Wise Print

wise_print is a lightweight Python package designed to enhance the debugging process in small scripts. It provides a customizable replacement for the built-in print function, allowing you to include additional contextual information in your output without the need for a full-fledged logging package.

Overview

When debugging small scripts, you might not want to set up a logging configuration or deal with the overhead of logging frameworks. wise_print offers an easy way to add context to your print statements, making it easier to track the origin of messages and debug your code.

With wise_print, you can easily configure your output to include details such as:

• Timestamp: When the print statement was executed.
• File Name: The file in which the print statement was called.
• Line Number: The line number where the print statement was invoked.

Installation

You can install wise_print using pip. Simply run:

pip install wise_print

Usage

Here’s how you can use wise_print in your script:

1. Import and Configure wise_print:

   from wise_print import CustomPrinter
   
   # Create an instance of CustomPrinter
   printer = CustomPrinter(include_time=True, include_file=True, include_line=True, separator=' | ')
   
   # Activate the custom print function
   printer.activate()
   

2. Use print as Usual:

   After activating wise_print, you can use the print function normally:

   print("This is a debug message")
   

   The output will include the timestamp, filename, and line number based on your configuration.

3. Deactivate wise_print:

   To return to the standard print behavior, simply deactivate wise_print:

   printer.deactivate()
   print("This is a standard print message")
   

Example

Here’s a complete example demonstrating the use of wise_print:

from wise_print import CustomPrinter

# Create and configure the custom printer
printer = CustomPrinter(include_time=True, include_file=True, include_line=True, separator=':')
printer.activate()

# Example print statements
print("Starting process...")
for i in range(3):
    print(f"Processing item {i}")

# Deactivate custom print
printer.deactivate()
print("Process finished.")

Output might look like:

2024-08-09T12:34:56:/path/to/your/script.py:8 | Starting process...
2024-08-09T12:34:56:/path/to/your/script.py:9 | Processing item 0
2024-08-09T12:34:56:/path/to/your/script.py:9 | Processing item 1
2024-08-09T12:34:56:/path/to/your/script.py:9 | Processing item 2
Process finished.

Comparison with Python's logging Package

wise_print and Python’s built-in logging package serve different purposes and have distinct advantages and limitations. Here’s a comparison to help you decide when to use each:

When to Use wise_print

• Quick Debugging: When you need to quickly add context to print statements in small scripts or during early development stages.
• Simplicity: When you prefer a lightweight, straightforward solution without the complexity of logging configurations.
• Minimal Setup: When you want to avoid setting up a logging framework for small or one-off scripts.

When to Use logging

• Production Code: For applications where detailed and configurable logging is required, including different log levels and multiple output destinations.
• Complex Applications: When you need advanced logging features such as logging to files, sending logs over the network, or integrating with external logging systems.
• Structured Logging: When you need structured and rich log information, including exceptions, context data, and custom log levels.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for more details.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please fork the repository and submit a pull request with your changes.