Implementing Request Logging in Feathers.js using Morgan

Request logging is an essential feature in any web application, as it allows developers to track and monitor incoming requests. In this article, we will explore how to implement request logging in a Feathers.js application using Morgan, a popular request logging middleware for Node.js.

What is Morgan?

Morgan is a request logging middleware for Node.js that provides a simple and flexible way to log incoming requests. It supports various output formats, including the standard Apache log format, and can be easily integrated with popular frameworks like Express.js and Feathers.js.

Setting up a Feathers.js Application

Before we dive into implementing request logging, let's set up a basic Feathers.js application. If you already have a Feathers.js application, you can skip this step.

const feathers = require('@feathersjs/feathers');
const express = require('@feathersjs/express');

const app = express(feathers());

app.use(express.json());
app.use(express.urlencoded({ extended: true }));

app.listen(3030, () => {
  console.log('Feathers app started on port 3030');
});

Installing Morgan

To use Morgan in our Feathers.js application, we need to install it first. Run the following command in your terminal:

npm install morgan

Configuring Morgan

Once Morgan is installed, we can configure it to log incoming requests. We will use the `morgan` function to create a middleware that logs requests in the standard Apache log format.

const morgan = require('morgan');

const logger = morgan('combined');

app.use(logger);

In this example, we create a Morgan middleware instance with the `combined` format, which logs requests in the standard Apache log format. We then add the middleware to our Feathers.js application using the `app.use()` method.

Customizing the Log Format

Morgan provides several built-in log formats, including `combined`, `common`, `dev`, and `short`. You can also create a custom log format by passing a string to the `morgan` function.

For example, to log only the request method, URL, and response status code, you can use the following custom format:

const logger = morgan(':method :url :status');

Logging Requests to a File

By default, Morgan logs requests to the console. However, you can also log requests to a file by passing a write stream to the `morgan` function.

const fs = require('fs');
const logger = morgan('combined', { stream: fs.createWriteStream('requests.log') });

In this example, we create a write stream to a file named `requests.log` and pass it to the `morgan` function. Morgan will then log requests to the file instead of the console.

Conclusion

In this article, we explored how to implement request logging in a Feathers.js application using Morgan. We covered the basics of Morgan, including installation, configuration, and customization. We also discussed how to log requests to a file instead of the console.

FAQs

What is Morgan?

Morgan is a request logging middleware for Node.js that provides a simple and flexible way to log incoming requests.

How do I install Morgan?

You can install Morgan by running the command `npm install morgan` in your terminal.

How do I configure Morgan?

You can configure Morgan by creating a middleware instance with the `morgan` function and passing it to your Feathers.js application using the `app.use()` method.

Can I customize the log format?

Yes, you can customize the log format by passing a string to the `morgan` function or by using one of the built-in log formats.

Can I log requests to a file?

Yes, you can log requests to a file by passing a write stream to the `morgan` function.