real-time viewing and sharing capabilities. Modern solution addressing wide range of uses in development, debugging, and production monitoring. | Attention increasing in Swift projects requiring advanced debugging and network monitoring in 2025. Evaluated as powerful tool in development and operation of complex iOS applications through network analysis functionality and real-time monitoring. | MIT | Debugging Suite | Official |