Logging using Serilog

Install Serilog

Serilog provides structured logging with sinks to write logs into various formats such as console, DataDog, DynaTrace, ElasticSearch, email etc.

In Rider, go to Tools > NuGet > Manage NuGet Packages for Dotnet.

Search for Serilog and install Serilog.AspNetCore 8.0.3.

Alternatively, in Terminal, use
cd Library
dotnet add package Serilog.AspNetCore --version 8.0.3

If you're using a dark theme in Rider, logs might be written in black and impossible to read. Go to Settings > Editor > Color Scheme > Console Colors > Bright White and change Foreground to something like #FFFFF.

Configure Serilog

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

Log.Logger = new LoggerConfiguration()
    .WriteTo.Console()
    .CreateLogger();

builder.Host.UseSerilog();

Log.Information("Starting Library {env}", builder.Environment.EnvironmentName);

builder.Services.AddControllers();
//...

Run the project. Open Run at bottom left or using Cmd + 4

Write logs using ILogger

Back in BookController, inject ILogger and write some logs using logger.LogInformation().

[ApiController]
[Route("[controller]")]
public class BookController(ILogger<BookController> logger) : Controller
{
    [HttpGet]
    public IActionResult Index()
    {
        logger.LogInformation("BookController.Index - Request");
    
        var book = new { Id = 1, Title = "Dotnet" };

        logger.LogInformation("BookController.Index - Response {@response}", book);
        return Ok(book);
    }
}

Run the project, call the API and view what is logged.

If you don't want the Microsoft logs, add .MinimumLevel.Override("Microsoft", Serilog.Events.LogEventLevel.Warning)

Log.Logger = new LoggerConfiguration()
    .MinimumLevel.Override("Microsoft", Serilog.Events.LogEventLevel.Warning) // add this
    .WriteTo.Console()
    .CreateLogger();