Adding Logging to a Python Script (Beginner-Friendly Guide)

In a previous post, I shared a simple Python script to automate daily tasks by organizing files.
While the script works, it lacks one important thing: visibility.

If something goes wrong, we don’t know why.

In this post, I’ll show how to add basic logging to a Python script so we can see what it’s doing while it runs.
This is a small change, but it’s an important step toward writing more reliable automation scripts.

Why Logging Matters

Logging helps you:

Understand what your script is doing
Debug issues faster
Track failures and successes
Make scripts production-ready

In DevOps and automation, logging is not optional — it’s essential.

Using Python’s Built-in Logging Module

Python comes with a built-in logging module, so no external libraries are needed.

Here’s a basic setup:

import logging

logging.basicConfig(
    level=logging.INFO,
    format="%(asctime)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s"
)

This configures:

Log level
Timestamp
Readable output format

Adding Logging to the File Organizer Script

Here’s an updated version of the previous script with logging added:

import os
import shutil
import logging

logging.basicConfig(
    level=logging.INFO,
    format="%(asctime)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s"
)

source_folder = "files"

for filename in os.listdir(source_folder):
    file_path = os.path.join(source_folder, filename)

    if os.path.isfile(file_path):
        extension = filename.split(".")[-1]
        folder_name = extension.upper() + "_files"
        folder_path = os.path.join(source_folder, folder_name)

        os.makedirs(folder_path, exist_ok=True)
        shutil.move(file_path, folder_path)

        logging.info(f"Moved {filename} to {folder_name}")

What Changed

Added logging configuration at the top
Logged each file move
Gained visibility into script behavior

Now, when the script runs, you can clearly see what it’s doing.

Why This Is a DevOps-Style Improvement

This small change:

Makes automation observable
Aligns with production practices
Prepares scripts for cron jobs or containers

These are the same principles used in real DevOps workflows.

What I’ll Build Next

In the next post, I’ll:

Add error handling
Make the script configurable
Explore running it automatically using cron

Learn & Build