Please initialize the log4j system properly warning

If you are encountering the error/warning when you're running a program that uses log4j, the solution is to add a log4j.properties that can be seen by the class loader. Normally it's in the "src" folder of your Java project: Add the following contents to the file

log4j.rootLogger=INFO, stdout

log4j.appender.stdout=org.apache.log4j.ConsoleAppender
log4j.appender.stdout.Target=System.out
log4j.appender.stdout.layout=org.apache.log4j.PatternLayout
log4j.appender.stdout.layout.ConversionPattern=%d{ABSOLUTE} %5p %c{1}:%L - %m%n

From the link in the error message:

This occurs when the default configuration files log4j.properties and log4j.xml can not be found and the application performs no explicit configuration. log4j uses Thread.getContextClassLoader().getResource() to locate the default configuration files and does not directly check the file system. Knowing the appropriate location to place log4j.properties or log4j.xml requires understanding the search strategy of the class loader in use. log4j does not provide a default configuration since output to the console or to the file system may be prohibited in some environments. Also see FAQ: Why can't log4j find my properties in a J2EE or WAR application?.

The configuration file cannot be found. Are you using xml or a property file??

Also, use logback!

Add the code

BasicConfigurator.configure();

in your static main class as below..

Note: add " \hadoop-2.7.1\share\hadoop\common\lib\commons-logging-1.1.3.jar & \hadoop-2.7.1\share\hadoop\common\lib\log4j-1.2.17.jar " as the external references

import org.apache.log4j.BasicConfigurator;

public class ViewCountDriver extends Configured implements Tool{

    public static void main(String[]args) throws Exception{

        BasicConfigurator.configure(); 

        int exitcode = ToolRunner.run(new ViewCountDriver(), args);
        System.exit(exitcode); 
    }
}

Alright, so I got it working by changing this

log4j.rootLogger=DebugAppender

to this

log4j.rootLogger=DEBUG, DebugAppender

Apparently you have to specify the logging level to the rootLogger first? I apologize if I wasted anyone's time.

Also, I decided to answer my own question because this wasn't a classpath issue.