logging reflow

CMakeLists.txt

@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.5)
 project(examplar)
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 11)
 set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG} -std=c++1z -O0 -DDEBUG=1")
-set(SOURCE_FILES examplar.cpp src/loaders/loaders.cpp src/loaders/loaders.h src/json/jsoncpp.cpp src/loaders/JSON_Loader.cpp src/loaders/JSON_Loader.h src/loaders/helpers.cpp src/loaders/helpers.h src/loaders/Suite.cpp src/loaders/Suite.h src/loaders/Plan.cpp src/loaders/Plan.h src/loaders/Conf.cpp src/loaders/Conf.h src/loaders/Unit.cpp src/loaders/Unit.h src/loaders/Task.cpp src/loaders/Task.h src/sproc/Sproc.cpp src/sproc/Sproc.h)
+set(SOURCE_FILES examplar.cpp src/loaders/abstract/loaders.cpp src/loaders/abstract/loaders.h src/json/jsoncpp.cpp src/loaders/low_level/JSON_Loader.cpp src/loaders/low_level/JSON_Loader.h src/loaders/misc/helpers.cpp src/loaders/misc/helpers.h src/loaders/abstract/Suite.cpp src/loaders/abstract/Suite.h src/loaders/abstract/Plan.cpp src/loaders/abstract/Plan.h src/loaders/abstract/Conf.cpp src/loaders/abstract/Conf.h src/loaders/abstract/Unit.cpp src/loaders/abstract/Unit.h src/loaders/abstract/Task.cpp src/loaders/abstract/Task.h src/Sproc/Sproc.cpp src/Sproc/Sproc.h src/Logger/Logger.cpp src/Logger/Logger.h)
 
 add_executable(examplar ${SOURCE_FILES})

examplar.cpp

@@ -19,28 +19,22 @@
 */
 
 #include <iostream>
-#include "src/json/json.h"
-#include "src/loaders/loaders.h"
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <getopt.h>
-#include <syslog.h>
-#include "src/loaders/helpers.h"
 
-/*
+#include "src/json/json.h"
- * TODO Commandline switches
+#include "src/loaders/abstract/loaders.h"
- */
+#include "src/Logger/Logger.h"
+#include "src/loaders/misc/helpers.h"
 
 void print_usage()
 {
     printf("examplar [ -h | --help ] [ -v | --verbose ] [ -e | --execution-context EXECUTION_CONTEXT ][ -c | --config CONFIG_PATH ]\n\n");
 }
 
-
-
-
 int main( int argc, char * argv[] )
 {
-    int flags, opt;
+    int opt;
     bool verbose = false;
     bool show_help = false;
 
@@ -70,15 +64,15 @@ int main( int argc, char * argv[] )
 
         int option_index = 0;
 
-        opt = getopt_long (argc, argv, "vhec:", long_options, &option_index);
+        opt = getopt_long( argc, argv, "vhec:", long_options, &option_index );
 
-        if (opt == -1)
+        if ( opt == -1 )
           break;
 
-        switch (opt)
+        switch ( opt )
         {
             case 0:
-            if (long_options[option_index].flag !=0)
+            if ( long_options[option_index].flag !=0 )
                 break;
             case 'h':
                 show_help = true;
@@ -86,80 +80,81 @@ int main( int argc, char * argv[] )
                 verbose = true;
                 break;
             case 'c':
-                config_path = std::string(optarg);
+                config_path = std::string( optarg );
                 break;
             case '?':
                 print_usage();
-                exit(1);
+                exit( 1 );
             case 'e':
                 cli_context_supplied = true;
-                execution_context = std::string(optarg);
+                execution_context = std::string( optarg );
                 break;
             default:
                 break;
         }
     }
 
-    if ( show_help == true )
+    if ( show_help )
     {
         print_usage();
-        exit(0);
+        exit( 0 );
     }
 
-    setlogmask( LOG_UPTO( LOG_INFO ) );
+    int L_LEVEL = E_INFO;
+    if ( verbose )
+    {
+        L_LEVEL = E_DEBUG;
+    } else {
+        L_LEVEL = E_INFO;
+    }
 
-    openlog( "Examplar", LOG_CONS | LOG_PID | LOG_NDELAY, LOG_PERROR | LOG_LOCAL1 );
+    Logger slog = Logger( L_LEVEL, "Examplar" );
 
     // A Plan is made up of Tasks, and a Suite is made up of Units.
     // A Plan declares what units are executed and a Suite declares the definitions of those units.
-    Conf configuration = Conf(config_path, verbose );
+    Conf configuration = Conf(config_path, L_LEVEL );
-
-    // if the user set this option as a commandline argument
-    if ( cli_context_supplied == true )
-    {
-        // override the conf file's specified execution context
-        configuration.set_execution_context( execution_context );
-    }
 
     // check if context override
+
     if ( configuration.has_context_override() )
     {
         // if so, set the CWD.
         chdir( configuration.get_execution_context().c_str() );
-        std::ostringstream infostring;
+        slog.log( E_DEBUG, "Set execution context: " + get_working_path() );
-        infostring << "Execution context: " << get_working_path() << std::endl;
-        syslog(LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-        std::cout << infostring.str();
     }
 
+    // if the user set this option as a commandline argument
+    if ( cli_context_supplied )
+    {
+        // override the conf file's specified execution context
+        configuration.set_execution_context( execution_context );
+        slog.log( E_DEBUG, "Set execution context from commandline: " + execution_context );
+    }
 
     // load the filepaths to definitions of a plan and definitions of units.
     std::string definitions_file = configuration.get_units_path();
     std::string plan_file = configuration.get_plan_path();
 
-    Suite available_definitions;
+    Suite available_definitions = Suite( L_LEVEL );
-    available_definitions.load_units_file( definitions_file, verbose );
+    available_definitions.load_units_file( definitions_file );
 
-    Plan plan( &configuration );
+    Plan plan = Plan( &configuration, L_LEVEL );
-    plan.load_plan_file( plan_file, verbose );
+    plan.load_plan_file( plan_file );
 
-    plan.load_definitions( available_definitions, verbose );
+    plan.load_definitions( available_definitions );
 
-    std::cout << "Ready to execute all tasks in Plan." << std::endl;
+    slog.log( E_DEBUG, "Ready to execute all tasks in Plan." );
 
     try
     {
-        plan.execute( verbose );
+        plan.execute();
     }
 
     catch ( std::exception& e)
     {
-        std::cerr << e.what() << std::endl;
+        slog.log( E_FATAL, e.what() );
-        syslog( LOG_ERR, e.what() );
-        closelog();
         return 1;
     }
 
-    closelog();
     return 0;
-}
+}

src/Logger/Logger.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+//
+// Created by bagira on 6/13/20.
+//
+
+#include "Logger.h"
+
+Logger::Logger( int LOG_LEVEL, std::string mask )
+{
+    this->LOG_LEVEL = LOG_LEVEL;
+    this->mask = mask.c_str();
+
+    setlogmask( LOG_UPTO( this->LOG_LEVEL ) );
+    openlog( this->mask, LOG_CONS | LOG_PID | LOG_NDELAY, LOG_PERROR | LOG_LOCAL1 );
+
+}
+
+void Logger::log( int LOG_LEVEL, std::string msg )
+{
+    std::string ERR = "XXXX";
+
+    if ( LOG_LEVEL <= this->LOG_LEVEL )
+    {
+        switch ( LOG_LEVEL )
+        {
+            case E_DEBUG:   ERR = "DBUG";  break;
+            case E_FATAL:   ERR = "FATL";  break;
+            case E_INFO:    ERR = "INFO";  break;
+            case E_WARN:    ERR = "WARN";  break;
+        }
+
+        std::string s_msg = "[" + ERR + "] " + msg;
+        syslog( this->LOG_LEVEL, s_msg.c_str() );
+
+        if ( LOG_LEVEL == E_FATAL | LOG_LEVEL == E_WARN )
+        {
+            std::cerr << "[" << this->get_8601() << "]\t[" << this->mask << "]\t[" << ERR << "]\t" << msg.c_str() << std::endl;
+        } else {
+            std::cout << "[" << this->get_8601() << "]\t[" << this->mask << "]\t[" << ERR << "]\t" << msg.c_str() << std::endl;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+std::string Logger::get_8601()
+{
+    auto now = std::chrono::system_clock::now();
+    auto itt = std::chrono::system_clock::to_time_t(now);
+    std::ostringstream ss;
+    // ss << std::put_time(gmtime(&itt), "%FT%TZ");
+    ss << std::put_time(localtime(&itt), "%Y-%m-%d_%H:%M:%S");
+    return ss.str();
+}

src/Logger/Logger.h

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+//
+// Created by bagira on 6/13/20.
+//
+
+#ifndef EXAMPLAR_LOGGER_H
+#define EXAMPLAR_LOGGER_H
+
+#include <syslog.h>
+#include <string>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <chrono>
+#include <iomanip>
+#include <sstream>
+
+enum L_LVL {
+    E_INFO,
+    E_FATAL,
+    E_WARN,
+    E_DEBUG
+};
+
+class Logger {
+public:
+    Logger( int LOG_LEVEL, std::string mask );
+    void log( int LOG_LEVEL, std::string msg );
+
+private:
+    int LOG_LEVEL;
+    const char * mask;
+    std::string get_8601();
+};
+
+
+
+#endif //EXAMPLAR_LOGGER_H

src/loaders/abstract/Conf.cpp

@@ -66,21 +66,23 @@ protected:
 /// TODO Expand to detect when a directory path is supplied for units_path or plan_path and import all Tasks and Units.
 ///
 /// \param filename - The filename to load the configuration from.
-Conf::Conf( std::string filename, bool verbose ): JSON_Loader()
+Conf::Conf( std::string filename, int LOG_LEVEL ): JSON_Loader( LOG_LEVEL ), slog( LOG_LEVEL, "examplar::conf" )
 {
+    this->LOG_LEVEL = LOG_LEVEL;
+
     // prepare context spaghetti
     this->override_context = false;
 
-
     try {
         // load the conf file.
-        this->load_json_file( filename, verbose );
+        this->load_json_file( filename );
     }
     catch (std::exception) {
-        throw ConfigLoadException("Could not find '" + filename + "'.");
+        this->slog.log( E_FATAL, "Unable to locate configuration file: '" + filename + "'." );
+        throw ConfigLoadException("Config file not found.");
     }
 
-    if (this->get_serialized(this->config_version, "config_version" ,true) != 0)
+    if (this->get_serialized(this->config_version, "config_version" ) != 0)
     {
         throw ConfigLoadException("config_version string is not set in the config file supplied: " + filename);
     }
@@ -90,38 +92,36 @@ Conf::Conf( std::string filename, bool verbose ): JSON_Loader()
     }
 
     // find the path to the plan file
-    if (this->get_serialized(this->plan_path, "plan_path", true) != 0 )
+    if (this->get_serialized(this->plan_path, "plan_path" ) != 0 )
     {
         throw ConfigLoadException("plan_path string is not set in the config file supplied:" + filename);
     }
 
     // find the path to the unit definitions file
-    if (this->get_serialized(this->units_path, "units_path", true) != 0 )
+    if (this->get_serialized(this->units_path, "units_path" ) != 0 )
     {
         throw ConfigLoadException("units_path string is not set in the config file supplied: " + filename);
     }
 
-    if ( this->get_serialized(this->override_execution_context, "execution_context_override", true) != 0 )
+    if ( this->get_serialized(this->override_execution_context, "execution_context_override" ) != 0 )
     {
         throw ConfigLoadException("execution_context_override boolean is not set in the config file supplied: " + filename);
     } else {
         this->override_context = true;
     }
 
-    if ( this->get_serialized(this->execution_context, "execution_context", true) != 0 )
+    if ( this->get_serialized(this->execution_context, "execution_context" ) != 0 )
     {
         throw ConfigLoadException("execution_context string is not set in the config file supplied: " + filename);
     } else {
             this->execution_context_literal = this->execution_context.asString();
     }
 
-    if ( this->get_serialized(this->env_vars_file, "env_vars_file", true) != 0 )
+    if ( this->get_serialized(this->env_vars_file, "env_vars_file" ) != 0 )
     {
         throw ConfigLoadException("env_vars_file is not set in the config file supplied: " + filename);
     }
 
-
-
 };
 
 /// Conf::has_context_override - Specifies whether or not the override context function is enabled in the conf file.
@@ -137,7 +137,6 @@ std::string Conf::get_execution_context() {
 /// Conf::get_plan_path - Retrieves the path to the Plan definition file from the application configuration file.
 std::string Conf::get_plan_path() { return this->plan_path.asString(); }
 
-
 /// Conf::get_units_path - Retrieves the path to the Unit definition file from the application configuration file.
 std::string Conf::get_units_path() { return this->units_path.asString(); }
 
@@ -150,4 +149,4 @@ void Conf::set_execution_context( std::string execution_context )
 std::string Conf::get_env_vars_file()
 {
     return this->env_vars_file.asString();
-}
+}

src/loaders/abstract/Conf.h

@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@
 
 #ifndef FTESTS_CONF_H
 #define FTESTS_CONF_H
-#include "JSON_Loader.h"
+#include "../low_level/JSON_Loader.h"
 #include <exception>
+#include "../../Logger/Logger.h"
 
 
 #define STRINGIZE2(s) #s
@@ -47,17 +48,20 @@ private:
     std::string execution_context_literal;
 
 public:
-    Conf( std::string filename, bool verbose );
+    Conf( std::string filename, int LOG_LEVEL );
-    std::string get_plan_path();
-    std::string get_units_path();
 
     bool has_context_override();
 
+    std::string get_plan_path();
+    std::string get_units_path();
     std::string get_execution_context();
 
     void set_execution_context( std::string );
 
     std::string get_env_vars_file();
+private:
+    int LOG_LEVEL;
+    Logger slog;
 
 };
 

src/loaders/abstract/Plan.cpp

@@ -120,40 +120,39 @@ protected:
 /// Plan::Plan() - Constructor for Plan class.  A Plan is a managed container for a Task vector.  These tasks reference
 /// Units that are defined in the Units files (Suite).  If Units are definitions, Tasks are selections of those
 /// definitions to execute, and if Units together form a Suite, Tasks together form a Plan.
-Plan::Plan( Conf * configuration ): JSON_Loader()
+Plan::Plan( Conf * configuration, int LOG_LEVEL ): JSON_Loader( LOG_LEVEL ), slog( LOG_LEVEL, "examplar::plan" )
 {
     this->configuration = configuration;
-};
+    this->LOG_LEVEL = LOG_LEVEL;
+}
 
 /// Plan::load_plan_file - Uses the json_root buffer on each run to append intact Units as they're deserialized from
 /// the provided file.
 ///
 /// \param filename - The filename to load the plan from.
 /// \param verbose  - Whether to print verbose output to STDOUT.
-void Plan::load_plan_file(std::string filename, bool verbose)
+void Plan::load_plan_file( std::string filename )
 {
     // plan always loads from file
-    this->load_json_file( filename, verbose );
+    this->load_json_file( filename );
 
     // staging buffer
     Json::Value jbuff;
 
     // fill the jbuff staging buffer wih a json::value object in the supplied filename
-    if ( this->get_serialized( jbuff, "plan", verbose ) == 0 )
+    if ( this->get_serialized( jbuff, "plan" ) == 0 )
     {
         this->json_root = jbuff;
     }
 
     // iterate through the json::value members that have been loaded.  append to this->tasks vector
     // buffer for tasks to append:
-    Task tmp_T;
+    Task tmp_T = Task( this->LOG_LEVEL );
     for ( int index = 0; index < this->json_root.size(); index++ )
     {
-        tmp_T.load_root( this->json_root[ index ], verbose );
+        tmp_T.load_root( this->json_root[ index ] );
         this->tasks.push_back( tmp_T );
-        if ( verbose ) {
+        this->slog.log( LOG_INFO, "Added task \"" + tmp_T.get_name() + "\" to Plan." );
-            std::cout << "Added task \"" << tmp_T.get_name() << "\" to Plan." << std::endl;
-        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -177,10 +176,10 @@ void Plan::get_task(Task & result, int index )
 ///
 /// \param unit_definitions - The Suite to load definitions from.
 /// \param verbose - Whether to print verbose information to STDOUT.
-void Plan::load_definitions( Suite unit_definitions, bool verbose )
+void Plan::load_definitions( Suite unit_definitions )
 {
     // placeholder Unit
-    Unit tmp_U;
+    Unit tmp_U = Unit( this->LOG_LEVEL );
 
     // for every task in the plan:
     for (int i = 0; i < this->tasks.size(); i++ )
@@ -189,7 +188,7 @@ void Plan::load_definitions( Suite unit_definitions, bool verbose )
         unit_definitions.get_unit( tmp_U, this->tasks[i].get_name() );
 
         // then have that task attach a copy of tmp_U
-        this->tasks[i].load_definition( tmp_U, verbose );
+        this->tasks[i].load_definition( tmp_U );
     }
 }
 
@@ -213,7 +212,7 @@ void Plan::get_task(Task & result, std::string provided_name )
     }
     if (! foundMatch )
     {
-        std::cerr << "Task name \"" << provided_name << "\" was referenced but not defined!" << std::endl;
+        this->slog.log( E_FATAL, "Task name \"" + provided_name + "\" was referenced but not defined!" );
         throw Plan_InvalidTaskName();
     }
 }
@@ -226,14 +225,14 @@ void Plan::get_task(Task & result, std::string provided_name )
 bool Plan::all_dependencies_complete(std::string name)
 {
     // get the task by name
-    Task named_task;
+    Task named_task = Task( this->LOG_LEVEL );
     this->get_task( named_task, name );
 
     // get the dependencies of that task
     std::vector<std::string> deps = named_task.get_dependencies();
 
     // create an empty task to assign values to during iteration
-    Task tmpTask;
+    Task tmpTask = Task( this->LOG_LEVEL );
     // iterate through its dependencies
     for ( int i = 0; i < deps.size(); i++ )
     {
@@ -250,26 +249,26 @@ bool Plan::all_dependencies_complete(std::string name)
 /// Plan::execute() - Iterates through all tasks in a plan and executes them.
 ///
 /// \param verbose
-void Plan::execute( bool verbose )
+void Plan::execute()
 {
     // for each task in this plan
     for ( int i = 0; i < this->tasks.size(); i++ )
     {
         if (this->all_dependencies_complete(this->tasks[i].get_name()) )
         {
-            if ( verbose )
+
-            {
+            this->slog.log( E_INFO, "Executing task \"" + this->tasks[i].get_name() + "\"." );
-                std::cout << "Executing task \"" << this->tasks[i].get_name() << "\"." << std::endl;
-            }
             try {
-                this->tasks[i].execute( this->configuration, verbose );
+                this->tasks[i].execute( this->configuration );
             }
             catch (std::exception& e) {
-                throw Plan_Task_GeneralExecutionException( "Plan Task: \"" + this->tasks[i].get_name() + "\" reported: " + e.what() );
+                this->slog.log( E_FATAL, "Plan Task: \"" + this->tasks[i].get_name() + "\" reported: " + e.what() );
+                throw Plan_Task_GeneralExecutionException("Could not execute task.");
             }
         } else {
             // not all deps met for this task
-            throw Plan_Task_Missing_Dependency( "Plan Task \"" + this->tasks[i].get_name() + "\" was specified in the Plan but not executed due to missing dependencies.  Please revise your plan." );
+            this->slog.log( E_FATAL, "Plan Task \"" + this->tasks[i].get_name() + "\" was specified in the Plan but not executed due to missing dependencies.  Please revise your plan."  );
+            throw Plan_Task_Missing_Dependency( "Unmet dependency for task." );
         }
     }
 }

src/loaders/abstract/Plan.h

@@ -22,10 +22,11 @@
 #define FTESTS_PLAN_H
 
 #include <string>
-#include "../json/json.h"
+#include "../../json/json.h"
-#include "JSON_Loader.h"
+#include "../low_level/JSON_Loader.h"
 #include "Task.h"
 #include "Conf.h"
+#include "../../Logger/Logger.h"
 
 class Plan: public JSON_Loader
 {
@@ -35,10 +36,10 @@ class Plan: public JSON_Loader
         Conf * configuration;
 
     public:
-        Plan( Conf * configuration );
+        Plan( Conf * configuration, int LOG_LEVEL );
 
         // append this->tasks from JSON file
-        void load_plan_file( std::string filename, bool verbose );
+        void load_plan_file( std::string filename );
 
         // fetch a task from this->tasks
         void get_task( Task & result, std::string provided_name );
@@ -47,15 +48,19 @@ class Plan: public JSON_Loader
         void get_task( Task & result, int index );
 
         // load unit definitions from a provided suite and import them into individual tasks
-        void load_definitions( Suite unit_definitions, bool verbose );
+        void load_definitions( Suite unit_definitions );
 
         // fetch a corresponding Unit to a Task
         // void get_definition_from_task(Unit & result, Task input, bool verbose );
 
         // execute all tasks in this plan
-        void execute( bool verbose );
+        void execute();
 
         bool all_dependencies_complete(std::string name);
+
+private:
+    int LOG_LEVEL;
+    Logger slog;
 };
 
 #endif //FTESTS_PLAN_H

src/loaders/abstract/Suite.cpp

@@ -79,24 +79,13 @@ protected:
 /// human processes to allow modularly developed profiles of test suites.  As inferred, Unit is expected to be one of
 /// the two types that are only instantiated once per application run, though it is designed to be used more than once
 /// if the implementor so desires.
-Suite::Suite(): JSON_Loader() {};
+Suite::Suite( int LOG_LEVEL ): JSON_Loader( LOG_LEVEL ), slog( LOG_LEVEL, "examplar::suite" )
-
-
-bool is_file( std::string path)
 {
-    struct stat buf;
+    this->LOG_LEVEL;
-    stat( path.c_str(), &buf );
-    return S_ISREG(buf.st_mode);
 }
 
-bool is_dir( std::string path )
-{
-    struct stat buf;
-    stat( path.c_str(), &buf );
-    return S_ISDIR(buf.st_mode);
-}
 
-void get_units_from_dir( std::vector<std::string> * files, std::string path )
+void Suite::get_units_from_dir( std::vector<std::string> * files, std::string path )
 {
     DIR* dirFile = opendir( path.c_str() );
     if ( dirFile )
@@ -107,11 +96,20 @@ void get_units_from_dir( std::vector<std::string> * files, std::string path )
         errno = 0;
         while (( hFile = readdir( dirFile )) != NULL )
         {
-            if ( !strcmp( hFile->d_name, "."  )) continue;
+            if ( !strcmp( hFile->d_name, "."  ))
-            if ( !strcmp( hFile->d_name, ".." )) continue;
+            {
+                continue;
+            }
+            if ( !strcmp( hFile->d_name, ".." ))
+            {
+                continue;
+            }
 
             // hidden files
-            if ( hFile->d_name[0] == '.' ) continue;
+            if ( hFile->d_name[0] == '.' )
+            {
+                continue;
+            }
 
             // dirFile.name is the name of the file. Do whatever string comparison
             // you want here. Something like:
@@ -123,18 +121,17 @@ void get_units_from_dir( std::vector<std::string> * files, std::string path )
         }
         closedir( dirFile );
     } else {
-        std::cout << "file not found" << std::endl;
+        this->slog.log( E_DEBUG, "File not found: " + path );
     }
 }
 
 
-
 /// Suite::load_units_file - Uses the json_root buffer on each run to append intact Units as they're
 /// deserialized from the provided file.
 ///
 /// \param units_path - The file to pull the JSON-formatted units from.
 /// \param verbose - Whether to print verbose output to STDOUT.
-void Suite::load_units_file( std::string units_path, bool verbose )
+void Suite::load_units_file( std::string units_path )
 {
     std::vector<std::string> unit_files;
 
@@ -149,28 +146,26 @@ void Suite::load_units_file( std::string units_path, bool verbose )
         unit_files.push_back( units_path );
     }
 
-    std::ostringstream infostring;
+    this->slog.log( E_INFO, "Unit files found: " + std::to_string( unit_files.size() ) );
-    infostring << "Unit files found: " << unit_files.size() << std::endl;
-    syslog(LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-    std::cerr << infostring.str();
 
     for ( int i = 0; i < unit_files.size(); i++ )
     {
         // will use json_root buffer on each run to append to this->units vector as valid units are found.
-        this->load_json_file( unit_files[i], verbose );
+        this->load_json_file( unit_files[i] );
 
         // staging buffer
         Json::Value jbuff;
 
         // fill the jbuff staging buffer with a json::value object in the supplied units_path
-        if ( this->get_serialized( jbuff, "units", verbose ) == 0)
+        if ( this->get_serialized( jbuff, "units" ) == 0)
         {
             this->json_root = jbuff;
         }
 
         // iterate through the json::value members that have been loaded.  append to this->units vector
         // buffer for units to append:
-        Unit tmp_U;
+        Unit tmp_U = Unit( this->LOG_LEVEL );
+
         for ( int index = 0; index < this->json_root.size(); index++ )
         {
             // assemble the unit from json_root using the built-in value operator
@@ -178,20 +173,13 @@ void Suite::load_units_file( std::string units_path, bool verbose )
             if ( tmp_U.get_active() ) {
                 // append to this->units
                 this->units.push_back( tmp_U );
-                if ( verbose ) {
+                this->slog.log( E_INFO, "Added unit \"" + tmp_U.get_name() + "\" to Suite.");
-                    std::ostringstream infostring;
-                    infostring << "Added unit \"" << tmp_U.get_name() << "\" to Suite." << std::endl;
-                    syslog(LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-                    std::cout << infostring.str();
-                }
             }
         }
     }
-
-
-
 }
 
+
 /// Suite::get_unit - returns a contained Unit identified by name attribute.
 ///
 /// \param result - the unit type receiving the unit's value
@@ -213,11 +201,8 @@ void Suite::get_unit(Unit & result, std::string provided_name)
 
     if (! foundMatch )
     {
-        std::ostringstream infostring;
+        this->slog.log( E_FATAL, "Unit name \"" + provided_name + "\" was referenced but not defined!" );
-        infostring << "Unit name \"" << provided_name << "\" was referenced but not defined!" << std::endl;
+        throw SuiteException( "Undefined unit in use." );
-        syslog(LOG_ERR, infostring.str().c_str() );
-        std::cerr << infostring.str();
-        throw SuiteException( infostring.str() );
     }
 }
 

src/loaders/abstract/Suite.h

@@ -22,9 +22,11 @@
 #define FTESTS_UNITS_H
 
 #include <vector>
-#include "../json/json.h"
+#include "../../json/json.h"
-#include "JSON_Loader.h"
+#include "../low_level/JSON_Loader.h"
 #include "Unit.h"
+#include "../../Logger/Logger.h"
+#include "../misc/helpers.h"
 
 
 class Suite: public JSON_Loader
@@ -34,14 +36,22 @@ class Suite: public JSON_Loader
         std::vector<Unit> units;
 
     public:
-        // constructor, empty
+        // constructor
-        Suite();
+        Suite( int LOG_LEVEL );
 
         // load a unit definitions file and add valid unit definitions to this->units
-        void load_units_file( std::string filename, bool verbose );
+        void load_units_file( std::string filename );
 
         // returns the unit identified by name
         void get_unit(Unit & result, std::string provided_name);
+
+    private:
+        void get_units_from_dir( std::vector<std::string> * files, std::string path );
+
+
+private:
+        int LOG_LEVEL;
+        Logger slog;
 };
 
 #endif //FTESTS_UNITS_H

src/loaders/abstract/Task.cpp

@@ -19,10 +19,7 @@
 */
 
 #include "Task.h"
-#include <stdio.h>
+
-#include <syslog.h>
-#include "../sproc/Sproc.h"
-#include "helpers.h"
 
 /// Task_InvalidDataStructure - Exception thrown when a Task is defined with invalid JSON.
 class Task_InvalidDataStructure: public std::runtime_error {
@@ -82,20 +79,24 @@ protected:
 
 /// Task::Task() - Constructor for the Task class.  The Task is the building block of a Plan indicating of which Unit to
 /// execute, and its dependencies on other units to have already been completed successfully.
-Task::Task()
+Task::Task( int LOG_LEVEL ):
+    slog( LOG_LEVEL, "examplar::task" ),
+    definition( LOG_LEVEL )
 {
     // it hasn't executed yet.
     this->complete = false;
 
     // it hasn't been matched with a definition yet.
     this->defined = false;
+
+    this->LOG_LEVEL = LOG_LEVEL;
 }
 
 /// Task::load_root() - loads json values to private members
 ///
 /// \param loader_root - the Json::Value to populate from.
 /// \param verbose - Whether to print verbose information to STDOUT.
-void Task::load_root(Json::Value loader_root, bool verbose )
+void Task::load_root(Json::Value loader_root )
 {
     if ( loader_root.isMember("name") ) {
         this->name = loader_root.get("name", "?").asString();
@@ -110,16 +111,10 @@ void Task::load_root(Json::Value loader_root, bool verbose )
     // iterate through each member of that obj
     for ( int i = 0; i < des_dep_root.size(); i++ ) {
         // add each string to dependencies
-        if ( des_dep_root[i].asString() != "" ) {
+        if ( des_dep_root[i].asString() != "" )
+        {
             this->dependencies.push_back( des_dep_root[i].asString() );
-            if ( verbose ) {
+            this->slog.log( E_INFO,  "Added dependency \"" + des_dep_root[i].asString() + "\" to task \"" + this->get_name() + "\"." );
-                std::ostringstream infostring;
-                infostring << "Added dependency \"" << des_dep_root[i].asString() << "\" to task \""
-                           << this->get_name() << "\"." << std::endl;
-
-                syslog( LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-                std::cout << infostring.str();
-            }
         }
     }
 }
@@ -134,17 +129,10 @@ std::string Task::get_name()
 ///
 /// \param selected_unit - The unit to attach.
 /// \param verbose - Whether to print to STDOUT.
-void Task::load_definition( Unit selected_unit, bool verbose )
+void Task::load_definition( Unit selected_unit  )
 {
     this->definition = selected_unit;
-    if ( verbose ) {
+    this->slog.log( E_INFO, "Loaded definition \"" + selected_unit.get_name() + "\" for task \"" + this->get_name() + "\".");
-        std::ostringstream infostring;
-        infostring << "Loaded definition \"" << selected_unit.get_name() << "\" for task \""
-                   << this->get_name() << "\"." << std::endl;
-
-        syslog( LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-        std::cout << infostring.str();
-    }
     this->defined = true;
 }
 
@@ -177,7 +165,7 @@ bool Task::has_definition()
 /// Task::execute - execute a task's unit definition.
 /// See the design document for what flow control needs to look like here.
 /// \param verbose - Verbosity level - not implemented yet.
-void Task::execute( Conf * configuration, bool verbose )
+void Task::execute( Conf * configuration )
 {
     // DUFFING - If Examplar is broken it's probably going to be in this block.
     // Somebody come clean this up, eh?
@@ -192,40 +180,26 @@ void Task::execute( Conf * configuration, bool verbose )
 
     // get the name
     std::string task_name = this->definition.get_name();
+    this->slog.log( E_DEBUG, "\tUsing unit: \"" + task_name + "\"." );
     // END PREWORK
 
     // get the target execution command
     std::string target_command = this->definition.get_target();
 
-    // if we're in verbose mode, do some verbose things
+    // check if context override
-    if ( verbose )
+    if ( configuration->has_context_override() )
     {
-/*
+        // if so, set the CWD.
-        infostring = std::ostringstream();
+        chdir( configuration->get_execution_context().c_str() );
-        infostring << "\tUsing unit \"" << task_name << "\"." << std::endl;
+        this->slog.log( E_INFO, "Setting execution context: " + get_working_path() );
-        syslog( LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-        std::cout << infostring.str();
-*/
-
-        // check if context override
-        if ( configuration->has_context_override() )
-        {
-            // if so, set the CWD.
-            chdir( configuration->get_execution_context().c_str() );
-            infostring = std::ostringstream();
-            infostring << "\tExecution context: " << get_working_path() << std::endl;
-            syslog(LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-            std::cout << infostring.str();
-        }
-
-        infostring = std::ostringstream();
-        infostring << "\tExecuting target \"" << target_command << "\"." << std::endl;
-        syslog( LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-        std::cout << infostring.str();
     }
 
+
     // a[0] execute target
     // TODO revise variable sourcing strategy
+
+    this->slog.log( E_DEBUG, "Loading environment variable file: " + configuration->get_env_vars_file() );
+    this->slog.log( E_INFO, "Executing target: \"" + target_command + "\"." );
     int return_code = Sproc::execute( "source " + configuration->get_env_vars_file() + " && " + target_command );
 
     // **********************************************
@@ -234,13 +208,8 @@ void Task::execute( Conf * configuration, bool verbose )
     if ( return_code == 0 )
     {
         // d[0].0 ZERO
+        this->slog.log( E_INFO, "Target \"" + task_name + "\" succeeded.  Marking as complete." );
 
-        if ( verbose ) {
-            infostring = std::ostringstream();
-            infostring << "\tTarget " << task_name << " succeeded.  Marking as complete." << std::endl;
-            syslog( LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-            std::cout << infostring.str();
-        }
         this->mark_complete();
 
         // a[1] NEXT
@@ -250,12 +219,7 @@ void Task::execute( Conf * configuration, bool verbose )
     if ( return_code != 0 )
     {
         // d[0].1 NON-ZERO
-
+        this->slog.log( E_WARN,  "Target \"" + task_name + "\" failed with exit code " + std::to_string( return_code ) + "." );
-        infostring = std::ostringstream();
-        infostring << "\tTarget \"" << task_name << "\" failed with exit code " << return_code << "." << std::endl;
-
-        syslog(LOG_ERR, infostring.str().c_str() );
-        std::cerr << infostring.str();
 
         // **********************************************
         // d[1] Rectify Check
@@ -271,18 +235,13 @@ void Task::execute( Conf * configuration, bool verbose )
             {
                 // d[2].0 FALSE
                 // a[2] NEXT
-                infostring = std::ostringstream();
+                this->slog.log(  E_INFO, "This task is not required to continue the plan. Moving on." );
-                infostring << "\tThis task is not required to continue the plan. Moving on." << std::endl;
-                syslog(LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-                std::cout << infostring.str();
                 return;
-            }
+            } else {
-
-            if ( this->definition.get_required() )
-            {
                 // d[2].1 TRUE
                 // a[3] EXCEPTION
-                throw TaskException("Task \"" + task_name + "\" is required, and failed, and rectification is not enabled.");
+                this->slog.log( E_FATAL, "Task \"" + task_name + "\" is required, and failed, and rectification is not enabled." );
+                throw TaskException( "Task failed: " + task_name );
             }
             // **********************************************
             // end - d[2] Required Check
@@ -293,18 +252,12 @@ void Task::execute( Conf * configuration, bool verbose )
         if ( this->definition.get_rectify() )
         {
             // d[1].1 TRUE (Rectify Check)
-            infostring = std::ostringstream();
+            this->slog.log( E_INFO, "Rectification pattern is enabled for \"" + task_name + "\"." );
-            infostring << "\tRectification pattern is enabled for \"" << task_name << "\"." << std::endl;
-            syslog( LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-            std::cout << infostring.str();
 
             // a[4] Execute RECTIFIER
             std::string rectifier_command = this->definition.get_rectifier();
 
-            infostring = std::ostringstream();
+            this->slog.log( E_INFO, "Executing rectification: " + rectifier_command + "." );
-            infostring << "\tExecuting rectification: " << rectifier_command << "." << std::endl;
-            syslog(LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-            std::cout << infostring.str();
 
             int rectifier_error = Sproc::execute(  "source " + configuration->get_env_vars_file() + " && " + rectifier_command );
 
@@ -314,12 +267,7 @@ void Task::execute( Conf * configuration, bool verbose )
             if ( rectifier_error != 0 )
             {
                 // d[3].1 Non-Zero
-                infostring = std::ostringstream();
+                this->slog.log(  E_WARN, "Rectification of \"" + task_name + "\" failed with exit code " + std::to_string( rectifier_error ) + "." );
-                infostring << "\tRectification of \"" << task_name << "\" failed with exit code "
-                           << rectifier_error << "." << std::endl;
-                syslog( LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-
-                std::cout << infostring.str();
 
                 // **********************************************
                 // d[4] Required Check
@@ -327,10 +275,7 @@ void Task::execute( Conf * configuration, bool verbose )
                 if ( ! this->definition.get_required() ) {
                     // d[4].0 FALSE
                     // a[5] NEXT
-                    infostring = std::ostringstream();
+                    this->slog.log( E_INFO, "This task is not required to continue the plan. Moving on." );
-                    infostring << "\tThis task is not required to continue the plan. Moving on." << std::endl;
-                    syslog(LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-                    std::cout << infostring.str();
                     return;
                 }
 
@@ -338,7 +283,8 @@ void Task::execute( Conf * configuration, bool verbose )
                 {
                     // d[4].1 TRUE
                     // a[6] EXCEPTION
-                    throw TaskException("Task \"" + task_name + "\" is required, and failed, then rectified but rectification failed.");
+                    this->slog.log( E_FATAL, "Task \"" + task_name + "\" is required, it failed, and then rectification failed.  Lost cause." );
+                    throw TaskException( "Lost cause, task failure." );
                 }
                 // **********************************************
                 // end - d[4] Required Check
@@ -349,16 +295,10 @@ void Task::execute( Conf * configuration, bool verbose )
             if ( rectifier_error == 0 )
             {
                 // d[3].0 Zero
-                infostring = std::ostringstream();
+                this->slog.log( E_INFO, "Rectification returned successfully." );
-                infostring << "\tRectification returned successfully." << std::endl;
-                syslog( LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-                std::cout << infostring.str();
 
                 // a[7] Re-execute Target
-                infostring = std::ostringstream();
+                this->slog.log( E_INFO, "Re-Executing target \"" + this->definition.get_target() + "\"." );
-                infostring << "\tRe-Executing target \"" << this->definition.get_target() << "\"." << std::endl;
-                syslog( LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-                std::cout << infostring.str();
 
                 int retry_code = Sproc::execute(  "source " + configuration->get_env_vars_file() + " && " + target_command );
 
@@ -369,20 +309,11 @@ void Task::execute( Conf * configuration, bool verbose )
                 {
                     // d[5].0 ZERO
                     // a[8] NEXT
-                    infostring = std::ostringstream();
+                    this->slog.log( E_INFO, "Re-execution was successful." );
-                    infostring << "\tRe-execution was successful." << std::endl;
-                    syslog( LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-                    std::cout << infostring.str();
                     return;
-                }
+                } else {
-
-                if ( retry_code != 0 )
-                {
                     // d[5].1 NON-ZERO
-                    infostring = std::ostringstream();
+                    this->slog.log( E_WARN, "Re-execution failed with exit code " + std::to_string( retry_code ) + "." );
-                    infostring << "\tRe-execution failed with exit code " << retry_code << "." << std::endl;
-                    syslog(LOG_ERR, infostring.str().c_str() );
-                    std::cerr << infostring.str();
 
                     // **********************************************
                     // d[6] Required Check
@@ -391,11 +322,7 @@ void Task::execute( Conf * configuration, bool verbose )
                     {
                         // d[6].0 FALSE
                         // a[9] NEXT
-                        infostring = std::ostringstream();
+                        this->slog.log( E_INFO, "This task is not required to continue the plan. Moving on." );
-                        infostring << "\tThis task is not required to continue the plan. Moving on." << std::endl;
-                        syslog(LOG_INFO, infostring.str().c_str() );
-                        std::cout << infostring.str();
-
                         return;
                     }
 
@@ -403,7 +330,8 @@ void Task::execute( Conf * configuration, bool verbose )
                     {
                         // d[6].1 TRUE
                         // a[10] EXCEPTION
-                        throw TaskException("Task \"" + task_name + "\" is required, and failed, then rectified but rectifier did not heal the condition causing the target to fail.  Cannot proceed with Plan.");
+                        this->slog.log( E_FATAL, "Task \"" + task_name + "\" is required, and failed, then rectified but rectifier did not heal the condition causing the target to fail.  Cannot proceed with Plan." );
+                        throw TaskException( "Lost cause, task failure." );
                     }
                     // **********************************************
                     // end - d[6] Required Check

src/loaders/abstract/Task.h

@@ -22,10 +22,13 @@
 #define FTESTS_TASK_H
 #include <string>
 #include <unistd.h>
-#include "../json/json.h"
+#include "../../json/json.h"
 #include "Unit.h"
 #include "Suite.h"
 #include "Conf.h"
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include "../../Sproc/Sproc.h"
+#include "../misc/helpers.h"
 
 class Task
 {
@@ -49,13 +52,13 @@ class Task
 
     public:
         // constructor
-        Task();
+        Task( int LOG_LEVEL );
 
         // load a json::value into task members (second stage deserialization)
-        void load_root( Json::Value loader_root, bool verbose );
+        void load_root( Json::Value loader_root );
 
         // appends definition unit as child member
-        void load_definition( Unit definition, bool verbose );
+        void load_definition( Unit definition );
 
         bool is_complete();
         bool has_definition();
@@ -64,12 +67,16 @@ class Task
         std::string get_name();
 
         // execute this task's definition
-        void execute( Conf * configuration, bool verbose );
+        void execute( Conf * configuration );
 
         void mark_complete();
 
         // returns a pointer to the dependencies vector
         std::vector<std::string> get_dependencies();
+
+private:
+    Logger slog;
+    int LOG_LEVEL;
 };
 
 #endif //FTESTS_TASK_H

src/loaders/abstract/Unit.cpp

@@ -48,7 +48,10 @@ class Unit_DataStructureException: public std::runtime_error { public:
 /// required, which is used as a flag to halt or continue if rectifier does not heal the system in such a way that
 /// target can run successfully.
 /// rectify, which is used as a flag to determine in the rectifier runs.
-Unit::Unit() {}
+Unit::Unit( int LOG_LEVEL ): JSON_Loader( LOG_LEVEL ), slog( LOG_LEVEL, "examplar::unit" )
+{
+    this->LOG_LEVEL;
+}
 
 /// Unit::load_root - Takes a JSON::Value and assigns the members to the Unit being populated.
 ///
@@ -92,7 +95,7 @@ int Unit::load_root(Json::Value loader_root)
 int Unit::load_string(std::string json_val)
 {
     // serialize
-    this->load_json_string( json_val, true );
+    this->load_json_string( json_val );
 
     // deserialize
     this->load_root( this->json_root );

src/loaders/abstract/Unit.h

@@ -26,8 +26,9 @@
 #ifndef FTESTS_UNIT_H
 #define FTESTS_UNIT_H
 #include <string>
-#include "../json/json.h"
+#include "../../json/json.h"
-#include "JSON_Loader.h"
+#include "../low_level/JSON_Loader.h"
+#include "../../Logger/Logger.h"
 
 class Unit: JSON_Loader
 {
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ private:
     bool rectify;
 
 public:
-    Unit();
+    Unit( int LOG_LEVEL );
 
     // loads a serialized jason::value object as a unit
     int load_root( Json::Value loader_root );
@@ -75,6 +76,10 @@ public:
     bool get_active();
     bool get_required();
     bool get_rectify();
+
+private:
+    int LOG_LEVEL;
+    Logger slog;
 };
 
 #endif //FTESTS_UNIT_H

src/loaders/abstract/loaders.h

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 #ifndef FTESTS_LOADERS_H
 #define FTESTS_LOADERS_H
 
-#include "JSON_Loader.h"
+#include "../low_level/JSON_Loader.h"
 #include "Suite.h"
 #include "Plan.h"
 #include "Conf.h"

src/loaders/low_level/JSON_Loader.cpp

@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@
 */
 
 #include "JSON_Loader.h"
-#include "helpers.h"
-#include <stdexcept>
 
 /// JSON_Loader_NotReady - Exception thrown when a member function is called before data is populated.
 class JSON_Loader_NotReady: public std::runtime_error { public:
@@ -40,51 +38,10 @@ class JSON_Loader_InvalidJSON: public std::runtime_error { public:
 /// JSON_Loader::JSON_Loader - Constructor for JSON_Loader base class.  Simply inits to an unpopulated state.
 ///
 /// The JSON_Loader type is a base type.  It is meant to provide the functionalities shared between Suite and Plan.
-JSON_Loader::JSON_Loader()
+JSON_Loader::JSON_Loader( int LOG_LEVEL ): slog( LOG_LEVEL, "examplar::json_loader" )
 {
     this->populated = false;
-}
+    this->LOG_LEVEL = LOG_LEVEL;
-
-/// JSON_Loader::load_json_file - Loads JSON from a filepath into a serialized representation assigned as a local member
-/// intended to be used as a buffer for further operations by base methods and derived class methods.
-///
-/// \param filename -
-/// \param verbose
-void JSON_Loader::load_json_file( std::string filename, bool verbose )
-{
-    // reads from a file into a Json::Value type.
-    Json::Reader json_reader;
-
-    // the a deserialized json type to contain what's read by the reader
-    Json::Value json_root;
-
-    // first, check if the file exists
-    if (! exists( filename ) )
-    {
-        std::cerr << "File '" << filename << "' does not exist." << std::endl;
-        throw JSON_Loader_FileNotFound();
-    }
-
-    // create the ifstream file handle
-    std::ifstream json_file_ifstream( filename, std::ifstream::binary );
-
-    // use the reader to parse the ifstream to the local property
-    bool parsingSuccessful = json_reader.parse( json_file_ifstream, this->json_root );
-
-    if (! parsingSuccessful )
-    {
-        std::cerr << "Failed to parse '" << filename << "':\n\t" << json_reader.getFormattedErrorMessages();
-        throw JSON_Loader_InvalidJSON();
-
-    } else {
-        // if in verbose mode, give the user an "it worked" message
-        if (verbose)
-        {
-            std::cout << "Parsed '" << filename << "' with " << this->json_root.size() << " element(s)." << std::endl;
-        }
-    }
-    // Flag as ready for consumption.
-    this->populated = true;
 }
 
 /// JSON_Loader::load_json_string - loads json from std::string into a json::value type and sets to protected member
@@ -92,7 +49,7 @@ void JSON_Loader::load_json_file( std::string filename, bool verbose )
 ///
 /// \param input - The JSON-formatted string to serialize
 /// \param verbose - Whether or not to print verbose information to STDOUT.
-void JSON_Loader::load_json_string( std::string input, bool verbose )
+void JSON_Loader::load_json_string( std::string input )
 {
     // reads from a string into a Json::Value type.
     Json::Reader json_reader;
@@ -108,18 +65,52 @@ void JSON_Loader::load_json_string( std::string input, bool verbose )
 
     if (! parsingSuccessful )
     {
-        std::cerr << "Failed to parse adhoc JSON value." << std::endl << input << std::endl << std::endl << json_reader.getFormattedErrorMessages();
+        this->slog.log( E_FATAL, "Failed to parse adhoc JSON value: " + json_reader.getFormattedErrorMessages() );
+        throw JSON_Loader_InvalidJSON();
+
+    } else {
+        this->slog.log( E_DEBUG, "Successfully parsed JSON string with " + std::to_string( this->json_root.size() ) + "elements.  Value: '" + input + "'." );
+    }
+    // flag as ready for consumption
+    this->populated = true;
+}
+
+/// JSON_Loader::load_json_file - Loads JSON from a filepath into a serialized representation assigned as a local member
+/// intended to be used as a buffer for further operations by base methods and derived class methods.
+///
+/// \param filename -
+/// \param verbose
+void JSON_Loader::load_json_file( std::string filename )
+{
+    // reads from a file into a Json::Value type.
+    Json::Reader json_reader;
+
+    // the a deserialized json type to contain what's read by the reader
+    Json::Value json_root;
+
+    // first, check if the file exists
+    if (! exists( filename ) )
+    {
+        this->slog.log( E_FATAL, "File '" + filename + "' does not exist." );
+        throw JSON_Loader_FileNotFound();
+    }
+
+    // create the ifstream file handle
+    std::ifstream json_file_ifstream( filename, std::ifstream::binary );
+
+    // use the reader to parse the ifstream to the local property
+    bool parsingSuccessful = json_reader.parse( json_file_ifstream, this->json_root );
+
+    if (! parsingSuccessful )
+    {
+        this->slog.log( E_FATAL, "Failed to parse file '" + filename + "': " + json_reader.getFormattedErrorMessages() );
         throw JSON_Loader_InvalidJSON();
 
     } else {
         // if in verbose mode, give the user an "it worked" message
-        if ( verbose )
+        this->slog.log( E_DEBUG, "Parsed '" + filename + "' with " + std::to_string( this->json_root.size() ) + " element(s)." );
-        {
-            std::cout << "Successfully parsed JSON string with " << this->json_root.size() << " elements.  Value:" << std::endl;
-            std::cout << input << std::endl << std::endl;
-        }
     }
-    // flag as ready for consumption
+    // Flag as ready for consumption.
     this->populated = true;
 }
 
@@ -138,7 +129,7 @@ std::string JSON_Loader::as_string()
 /// \param key - The JSON key name to assign the value to (the root of the json::value object by name)
 /// \param verbose - Whether or not to print verbose output to STDOUT.
 /// \return - Boolean indicator of success or failure (0|1)
-int JSON_Loader::get_serialized(Json::Value &input, std::string key, bool verbose)
+int JSON_Loader::get_serialized(Json::Value &input, std::string key )
 {
     // throw if the class is not ready to be used.
     if ( ! this->populated ) { throw JSON_Loader_NotReady(); }
@@ -151,11 +142,10 @@ int JSON_Loader::get_serialized(Json::Value &input, std::string key, bool verbos
     }
 
     // key was not found
-    if ( verbose )
+
-    {
+    // verbose mode tells the user what key we were looking for.
-        // verbose mode tells the user what key we were looking for.
+    this->slog.log( E_FATAL, "Failed to find key '" + key + "'." );
-        std::cerr << "Failed to find key '" << key << "'." << std::endl;
+
-    }
     // exit code for failure
     return 1;
 }

src/loaders/low_level/JSON_Loader.h

@@ -19,11 +19,13 @@
 */
 #ifndef FTESTS_JLOADER_H
 #define FTESTS_JLOADER_H
-#include "../json/json.h"
+#include "../../json/json.h"
 #include <iostream>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <cstdlib>
-
+#include <stdexcept>
+#include "../misc/helpers.h"
+#include "../../Logger/Logger.h"
 
 class JSON_Loader
 {
@@ -33,13 +35,13 @@ class JSON_Loader
 
     public:
         // constructor
-        JSON_Loader();
+        JSON_Loader( int LOG_LEVEL );
 
         // load from json file
-        void load_json_file( std::string filename, bool verbose );
+        void load_json_file( std::string filename );
 
         // load from std::string json
-        void load_json_string( std::string input, bool verbose );
+        void load_json_string( std::string input );
 
         // return as a JSONCPP serialized object
         // deprecated -- these aren't really used.
@@ -47,6 +49,10 @@ class JSON_Loader
         std::string as_string();
 
         // safely handle deserialized type retrieval (if we want it to be safe)
-        int get_serialized(Json::Value &input, std::string key, bool verbose);
+        int get_serialized(Json::Value &input, std::string key );
+
+private:
+    Logger slog;
+    int LOG_LEVEL;
 };
 #endif //FTESTS_JLOADER_H

src/loaders/misc/helpers.cpp

@@ -30,4 +30,18 @@ std::string get_working_path()
 {
     char temp[MAXPATHLEN];
     return ( getcwd(temp, MAXPATHLEN) ? std::string( temp ) : std::string("") );
+}
+
+bool is_file( std::string path)
+{
+    struct stat buf;
+    stat( path.c_str(), &buf );
+    return S_ISREG(buf.st_mode);
+}
+
+bool is_dir( std::string path )
+{
+    struct stat buf;
+    stat( path.c_str(), &buf );
+    return S_ISDIR(buf.st_mode);
 }

src/loaders/misc/helpers.h

@@ -29,5 +29,7 @@
 bool exists (const std::string& name);
 
 std::string get_working_path();
+bool is_file( std::string );
+bool is_dir( std::string );
 
 #endif //FTESTS_HELPERS_H