Head-to-Head: log4js-node vs Pino Analysis

log4js

v6.9.1(over 1 year ago)

This package was last published over a year ago. It may not be actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 5Monthly npm downloads

Log4js is a flexible and efficient logging library for Node.js applications, offering various logging levels, appenders, layouts, and configuration options. It allows developers to log messages to different targets like files, consoles, databases, and more, with customizable formatting and filtering capabilities. Log4js supports logging in both synchronous and asynchronous modes, providing flexibility based on application requirements.

Alternatives:
winston+
pino+
bunyan+
morgan+
debug+
npmlog+
consola+
signale+
roarr+
tracer+

Tags: node.jsloggingflexibleefficientconfigurable

pino

v9.5.0(3 days ago)

This package is actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 11Monthly npm downloads

Pino is a fast and lightweight logging library for Node.js applications. It is designed for high performance and low overhead, making it suitable for production environments where logging can impact performance. Pino offers customizable log levels, serializers, and transports, allowing developers to tailor logging output to their specific needs. It also supports structured logging, enabling easy integration with log management systems.

Alternatives:
winston+
bunyan+
log4js+
morgan+
debug+
pino-pretty+
loglevel+
consola+
npmlog+
roarr+

Tags: node.jsloggingperformancecustomizablestructured-logging

Fight!

Popularity

Both log4js and pino are popular logging libraries for Node.js. Pino has gained significant popularity in recent years due to its lightweight and high-performance nature. However, log4js has been around for longer and has a larger user base, making it a popular choice as well.

Performance

Pino is known for its exceptional performance and low overhead. It is designed to be one of the fastest logging libraries available, making it suitable for high-performance applications. Log4js also offers good performance but may not match the same level of raw speed as pino.

Flexibility

Both libraries offer a range of configuration options and can be customized to fit specific logging requirements. Log4js provides a more traditional and flexible API, allowing developers to configure loggers with various appenders, layouts, and log levels. Pino, on the other hand, focuses on simplicity and provides a minimalist API with fewer options, making it easier to use and configure.

Integration

Both log4js and pino can seamlessly integrate with popular frameworks and tools. They have integrations available for Express, Koa, and other web frameworks. Pino is also known for its excellent integration with the Fastify web framework. Developers can choose either library based on their specific framework requirements.

Developer Experience

Pino has a reputation for having a simple and developer-friendly API. Its minimalistic design makes it easy to understand and use. Log4js, being a more mature library, has a comprehensive documentation and offers a wider range of features. Depending on personal preferences and requirements, developers can choose the library that aligns better with their development style.

Community and Maintenance

Both log4js and pino have active communities and are well-maintained. Log4js has been around for a longer time and has a larger user base, which results in more community support and plugins. Pino, being a newer library, still has a growing community but benefits from being actively maintained and updated.