The logging in Flink is implemented using the slf4j logging interface. As underlying logging framework, log4j is used. We also provide logback configuration files and pass them to the JVM’s as properties. Users willing to use logback instead of log4j can just exclude log4j (or delete it from the lib/ folder).
Log4j is controlled using property files. In Flink’s case, the file is usually called log4j.properties
. We pass the filename and location of this file using the -Dlog4j.configuration=
parameter to the JVM.
Flink ships with the following default properties files:
log4j-cli.properties
: Used by the Flink command line client (e.g. flink run
) (not code executed on the cluster)log4j-yarn-session.properties
: Used by the Flink command line client when starting a YARN session (yarn-session.sh
)log4j.properties
: JobManager/Taskmanager logs (both standalone and YARN)For users and developers alike it is important to control the logging framework.
The configuration of the logging framework is exclusively done by configuration files.
The configuration file either has to be specified by setting the environment property -Dlogback.configurationFile=<file>
or by putting logback.xml
in the classpath.
The conf
directory contains a logback.xml
file which can be modified and is used if Flink is started outside of an IDE and with the provided starting scripts.
The provided logback.xml
has the following form:
In order to control the logging level of org.apache.flink.runtime.jobgraph.JobGraph
, for example, one would have to add the following line to the configuration file.
For further information on configuring logback see LOGback’s manual.
The loggers using slf4j are created by calling
In order to benefit most from slf4j, it is recommended to use its placeholder mechanism. Using placeholders allows to avoid unnecessary string constructions in case that the logging level is set so high that the message would not be logged. The syntax of placeholders is the following:
Placeholders can also be used in conjunction with exceptions which shall be logged.