diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index a320850f40..018a70b3c1 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 */
 
 var fs = require('fs'),
+	winston = require('winston'),
 	nconf = require('nconf'),
 	pkg = require('./package.json'),
 	url = require('url');
@@ -27,11 +28,26 @@ global.env = process.env.NODE_ENV || 'production',
 // Configuration setup
 nconf.argv().file({ file: __dirname + '/config.json'});
 
+winston.remove(winston.transports.Console);
+winston.add(winston.transports.Console, {
+	colorize:true
+});
+
+winston.add(winston.transports.File, {
+	filename:'error.log',
+	level:'error'
+})
+
+// TODO: remove once https://github.com/flatiron/winston/issues/280 is fixed
+winston.err = function(err) {
+	winston.error(err.stack);
+};
+
 // Log GNU copyright info along with server info
-console.log('Info: NodeBB v' + pkg.version + ' Copyright (C) 2013 DesignCreatePlay Inc.');
-console.log('Info: This program comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.');
-console.log('Info: This is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it under certain conditions.');
-console.log('Info: ===');
+winston.info('NodeBB v' + pkg.version + ' Copyright (C) 2013 DesignCreatePlay Inc.');
+winston.info('This program comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.');
+winston.info('This is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it under certain conditions.');
+winston.info('===');
 
 if(nconf.get('upgrade')) {
 	require('./src/upgrade').upgrade();
@@ -40,8 +56,8 @@ if(nconf.get('upgrade')) {
 	nconf.set('upload_url', nconf.get('url') + 'uploads/');
 	global.nconf = nconf;
 
-	console.log('Info: Initializing NodeBB v' + pkg.version + ', on port ' + nconf.get('port') + ', using Redis store at ' + nconf.get('redis:host') + ':' + nconf.get('redis:port') + '.');
-	console.log('Info: Base Configuration OK.');
+	winston.info('Initializing NodeBB v' + pkg.version + ', on port ' + nconf.get('port') + ', using Redis store at ' + nconf.get('redis:host') + ':' + nconf.get('redis:port') + '.');
+	winston.info('Base Configuration OK.');
 
 	// TODO: Replace this with nconf-redis
 	var	meta = require('./src/meta.js');
@@ -83,10 +99,10 @@ if(nconf.get('upgrade')) {
 
 			//setup scripts to be moved outside of the app in future.
 			function setup_categories() {
-				console.log('Info: Checking categories...');
+				winston.info('Checking categories...');
 				categories.getAllCategories(function(data) {
 					if (data.categories.length === 0) {
-						console.log('Info: Setting up default categories...');
+						winston.info('Setting up default categories...');
 
 						fs.readFile(config.ROOT_DIRECTORY + '/install/data/categories.json', function(err, default_categories) {
 							default_categories = JSON.parse(default_categories);
@@ -97,26 +113,24 @@ if(nconf.get('upgrade')) {
 						});
 
 						
-						console.log('Info: Hardcoding uid 1 as an admin');
+						winston.info('Hardcoding uid 1 as an admin');
 						var user = require('./src/user.js');
 						user.makeAdministrator(1);
 
 
 					} else {
-						console.log('Info: Categories OK. Found ' + data.categories.length + ' categories.');
+						winston.info('Categories OK. Found ' + data.categories.length + ' categories.');
 					}
 				});
 			}
 
-
-
 			setup_categories();
 		}(global.configuration));
 	});
 } else {
 	// New install, ask setup questions
-	if (nconf.get('setup')) console.log('Info: NodeBB Setup Triggered via Command Line');
-	else console.log('Info: Configuration not found, starting NodeBB setup');
+	if (nconf.get('setup')) winston.info('NodeBB Setup Triggered via Command Line');
+	else winston.info('Configuration not found, starting NodeBB setup');
 
 	var	install = require('./src/install');
 
@@ -128,7 +142,7 @@ if(nconf.get('upgrade')) {
 
 	install.setup(function(err) {
 		if (err) {
-			console.log('Error: There was a problem completing NodeBB setup: ', err.message);
+			winston.error('There was a problem completing NodeBB setup: ', err.message);
 		} else {
 			if (!nconf.get('setup')) {
 				process.stdout.write(
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e63c60f01a..ed0c057ace 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@
     "sitemap": "~0.6.0",
     "cheerio": "~0.12.0",
     "request": "~2.25.0",
-    "reds": "~0.2.4"
+    "reds": "~0.2.4",
+    "winston": "~0.7.2"
   },
   "bugs": {
     "url": "https://github.com/designcreateplay/NodeBB/issues"
diff --git a/src/categories.js b/src/categories.js
index 1ce0b886d3..c6a04e3108 100644
--- a/src/categories.js
+++ b/src/categories.js
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ var	RDB = require('./redis.js'),
 	utils = require('./../public/src/utils.js'),
 	user = require('./user.js'),
 	async = require('async'),
-	topics = require('./topics.js');
+	topics = require('./topics.js'),
+	winston = require('winston');
 
 (function(Categories) {
 
@@ -187,8 +188,9 @@ var	RDB = require('./redis.js'),
 
 	Categories.getRecentReplies = function(cid, count, callback) {
 		RDB.zrevrange('categories:recent_posts:cid:' + cid, 0, (count<10)?10:count, function(err, pids) {
+		
 			if(err) {
-				console.log(err);
+				winston.err(err);
 				callback([]);
 				return;
 			}
@@ -222,12 +224,12 @@ var	RDB = require('./redis.js'),
 					if(!err) {
 						callback(null, 1)
 					} else {
-						console.log(err);
+						winston.err(err);
 						callback(err, null);
 					}
 				});
 			} else {
-				console.log(err);
+				winston.err(err);
 				callback(err, null);
 			}
 		});
@@ -249,7 +251,7 @@ var	RDB = require('./redis.js'),
 			if(err === null) 
 				callback(data);
 			else
-				console.log(err);
+				winston.err(err);
 		});		
 	}
 	
@@ -288,7 +290,7 @@ var	RDB = require('./redis.js'),
 				
 		async.eachSeries(cids, getCategory, function(err) {
 			if(err) {
-				console.log(err);
+				winston.err(err);
 				callback(null);
 				return;
 			}
diff --git a/src/plugins.js b/src/plugins.js
index f842b2fe12..62de6dc741 100644
--- a/src/plugins.js
+++ b/src/plugins.js
@@ -2,12 +2,13 @@ var	fs = require('fs'),
 	path = require('path'),
 	RDB = require('./redis.js'),
 	async = require('async'),
+	winston = require('winston'),
 	plugins = {
 		libraries: [],
 		loadedHooks: {},
 		init: function() {
 			if (this.initialized) return;
-			if (global.env === 'development') console.log('Info: [plugins] Initializing plugins system');
+			if (global.env === 'development') winston.info('[plugins] Initializing plugins system');
 
 			var	_self = this;
 
@@ -32,12 +33,12 @@ var	fs = require('fs'),
 											_self.registerHook(pluginData.id, pluginData.hooks[x]);
 										}
 									}
-									if (global.env === 'development') console.log('Info: [plugins] Loaded plugin: ' + pluginData.id);
+									if (global.env === 'development') winston.info('[plugins] Loaded plugin: ' + pluginData.id);
 
 									next();
 								});
 							} else {
-								if (global.env === 'development') console.log('Info: [plugins] Plugin \'' + plugin + '\' not found');
+								if (global.env === 'development') winston.info('[plugins] Plugin \'' + plugin + '\' not found');
 								next();	// Ignore this plugin silently
 							}
 						})
@@ -45,11 +46,11 @@ var	fs = require('fs'),
 				}
 			], function(err) {
 				if (err) {
-					if (global.env === 'development') console.log('Info: [plugins] NodeBB encountered a problem while loading plugins', err.message);
+					if (global.env === 'development') winston.info('[plugins] NodeBB encountered a problem while loading plugins', err.message);
 					return;
 				}
 
-				if (global.env === 'development') console.log('Info: [plugins] Plugins OK');
+				if (global.env === 'development') winston.info('[plugins] Plugins OK');
 			});
 		},
 		initialized: false,
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ var	fs = require('fs'),
 			if (data.hook && data.method) {
 				_self.loadedHooks[data.hook] = _self.loadedHooks[data.hook] || [];
 				_self.loadedHooks[data.hook].push([id, data.method]);
-				if (global.env === 'development') console.log('Info: [plugins] Hook registered: ' + data.hook + ' will call ' + id);
+				if (global.env === 'development') winston.info('[plugins] Hook registered: ' + data.hook + ' will call ' + id);
 			} else return;
 		},
 		fireHook: function(hook, args, callback) {
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ var	fs = require('fs'),
 				hookList = this.loadedHooks[hook];
 
 			if (hookList && Array.isArray(hookList)) {
-				if (global.env === 'development') console.log('Info: [plugins] Firing hook: \'' + hook + '\'');
+				if (global.env === 'development') winston.info('[plugins] Firing hook: \'' + hook + '\'');
 				var	hookType = hook.split(':')[0];
 				switch(hookType) {
 					case 'filter':
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ var	fs = require('fs'),
 							}
 						}, function(err) {
 							if (err) {
-								if (global.env === 'development') console.log('Info: [plugins] Problem executing hook: ' + hook);
+								if (global.env === 'development') winston.info('[plugins] Problem executing hook: ' + hook);
 							}
 
 							callback(returnVal);
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ var	fs = require('fs'),
 							) {
 								_self.libraries[hookObj[0]][hookObj[1]].apply(_self.libraries[hookObj[0]], args);
 							} else {
-								if (global.env === 'development') console.log('Info: [plugins] Expected method \'' + hookObj[1] + '\' in plugin \'' + hookObj[0] + '\' not found, skipping.');
+								if (global.env === 'development') winston.info('[plugins] Expected method \'' + hookObj[1] + '\' in plugin \'' + hookObj[0] + '\' not found, skipping.');
 							}
 						});
 					break;
@@ -129,13 +130,13 @@ var	fs = require('fs'),
 		toggleActive: function(id, callback) {
 			this.isActive(id, function(err, active) {
 				if (err) {
-					if (global.env === 'development') console.log('Info: [plugins] Could not toggle active state on plugin \'' + id + '\'');
+					if (global.env === 'development') winston.info('[plugins] Could not toggle active state on plugin \'' + id + '\'');
 					return;
 				}
 
 				RDB[(active ? 'srem' : 'sadd')]('plugins:active', id, function(err, success) {
 					if (err) {
-						if (global.env === 'development') console.log('Info: [plugins] Could not toggle active state on plugin \'' + id + '\'');
+						if (global.env === 'development') winston.info('[plugins] Could not toggle active state on plugin \'' + id + '\'');
 						return;
 					}