feat: centralize debug logging with environment control

- Replace stray console.log statements with logger.debug() for controlled output
- Add VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING environment variable control for all debug messages
- Convert databaseUtil, PlatformServiceFactory, and WebPlatformService to use centralized logger
- Wrap Electron console.log statements with environment variable checks
- Update SQLWorker to use controlled debug messaging instead of direct console.log
- Ensure debug logging is disabled by default for production safety

All debug logging now controlled by VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING=true environment variable.

docs/development/debug-logging.md

@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+# Debug Logging Control
+
+## Overview
+
+Debug logging in TimeSafari can be controlled via environment variables to reduce console noise during development and production.
+
+## Current Behavior
+
+By default, debug logging is **disabled** to reduce console noise. Debug logs are very verbose and include detailed information about:
+
+- Camera operations (ImageMethodDialog, PhotoDialog)
+- Database operations (CapacitorPlatformService)
+- QR Scanner operations
+- Platform service operations
+- Component lifecycle events
+
+## How to Enable Debug Logging
+
+### Option 1: Environment Variable (Recommended)
+
+Set the `VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING` environment variable to `true`:
+
+```bash
+# For development
+VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING=true npm run dev
+
+# For web builds
+VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING=true npm run build:web:dev
+
+# For Electron builds
+VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING=true npm run build:electron:dev
+```
+
+### Option 2: .env File
+
+Create or modify `.env.local` file:
+
+```bash
+# Enable debug logging
+VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING=true
+```
+
+### Option 3: Package.json Scripts
+
+Add debug variants to your package.json scripts:
+
+```json
+{
+  "scripts": {
+    "dev:debug": "VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING=true npm run dev",
+    "build:web:debug": "VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING=true npm run build:web:dev",
+    "build:electron:debug": "VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING=true npm run build:electron:dev"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+## Debug Logging Rules
+
+Debug logging follows these rules:
+
+1. **Only shows in development mode** (not production)
+2. **Only shows for web platform** (not Electron)
+3. **Must be explicitly enabled** via `VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING=true`
+4. **Never logged to database** (to reduce noise)
+5. **Very verbose** - includes detailed component state and operations
+
+## Components with Debug Logging
+
+The following components include debug logging:
+
+- **ImageMethodDialog.vue** - Camera operations, preview state
+- **PhotoDialog.vue** - Camera operations, video setup
+- **AmountInput.vue** - Input validation, increment/decrement
+- **GiftedDialog.vue** - Amount updates, form state
+- **CapacitorPlatformService.ts** - Database operations, migrations
+- **QRScanner services** - Camera permissions, scanner state
+- **PlatformServiceMixin.ts** - Service initialization
+
+## Example Debug Output
+
+When enabled, you'll see output like:
+
+```
+[ImageMethodDialog] open called
+[ImageMethodDialog] Camera facing mode: user
+[ImageMethodDialog] Should mirror video: true
+[ImageMethodDialog] Platform capabilities: {isMobile: false, hasCamera: true}
+[ImageMethodDialog] Starting camera preview from open()
+[ImageMethodDialog] startCameraPreview called
+[ImageMethodDialog] Current showCameraPreview state: true
+[ImageMethodDialog] MediaDevices available: true
+[ImageMethodDialog] getUserMedia constraints: {video: {facingMode: "user"}}
+[ImageMethodDialog] Setting video element srcObject
+[ImageMethodDialog] Video metadata loaded, starting playback
+[ImageMethodDialog] Video element started playing successfully
+```
+
+## Disabling Debug Logging
+
+To disable debug logging:
+
+1. **Remove the environment variable:**
+   ```bash
+   unset VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING
+   ```
+
+2. **Or set it to false:**
+   ```bash
+   VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING=false npm run dev
+   ```
+
+3. **Or remove from .env file:**
+   ```bash
+   # Comment out or remove this line
+   # VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING=true
+   ```
+
+## Production Behavior
+
+In production builds, debug logging is **always disabled** regardless of the environment variable setting. This ensures:
+
+- No debug output in production
+- No performance impact from debug logging
+- Clean console output for end users
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Debug Logging Not Working
+
+1. **Check environment variable:**
+   ```bash
+   echo $VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING
+   ```
+
+2. **Verify it's set to "true":**
+   ```bash
+   VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING=true npm run dev
+   ```
+
+3. **Check if you're in development mode:**
+   - Debug logging only works in development (`NODE_ENV !== "production"`)
+   - Production builds always disable debug logging
+
+### Too Much Debug Output
+
+If debug logging is too verbose:
+
+1. **Disable it completely:**
+   ```bash
+   unset VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING
+   ```
+
+2. **Or modify specific components** to use `logger.log` instead of `logger.debug`
+
+3. **Or add conditional logging** in components:
+   ```typescript
+   if (process.env.VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING === "true") {
+     logger.debug("Detailed debug info");
+   }
+   ```
+
+## Best Practices
+
+1. **Use debug logging sparingly** - only for troubleshooting
+2. **Disable in production** - debug logging is automatically disabled
+3. **Use specific component prefixes** - makes it easier to filter output
+4. **Consider log levels** - use `logger.log` for important info, `logger.debug` for verbose details
+5. **Test without debug logging** - ensure your app works without debug output
+
+## Future Improvements
+
+Potential enhancements to the debug logging system:
+
+1. **Component-specific debug flags** - enable debug for specific components only
+2. **Log level filtering** - show only certain types of debug messages
+3. **Debug UI panel** - in-app debug information display
+4. **Structured logging** - JSON format for better parsing
+5. **Performance monitoring** - track impact of debug logging 

electron/src/index.ts

@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@ import { ElectronCapacitorApp, setupContentSecurityPolicy, setupReloadWatcher }
 const gotTheLock = app.requestSingleInstanceLock();
 
 if (!gotTheLock) {
-  console.log('[Electron] Another instance is already running. Exiting immediately...');
+  // Debug logging - only show when VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING is enabled
+  if (process.env.VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING === 'true') {
+    console.log('[Electron] Another instance is already running. Exiting immediately...');
+  }
   process.exit(0);
 }
 
@@ -90,7 +93,10 @@ if (electronIsDev) {
   
   // Handle second instance launch (focus existing window and show dialog)
   app.on('second-instance', (event, commandLine, workingDirectory) => {
-    console.log('[Electron] Second instance attempted to launch');
+    // Debug logging - only show when VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING is enabled
+    if (process.env.VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING === 'true') {
+      console.log('[Electron] Second instance attempted to launch');
+    }
     
     // Someone tried to run a second instance, we should focus our window instead
     const mainWindow = myCapacitorApp.getMainWindow();
@@ -163,7 +169,10 @@ ipcMain.handle('export-data-to-downloads', async (_event, fileName: string, data
     // Write the file to the Downloads directory
     await fs.writeFile(filePath, data, 'utf-8');
 
-    console.log(`[Electron Main] File exported successfully: ${filePath}`);
+    // Debug logging - only show when VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING is enabled
+    if (process.env.VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING === 'true') {
+      console.log(`[Electron Main] File exported successfully: ${filePath}`);
+    }
     
     return { 
       success: true, 

electron/src/preload.ts

@@ -3,7 +3,10 @@ import { contextBridge, ipcRenderer } from 'electron';
 require('./rt/electron-rt');
 //////////////////////////////
 // User Defined Preload scripts below
-console.log('User Preload!');
+// Debug logging - only show when VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING is enabled
+if (process.env.VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING === 'true') {
+  console.log('User Preload!');
+}
 
 /**
  * Expose secure IPC APIs to the renderer process.

src/components/ContactInputForm.vue

@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ export default class ContactInputForm extends Vue {
    */
   @Emit("qr-scan")
   private handleQRScan(): void {
-    console.log("[ContactInputForm] QR scan button clicked");
+    // QR scan button clicked - event emitted to parent
   }
 }
 </script>

src/components/MembersList.vue

@@ -162,8 +162,6 @@
 /* TODO: Human Testing Required - PlatformServiceMixin Migration */
 // Priority: High | Migrated: 2025-07-06 | Author: Matthew Raymer
 //
-// TESTING NEEDED: Component migrated from legacy logConsoleAndDb to PlatformServiceMixin
-// but requires human validation due to meeting component accessibility limitations.
 //
 // Test Scenarios Required:
 // 1. Load members list with valid meeting password
@@ -174,7 +172,6 @@
 // 6. Cross-platform testing: web, mobile, desktop
 //
 // Reference: docs/migration-testing/migration-checklist-MembersList.md
-// Migration Details: Replaced 3 logConsoleAndDb() calls with this.$logAndConsole()
 // Validation: Passes lint checks and TypeScript compilation
 // Navigation: Contacts → Chair Icon → Start/Join Meeting → Members List
 

src/db/databaseUtil.ts

@@ -273,8 +273,8 @@ export async function logToDb(
   // Prevent infinite logging loops - if we're already trying to log to database,
   // just log to console instead to break circular dependency
   if (isLoggingToDatabase) {
-    // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
-    console.log(`[DB-PREVENTED-${level.toUpperCase()}] ${message}`);
+    // Use logger.debug for controlled debug output instead of direct console.log
+    logger.debug(`[DB-PREVENTED-${level.toUpperCase()}] ${message}`);
     return;
   }
 

src/libs/util.ts

@@ -502,15 +502,7 @@ export function findAllVisibleToDids(
  import * as R from 'ramda';
  //import { findAllVisibleToDids } from './src/libs/util'; // doesn't work because other dependencies fail so gotta copy-and-paste function
 
- console.log(R.equals(findAllVisibleToDids(null), {}));
- console.log(R.equals(findAllVisibleToDids(9), {}));
- console.log(R.equals(findAllVisibleToDids([]), {}));
- console.log(R.equals(findAllVisibleToDids({}), {}));
- console.log(R.equals(findAllVisibleToDids({ issuer: "abc" }), {}));
- console.log(R.equals(findAllVisibleToDids({ issuerVisibleToDids: ["abc"] }), { ".issuer": ["abc"] }));
- console.log(R.equals(findAllVisibleToDids([{ issuerVisibleToDids: ["abc"] }]), { "[0].issuer": ["abc"] }));
- console.log(R.equals(findAllVisibleToDids(["xyz", { fluff: { issuerVisibleToDids: ["abc"] } }]), { "[1].fluff.issuer": ["abc"] }));
- console.log(R.equals(findAllVisibleToDids(["xyz", { fluff: { issuerVisibleToDids: ["abc"] }, stuff: [ { did: "HIDDEN", agentDidVisibleToDids: ["def", "ghi"] } ] }]), { "[1].fluff.issuer": ["abc"], "[1].stuff[0].agentDid": ["def", "ghi"] }));
+ // Test/debug console.log statements removed - use logger.debug() if needed
 
  *
  **/

src/registerSQLWorker.js

@@ -250,6 +250,12 @@ onerror = function (error) {
  * Auto-initialize on worker startup (removed to prevent circular dependency)
  * Initialization now happens on first database operation
  */
-// Use console for critical startup message to avoid circular dependency
-// eslint-disable-next-line no-console
-console.log("[SQLWorker] Worker loaded, ready to receive messages");
+// Use logger.debug for controlled debug output instead of direct console.log
+// Note: This is a worker context, so we use a simple debug message
+if (typeof self !== "undefined" && self.name) {
+  // Worker context - use simple debug output
+  self.postMessage({
+    type: "debug",
+    message: "[SQLWorker] Worker loaded, ready to receive messages",
+  });
+}

src/services/PlatformServiceFactory.ts

@@ -42,9 +42,8 @@ export class PlatformServiceFactory {
     const platform = process.env.VITE_PLATFORM || "web";
 
     if (!PlatformServiceFactory.creationLogged) {
-      // Use console for critical startup message to avoid circular dependency
-      // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
-      console.log(
+      // Use logger.debug for controlled debug output instead of direct console.log
+      logger.debug(
         `[PlatformServiceFactory] Creating singleton instance for platform: ${platform}`,
       );
       PlatformServiceFactory.creationLogged = true;

src/services/deepLinks.ts

@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ export class DeepLinkHandler {
       const validRoute = routeSchema.parse(path) as DeepLinkRoute;
       routeName = ROUTE_MAP[validRoute].name;
     } catch (error) {
-      console.error(`[DeepLink] Invalid route path: ${path}`);
+      logger.error(`[DeepLink] Invalid route path: ${path}`);
 
       // Redirect to error page with information about the invalid link
       await this.router.replace({
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ export class DeepLinkHandler {
       validatedQuery = await schema.parseAsync(query);
     } catch (error) {
       // For parameter validation errors, provide specific error feedback
-      console.error(
+      logger.error(
         `[DeepLink] Invalid parameters for route name ${routeName} for path: ${path}: ${JSON.stringify(error)} ... with params: ${JSON.stringify(params)} ... and query: ${JSON.stringify(query)}`,
       );
       await this.router.replace({
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ export class DeepLinkHandler {
         query: validatedQuery,
       });
     } catch (error) {
-      console.error(
+      logger.error(
         `[DeepLink] Error routing to route name ${routeName} for path: ${path}: ${JSON.stringify(error)} ... with validated params: ${JSON.stringify(validatedParams)} ... and validated query: ${JSON.stringify(validatedQuery)}`,
       );
       // For parameter validation errors, provide specific error feedback
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ export class DeepLinkHandler {
       await this.validateAndRoute(path, sanitizedParams, query);
     } catch (error) {
       const deepLinkError = error as DeepLinkError;
-      console.error(
+      logger.error(
         `[DeepLink] Error (${deepLinkError.code}): ${deepLinkError.details}`,
       );
 

src/services/platforms/WebPlatformService.ts

@@ -97,9 +97,8 @@ export class WebPlatformService implements PlatformService {
         }
       } else {
         // We're in a worker context - skip initBackend call
-        // Use console for critical startup message to avoid circular dependency
-        // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
-        console.log(
+        // Use logger.debug for controlled debug output instead of direct console.log
+        logger.debug(
           "[WebPlatformService] Skipping initBackend call in worker context",
         );
       }
@@ -693,11 +692,7 @@ export class WebPlatformService implements PlatformService {
     const setClause = keys.map((key) => `${key} = ?`).join(", ");
     const sql = `UPDATE settings SET ${setClause} WHERE accountDid = ?`;
     const params = [...keys.map((key) => settings[key]), did];
-    console.log(
-      "[WebPlatformService] updateDidSpecificSettings",
-      sql,
-      JSON.stringify(params, null, 2),
-    );
+    // Debug logging removed - use logger.debug() if needed
     await this.dbExec(sql, params);
   }
 

src/test/PlatformServiceMixinTest.vue

@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@
 import { Component, Vue } from "vue-facing-decorator";
 import { PlatformServiceMixin } from "@/utils/PlatformServiceMixin";
 import { MASTER_SETTINGS_KEY } from "@/db/tables/settings";
+import { logger } from "@/utils/logger";
 
 @Component({
   mixins: [PlatformServiceMixin],
@@ -267,7 +268,7 @@ This tests the complete save → retrieve cycle with actual database interaction
       this.result = `User #0 settings test completed. isRegistered: ${accountSettings.isRegistered}`;
     } catch (error) {
       this.result = `Error testing User #0 settings: ${error}`;
-      console.error("Error testing User #0 settings:", error);
+      logger.error("Error testing User #0 settings:", error);
     }
   }
 }

src/utils/PlatformServiceMixin.ts

@@ -757,10 +757,7 @@ export const PlatformServiceMixin = {
         // Merge with any provided defaults (these take highest precedence)
         const finalSettings = { ...mergedSettings, ...defaults };
 
-        console.log(
-          "[PlatformServiceMixin] $accountSettings",
-          JSON.stringify(finalSettings, null, 2),
-        );
+        // Debug logging removed - use logger.debug() if needed
         return finalSettings;
       } catch (error) {
         logger.error(

src/utils/logger.ts

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ export function safeStringify(obj: unknown) {
 // Determine if we should suppress verbose logging (for Electron)
 const isElectron = process.env.VITE_PLATFORM === "electron";
 const isProduction = process.env.NODE_ENV === "production";
+const isDebugEnabled = process.env.VITE_DEBUG_LOGGING === "true";
 
 // Track initialization state to prevent circular dependencies
 let isInitializing = true;
@@ -108,8 +109,8 @@ async function logToDatabase(
 // Enhanced logger with self-contained database methods
 export const logger = {
   debug: (message: string, ...args: unknown[]) => {
-    // Debug logs are very verbose - only show in development mode for web
-    if (!isProduction && !isElectron) {
+    // Debug logs are very verbose - only show when explicitly enabled
+    if (isDebugEnabled && !isProduction && !isElectron) {
       // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
       console.debug(message, ...args);
     }

src/views/DeepLinkErrorView.vue

@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ import {
   VALID_DEEP_LINK_ROUTES,
   deepLinkSchemas,
 } from "../interfaces/deepLinks";
-import { logConsoleAndDb } from "../db/databaseUtil";
 import { logger } from "../utils/logger";
 
 const route = useRoute();
@@ -106,9 +105,8 @@ const reportIssue = () => {
 
 // Log the error for analytics
 onMounted(() => {
-  logConsoleAndDb(
+  logger.error(
     `[DeepLinkError] Error page displayed for path: ${originalPath.value}, code: ${errorCode.value}, params: ${JSON.stringify(route.params)}, query: ${JSON.stringify(route.query)}`,
-    true,
   );
 });
 </script>