build_properties.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>

    <string name="logging">true</string>
    <string name="logging_level">2</string> <!-- 2 = Verbose, 7 = Assert -->

</resources>

Log.java

/**
 * Log
 * <p/>
 * <pre>
 *         20140623 -- Added wtf logging and a wrapper to protect against API versions prior to FROYO (8)
 *         20130114 -- Code Review
 * </pre>
 */
public class Log {

    /**
     * wtf was introduced in FROYO, however, this Log class could be used in a version prior
     * to Froyo and would not know about Build.VERSION_CODES.FROYO so create a constant.
     */
    public static final int MINIMUM_API_LEVEL_SUPPORTED_FOR_WTF_IS_FROYO = 8;

    /**
     * Level of information to log, ASSERT (7) and ERROR (6) being the highest
     * numbers and least info and VERBOSE (2) and DEBUG (3) being the lowest
     * numbers and most info. Defaults to Verbose, the most information.
     */
    public static int logLevel = android.util.Log.VERBOSE;

    /**
     * Gives ability to turn logging on or off at a global level. Defaults to be
     * off. Can be set by the application.
     */
    private static boolean isLogging = false;

    private Log() {
        // Do not allow this class to be instantiated.
    }

    /**
     * @return if logging is on.
     */
    public static boolean isLogging() {
        return isLogging;
    }

    /**
     * Allows the application to set logging on or off.
     *
     * @param isLogging true if logging is on, false if logging is off
     */
    public static void setLogging(boolean isLogging) {
        Log.isLogging = isLogging;
    }

    /**
     * @return the level of information to log, ASSERT (7) and ERROR (6) being
     * the highest numbers and least info and VERBOSE (2) and DEBUG (3)
     * being the lowest numbers and most info.
     */
    public static int getLogLevel() {
        return logLevel;
    }

    /**
     * @param logLevel the level of information to log, ASSERT (7) and ERROR (6)
     *                 being the highest numbers and least info and VERBOSE (2) and
     *                 DEBUG (3) being the lowest numbers and most info.
     */
    public static void setLogLevel(int logLevel) {
        Log.logLevel = logLevel;
    }

    // 2
    public static int v(String tag, String msg) {
        if (logLevel <= android.util.Log.VERBOSE && isLogging) {
            return android.util.Log.v(tag, msg);
        }
        return 0;
    }

    // 2
    public static int v(String tag, String msg, Throwable tr) {
        if (logLevel <= android.util.Log.VERBOSE && isLogging) {
            return android.util.Log.v(tag, msg, tr);
        }
        return 0;
    }

    // 3
    public static int d(String tag, String msg) {
        if (logLevel <= android.util.Log.DEBUG && isLogging) {
            return android.util.Log.d(tag, msg);
        }
        return 0;
    }

    // 3
    public static int d(String tag, String msg, Throwable tr) {
        if (logLevel <= android.util.Log.DEBUG && isLogging) {
            return android.util.Log.d(tag, msg, tr);
        }
        return 0;
    }

    // 4
    public static int i(String tag, String msg) {
        if (logLevel <= android.util.Log.INFO && isLogging) {
            return android.util.Log.i(tag, msg);
        }
        return 0;
    }

    // 4
    public static int i(String tag, String msg, Throwable tr) {
        if (logLevel <= android.util.Log.INFO && isLogging) {
            return android.util.Log.i(tag, msg, tr);
        }
        return 0;
    }

    // 5
    public static int w(String tag, Throwable tr) {
        if (logLevel <= android.util.Log.WARN && isLogging) {
            return android.util.Log.w(tag, tr);
        }
        return 0;
    }

    // 5
    public static int w(String tag, String msg) {
        if (logLevel <= android.util.Log.WARN && isLogging) {
            return android.util.Log.w(tag, msg);
        }
        return 0;
    }

    // 5
    public static int w(String tag, String msg, Throwable tr) {
        if (logLevel <= android.util.Log.WARN && isLogging) {
            return android.util.Log.w(tag, msg, tr);
        }
        return 0;
    }

    // 6
    public static int e(String tag, String msg) {
        if (logLevel <= android.util.Log.ERROR && isLogging) {
            return android.util.Log.e(tag, msg);
        }
        return 0;
    }

    // 6
    public static int e(String tag, String msg, Throwable tr) {
        if (logLevel <= android.util.Log.ERROR && isLogging) {
            return android.util.Log.e(tag, msg, tr);
        }
        return 0;
    }

    // 7 or 6 if on API level 7 or less.
    public static int wtf(String tag, Throwable tr) {
        if (logLevel <= android.util.Log.ASSERT && isLogging) {
            if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= MINIMUM_API_LEVEL_SUPPORTED_FOR_WTF_IS_FROYO) {
                return android.util.Log.wtf(tag, tr);
            } else {
                // There is no e(String, Throwable) method
                return android.util.Log.e(tag, tr.getLocalizedMessage());
            }
        }
        return 0;
    }

    // 7 or 6 if on API level 7 or less.
    public static int wtf(String tag, String msg) {
        if (logLevel <= android.util.Log.ASSERT && isLogging) {
            if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= MINIMUM_API_LEVEL_SUPPORTED_FOR_WTF_IS_FROYO) {
                return android.util.Log.wtf(tag, msg);
            } else {
                return android.util.Log.e(tag, msg);
            }
        }
        return 0;
    }

    // 7 or 6 if on API level 7 or less.
    public static int wtf(String tag, String msg, Throwable tr) {
        if (logLevel <= android.util.Log.ASSERT && isLogging) {
            if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= MINIMUM_API_LEVEL_SUPPORTED_FOR_WTF_IS_FROYO) {
                return android.util.Log.wtf(tag, msg, tr);
            } else {
                return android.util.Log.e(tag, msg, tr);
            }
        }
        return 0;
    }

}

MyApplication.java

/**
 * Created by bill.mote on 5/24/14.
 */
public class CodersConfessionalApplication extends Application {

    @Override
    public void onCreate() {
        super.onCreate();
        // Set whether we're logging and at what level
        try {
            Log.setLogging(BuildConfig.DEBUG && Boolean.valueOf(getString(R.string.logging)));
            Log.setLogLevel(Integer.valueOf(getString(R.string.logging_level)));
        } catch (Exception e) {
            Log.e(TAG, "Something went wrong setting logging and/or logging level.  App will set what it can and use defaults otherwise.", e);
        }
        Log.i(TAG, "onCreate()");
    }
}