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If you're building a JavaScript library and need logging, you would love LogTape
LogTape offers a novel approach to logging in JavaScript libraries, designed to provide diagnostic capabilities without imposing choices on users. Unlike traditional methods such as using debug packages or custom logging systems, LogTape operates on a "library-first design" where logging is transparent and only activated when configured. This eliminates the fragmentation problem of managing multiple logging systems across different libraries. With zero dependencies and support for both ESM and CommonJS, LogTape ensures minimal impact on users' projects, avoiding dependency conflicts and enabling tree shaking. Its universal runtime support and efficient performance make it suitable for various environments. By using a hierarchical category system, LogTape prevents namespace collisions, offering a seamless developer experience with TypeScript support and structured logging patterns. LogTape provides adapters for popular logging libraries like Winston and Pino, bridging the transition for users invested in other systems. Ultimately, LogTape offers a way to enhance library capabilities while respecting users' preferences and existing choices, making it a valuable consideration for library authors.
Each approach represents a reasonable solution to a genuine problem, but none fully addresses the core tension: how do you provide valuable diagnostic capabilities without imposing choices on your users? While CommonJS modules can be imported into ESM projects, they're often treated as opaque blocks that can't be optimized, potentially including unused code in the final bundle. In a world where every dependency decision has implications, LogTape offers an approach worth considering: a way to enhance your library's capabilities while respecting your users' preferences and existing choices.
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