Your problem with Log4r::Logger.root
is version depending (the actual version 1.1.11 has this problem).
You may use the previous log4r-version 1.1.10:
gem 'log4r', '<=1.1.10' #or '= 1.1.10'
require 'log4r'
Log4r::Logger.root
log4r defines the constants like Log4r::DEBUG
with the creation of the first logger.
You need a Log4r::Logger.new('dummy')
before you have access to the level constants.
require 'log4r'
p defined? Log4r::INFO #false
Log4r::Logger.new('dummy')
p defined? Log4r::INFO #constant -> is defined
Some background:
There is a constant Log4r::Log4rConfig::LogLevels
defining the different levels. The level-constants are defined, when the first logger is created. You may define them also with Log4r.define_levels(*Log4r::Log4rConfig::LogLevels)
This technique allows it to create loggers with different logging levels.