pdftract/notes/bf-694ie.md
jedarden 37fb74d431 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.
2026-07-06 10:43:29 -04:00

3.3 KiB

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)

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)

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

(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:

# 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.