Logger.cs

using System;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.Interop;

namespace CodingWithCalvin.OpenInNotepadPlusPlus.Helpers
{
    public static class Logger
    {
        private static IVsOutputWindowPane _pane;
        private static IServiceProvider _provider;
        private static string _name;

        public static void Initialize(Package provider, string name)
        {
            _provider = provider;
            _name = name;
        }

        public static void Log(string message)
        {
            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(message))
            {
                return;
            }

            try
            {
                if (!EnsurePane())
                {
                    return;
                }
                ThreadHelper.ThrowIfNotOnUIThread();

                _pane.OutputStringThreadSafe(DateTime.Now + ": " + message + Environment.NewLine);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(ex);
            }
        }

        public static void Log(Exception ex)
        {
            if (ex == null)
            {
                return;
            }

            ThreadHelper.ThrowIfNotOnUIThread();
            Log(ex.ToString());
        }

        private static bool EnsurePane()
        {
            ThreadHelper.ThrowIfNotOnUIThread();

            if (_pane == null)
            {
                var guid = Guid.NewGuid();
                var output = _provider.GetService(typeof(SVsOutputWindow)) as IVsOutputWindow;
                if (output == null)
                {
                    throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(output));
                }
                output.CreatePane(ref guid, _name, 1, 1);
                output.GetPane(ref guid, out _pane);
            }

            return _pane != null;
        }
    }
}