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Structlog in Python: How Structured Logging Actually Fixes Debugging

Learn how to replace print statements with structured logging in Python using structlog to debug faster, track performance, and keep logs clean as apps grow.

Josh Wenner's avatar
Josh Wenner
Feb 25, 2026
∙ Paid

Logging is one of those things everyone knows they should do, but almost no one enjoys doing properly. Most Python projects start with a few print statements. Then maybe you switch to the built in logging module.

Before long, the logs turn into a mess. They are inconsistent, hard to read, and not very helpful when something actually breaks.

Structlog is a Python library built around a simple idea. Logs should be data, not just text. Instead of writing long log messages and hoping they make sense later, structlog has you log clear key value information that both people and machines can understand.

Welcome to structlog. Check out other 3 Random Articles here.

Imagine you’re subscribed to a newsletter called 3 Randoms. Each week, it introduces you to three lesser-known Python tools that can make your coding better. It’s like expanding your toolbox and discovering new tricks.

The result is cleaner logs, easier debugging, and systems that are much easier to work with as they grow.

At first, structlog can feel a bit unfamiliar. It does not look or behave exactly like the logging setup most people are used to. I will be honest, it took me some time before it really clicked.

But once it does, it is hard to go back. Your logs become consistent, searchable, and actually useful instead of something you scroll past and ignore.

In this article, we are keeping things simple. I will introduce structlog, explain how structured logging works in plain terms, and walk through three useful patterns that make structlog a solid upgrade over traditional logging.

If your logs have ever let you down right when you needed them most, this is for you.

Let’s get you set up with a quick terminal run:

pip3 install firefly

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