From 37fb74d4319207ae6020a91f9e3759da502a6b65 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: jedarden <github@jedarden.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2026 10:43:29 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] docs(bf-694ie): document output redirection verification for
 pdftract

Created verification note documenting stdout and stderr capture
to log files using standard shell redirection syntax (> output.log 2>&1).

Verified:
- Both stdout and stderr are captured to log files
- Files created in notes/ directory with 644 permissions
- Log files are readable with cat and other standard tools
- Tested with pdftract --help (stdout) and error commands (stderr)

Closes bf-694ie.
---
 notes/bf-694ie.md | 97 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 97 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 notes/bf-694ie.md

diff --git a/notes/bf-694ie.md b/notes/bf-694ie.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c3f5a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/notes/bf-694ie.md
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+# bf-694ie: Capture stdout and stderr from pdftract to a log file
+
+## Summary
+Verified that output redirection works properly with pdftract by capturing both stdout and stderr to log files.
+
+## Tests Performed
+
+### Test 1: Error output capture (stderr only)
+```bash
+pdftract extract tests/fixtures/sample.pdf > notes/bf-694ie-output.log 2>&1
+```
+
+**Result:**
+- File created: `/home/coding/pdftract/notes/bf-694ie-output.log`
+- File size: 29 bytes
+- File permissions: `-rw-r--r--` (644 - readable by owner and group)
+- Content: `Error: Failed to extract PDF`
+- Exit code: 1
+
+### Test 2: Help output capture (stdout only)
+```bash
+pdftract --help > notes/bf-694ie-help.log 2>&1
+```
+
+**Result:**
+- File created: `/home/coding/pdftract/notes/bf-694ie-help.log`
+- File size: 1,373 bytes
+- File permissions: `-rw-r--r--` (644)
+- Content: 26 lines of help text
+- Exit code: 0
+
+### Test 3: Hash command output capture
+```bash
+(pdftract hash tests/fixtures/test-minimal.pdf 2>&1) > notes/bf-694ie-hash.log
+```
+
+**Result:**
+- File created: `/home/coding/pdftract/notes/bf-694ie-hash.log`
+- File size: 47 bytes
+- File permissions: `-rw-r--r--` (644)
+- Content: `Error: Failed to compute fingerprint from file`
+- Exit code: 2
+
+## Verification
+
+### File Creation
+✅ All log files were created successfully in the `notes/` directory
+
+### File Readability
+✅ Files are readable with standard commands:
+- `cat notes/bf-694ie-output.log` - SUCCESS
+- `cat notes/bf-694ie-help.log` - SUCCESS
+- `cat notes/bf-694ie-hash.log` - SUCCESS
+
+### File Permissions
+✅ All files have `-rw-r--r--` (644) permissions, allowing read access
+
+### Content Capture
+✅ Both stdout and stderr are captured:
+- `--help` command (stdout) captured successfully
+- Error messages (stderr) captured successfully
+
+## Documented Redirection Syntax
+
+The standard shell redirection syntax for capturing both stdout and stderr:
+
+```bash
+# Method 1: Redirect stderr to stdout, then to file (recommended)
+pdftract <fixture-path> > output.log 2>&1
+
+# Method 2: Alternate syntax
+pdftract <fixture-path> &> output.log
+
+# Method 3: Explicit redirection
+pdftract <fixture-path> 1> output.log 2>&1
+```
+
+## Log File Locations
+- `/home/coding/pdftract/notes/bf-694ie-output.log`
+- `/home/coding/pdftract/notes/bf-694ie-help.log`
+- `/home/coding/pdftract/notes/bf-694ie-hash.log`
+
+## Acceptance Criteria Status
+
+| Criterion | Status | Notes |
+|-----------|--------|-------|
+| stdout and stderr are both captured to a file | ✅ PASS | Verified with both `--help` (stdout) and error commands (stderr) |
+| The log file is created in a known location | ✅ PASS | Files created in `/home/coding/pdftract/notes/` directory |
+| The log file contains output from pdftract | ✅ PASS | All log files contain pdftract output (help text or error messages) |
+| File permissions allow reading the log | ✅ PASS | All files have 644 permissions (-rw-r--r--) |
+| The redirection method is documented | ✅ PASS | Documented three redirection methods above |
+
+## Commits
+- Created verification note: `notes/bf-694ie.md`
+
+## Conclusion
+The output redirection functionality works correctly with pdftract. Both stdout and stderr can be captured to log files using standard shell redirection (`> output.log 2>&1`). The log files are created with appropriate permissions and are readable with standard tools.