diff --git a/sphinx/application.py b/sphinx/application.py
index 95e1ff17d..181ef1d95 100644
--- a/sphinx/application.py
+++ b/sphinx/application.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ from sphinx.util import logging
 from sphinx.util.tags import Tags
 from sphinx.util.osutil import ENOENT
 from sphinx.util.console import (  # type: ignore
-    bold, lightgray, darkgray, darkgreen, term_width_line
+    bold, darkgreen, term_width_line
 )
 from sphinx.util.i18n import find_catalog_source_files
 
@@ -164,13 +164,13 @@ class Sphinx(object):
         self.messagelog = deque(maxlen=10)  # type: deque
 
         # say hello to the world
-        self.info(bold('Running Sphinx v%s' % sphinx.__display_version__))
+        logger.info(bold('Running Sphinx v%s' % sphinx.__display_version__))
 
         # status code for command-line application
         self.statuscode = 0
 
         if not path.isdir(outdir):
-            self.info('making output directory...')
+            logger.info('making output directory...')
             os.makedirs(outdir)
 
         # read config
@@ -267,8 +267,8 @@ class Sphinx(object):
         the configuration.
         """
         if self.config.language is not None:
-            self.info(bold('loading translations [%s]... ' %
-                           self.config.language), nonl=True)
+            logger.info(bold('loading translations [%s]... ' % self.config.language),
+                        nonl=True)
             user_locale_dirs = [
                 path.join(self.srcdir, x) for x in self.config.locale_dirs]
             # compile mo files if sphinx.po file in user locale directories are updated
@@ -283,9 +283,9 @@ class Sphinx(object):
         if self.config.language is not None:
             if has_translation or self.config.language == 'en':
                 # "en" never needs to be translated
-                self.info('done')
+                logger.info('done')
             else:
-                self.info('not available for built-in messages')
+                logger.info('not available for built-in messages')
 
     def _init_source_parsers(self):
         # type: () -> None
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ class Sphinx(object):
                 self.env.domains[domain] = self.domains[domain](self.env)
         else:
             try:
-                self.info(bold('loading pickled environment... '), nonl=True)
+                logger.info(bold('loading pickled environment... '), nonl=True)
                 self.env = BuildEnvironment.frompickle(
                     self.srcdir, self.config, path.join(self.doctreedir, ENV_PICKLE_FILENAME))
                 self.env.set_warnfunc(self.warn)
@@ -314,12 +314,12 @@ class Sphinx(object):
                 for domain in self.domains.keys():
                     # this can raise if the data version doesn't fit
                     self.env.domains[domain] = self.domains[domain](self.env)
-                self.info('done')
+                logger.info('done')
             except Exception as err:
                 if isinstance(err, IOError) and err.errno == ENOENT:
-                    self.info('not yet created')
+                    logger.info('not yet created')
                 else:
-                    self.info('failed: %s' % err)
+                    logger.info('failed: %s' % err)
                 self._init_env(freshenv=True)
 
     def _init_builder(self, buildername):
@@ -357,11 +357,11 @@ class Sphinx(object):
             status = (self.statuscode == 0 and
                       'succeeded' or 'finished with problems')
             if self._warncount:
-                self.info(bold('build %s, %s warning%s.' %
-                               (status, self._warncount,
-                                self._warncount != 1 and 's' or '')))
+                logger.info(bold('build %s, %s warning%s.' %
+                                 (status, self._warncount,
+                                  self._warncount != 1 and 's' or '')))
             else:
-                self.info(bold('build %s.' % status))
+                logger.info(bold('build %s.' % status))
         except Exception as err:
             # delete the saved env to force a fresh build next time
             envfile = path.join(self.doctreedir, ENV_PICKLE_FILENAME)
@@ -374,22 +374,6 @@ class Sphinx(object):
         self.builder.cleanup()
 
     # ---- logging handling ----------------------------------------------------
-
-    def _log(self, message, wfile, nonl=False):
-        # type: (unicode, IO, bool) -> None
-        try:
-            wfile.write(message)
-        except UnicodeEncodeError:
-            encoding = getattr(wfile, 'encoding', 'ascii') or 'ascii'
-            # wfile.write accept only str, not bytes.So, we encode and replace
-            # non-encodable characters, then decode them.
-            wfile.write(message.encode(encoding, 'replace').decode(encoding))
-        if not nonl:
-            wfile.write('\n')
-        if hasattr(wfile, 'flush'):
-            wfile.flush()
-        self.messagelog.append(message)
-
     def warn(self, message, location=None, prefix=None,
              type=None, subtype=None, colorfunc=None):
         # type: (unicode, unicode, unicode, unicode, unicode, Callable) -> None
@@ -424,58 +408,25 @@ class Sphinx(object):
         If *nonl* is true, don't emit a newline at the end (which implies that
         more info output will follow soon.)
         """
-        self._log(message, self._status, nonl)
+        logger.info(message, nonl=nonl)
 
     def verbose(self, message, *args, **kwargs):
         # type: (unicode, Any, Any) -> None
-        """Emit a verbose informational message.
-
-        The message will only be emitted for verbosity levels >= 1 (i.e. at
-        least one ``-v`` option was given).
-
-        The message can contain %-style interpolation placeholders, which is
-        formatted with either the ``*args`` or ``**kwargs`` when output.
-        """
-        if self.verbosity < 1:
-            return
-        if args or kwargs:
-            message = message % (args or kwargs)
-        self._log(message, self._status)
+        """Emit a verbose informational message."""
+        logger.verbose(message, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def debug(self, message, *args, **kwargs):
         # type: (unicode, Any, Any) -> None
-        """Emit a debug-level informational message.
-
-        The message will only be emitted for verbosity levels >= 2 (i.e. at
-        least two ``-v`` options were given).
-
-        The message can contain %-style interpolation placeholders, which is
-        formatted with either the ``*args`` or ``**kwargs`` when output.
-        """
-        if self.verbosity < 2:
-            return
-        if args or kwargs:
-            message = message % (args or kwargs)
-        self._log(darkgray(message), self._status)
+        """Emit a debug-level informational message."""
+        logger.debug(message, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def debug2(self, message, *args, **kwargs):
         # type: (unicode, Any, Any) -> None
-        """Emit a lowlevel debug-level informational message.
-
-        The message will only be emitted for verbosity level 3 (i.e. three
-        ``-v`` options were given).
-
-        The message can contain %-style interpolation placeholders, which is
-        formatted with either the ``*args`` or ``**kwargs`` when output.
-        """
-        if self.verbosity < 3:
-            return
-        if args or kwargs:
-            message = message % (args or kwargs)
-        self._log(lightgray(message), self._status)
+        """Emit a lowlevel debug-level informational message."""
+        logger.debug2(message, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def _display_chunk(chunk):
-        # type: (Any) -> unicode
+        # type: (Union[List, Tuple, unicode]) -> unicode
         if isinstance(chunk, (list, tuple)):
             if len(chunk) == 1:
                 return text_type(chunk[0])
@@ -484,21 +435,21 @@ class Sphinx(object):
 
     def old_status_iterator(self, iterable, summary, colorfunc=darkgreen,
                             stringify_func=_display_chunk):
-        # type: (Iterable, unicode, Callable, Callable) -> Iterator
+        # type: (Iterable, unicode, Callable, Callable[[Any], unicode]) -> Iterator
         l = 0
         for item in iterable:
             if l == 0:
-                self.info(bold(summary), nonl=True)
+                logger.info(bold(summary), nonl=True)
                 l = 1
-            self.info(colorfunc(stringify_func(item)) + ' ', nonl=True)
+            logger.info(colorfunc(stringify_func(item)) + ' ', nonl=True)
             yield item
         if l == 1:
-            self.info()
+            logger.info('')
 
     # new version with progress info
     def status_iterator(self, iterable, summary, colorfunc=darkgreen, length=0,
                         stringify_func=_display_chunk):
-        # type: (Iterable, unicode, Callable, int, Callable) -> Iterable
+        # type: (Iterable, unicode, Callable, int, Callable[[Any], unicode]) -> Iterable
         if length == 0:
             for item in self.old_status_iterator(iterable, summary, colorfunc,
                                                  stringify_func):
@@ -514,17 +465,17 @@ class Sphinx(object):
                 s += '\n'
             else:
                 s = term_width_line(s)
-            self.info(s, nonl=True)
+            logger.info(s, nonl=True)
             yield item
         if l > 0:
-            self.info()
+            logger.info('')
 
     # ---- general extensibility interface -------------------------------------
 
     def setup_extension(self, extension):
         # type: (unicode) -> None
         """Import and setup a Sphinx extension module. No-op if called twice."""
-        self.debug('[app] setting up extension: %r', extension)
+        logger.debug('[app] setting up extension: %r', extension)
         if extension in self._extensions:
             return
         if extension in EXTENSION_BLACKLIST:
@@ -536,7 +487,7 @@ class Sphinx(object):
         try:
             mod = __import__(extension, None, None, ['setup'])
         except ImportError as err:
-            self.verbose('Original exception:\n' + traceback.format_exc())
+            logger.verbose('Original exception:\n' + traceback.format_exc())
             raise ExtensionError('Could not import extension %s' % extension,
                                  err)
         if not hasattr(mod, 'setup'):
@@ -596,20 +547,20 @@ class Sphinx(object):
         else:
             self._listeners[event][listener_id] = callback
         self.next_listener_id += 1
-        self.debug('[app] connecting event %r: %r [id=%s]',
-                   event, callback, listener_id)
+        logger.debug('[app] connecting event %r: %r [id=%s]',
+                     event, callback, listener_id)
         return listener_id
 
     def disconnect(self, listener_id):
         # type: (int) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] disconnecting event: [id=%s]', listener_id)
+        logger.debug('[app] disconnecting event: [id=%s]', listener_id)
         for event in itervalues(self._listeners):
             event.pop(listener_id, None)
 
     def emit(self, event, *args):
         # type: (unicode, Any) -> List
         try:
-            self.debug2('[app] emitting event: %r%s', event, repr(args)[:100])
+            logger.debug2('[app] emitting event: %r%s', event, repr(args)[:100])
         except Exception:
             # not every object likes to be repr()'d (think
             # random stuff coming via autodoc)
@@ -631,7 +582,7 @@ class Sphinx(object):
 
     def add_builder(self, builder):
         # type: (Type[Builder]) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding builder: %r', builder)
+        logger.debug('[app] adding builder: %r', builder)
         if not hasattr(builder, 'name'):
             raise ExtensionError('Builder class %s has no "name" attribute'
                                  % builder)
@@ -643,8 +594,8 @@ class Sphinx(object):
 
     def add_config_value(self, name, default, rebuild, types=()):
         # type: (unicode, Any, Union[bool, unicode], Any) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding config value: %r',
-                   (name, default, rebuild) + ((types,) if types else ()))  # type: ignore
+        logger.debug('[app] adding config value: %r',
+                     (name, default, rebuild) + ((types,) if types else ()))  # type: ignore
         if name in self.config.values:
             raise ExtensionError('Config value %r already present' % name)
         if rebuild in (False, True):
@@ -653,19 +604,19 @@ class Sphinx(object):
 
     def add_event(self, name):
         # type: (unicode) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding event: %r', name)
+        logger.debug('[app] adding event: %r', name)
         if name in self._events:
             raise ExtensionError('Event %r already present' % name)
         self._events[name] = ''
 
     def set_translator(self, name, translator_class):
         # type: (unicode, Any) -> None
-        self.info(bold('A Translator for the %s builder is changed.' % name))
+        logger.info(bold('A Translator for the %s builder is changed.' % name))
         self._translators[name] = translator_class
 
     def add_node(self, node, **kwds):
         # type: (nodes.Node, Any) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding node: %r', (node, kwds))
+        logger.debug('[app] adding node: %r', (node, kwds))
         if not kwds.pop('override', False) and \
            hasattr(nodes.GenericNodeVisitor, 'visit_' + node.__name__):
             logger.warning('while setting up extension %s: node class %r is '
@@ -719,8 +670,8 @@ class Sphinx(object):
 
     def add_directive(self, name, obj, content=None, arguments=None, **options):
         # type: (unicode, Any, unicode, Any, Any) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding directive: %r',
-                   (name, obj, content, arguments, options))
+        logger.debug('[app] adding directive: %r',
+                     (name, obj, content, arguments, options))
         if name in directives._directives:
             logger.warning('while setting up extension %s: directive %r is '
                            'already registered, it will be overridden',
@@ -731,7 +682,7 @@ class Sphinx(object):
 
     def add_role(self, name, role):
         # type: (unicode, Any) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding role: %r', (name, role))
+        logger.debug('[app] adding role: %r', (name, role))
         if name in roles._roles:
             logger.warning('while setting up extension %s: role %r is '
                            'already registered, it will be overridden',
@@ -743,7 +694,7 @@ class Sphinx(object):
         # type: (unicode, Any) -> None
         # don't use roles.register_generic_role because it uses
         # register_canonical_role
-        self.debug('[app] adding generic role: %r', (name, nodeclass))
+        logger.debug('[app] adding generic role: %r', (name, nodeclass))
         if name in roles._roles:
             logger.warning('while setting up extension %s: role %r is '
                            'already registered, it will be overridden',
@@ -754,14 +705,14 @@ class Sphinx(object):
 
     def add_domain(self, domain):
         # type: (Type[Domain]) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding domain: %r', domain)
+        logger.debug('[app] adding domain: %r', domain)
         if domain.name in self.domains:
             raise ExtensionError('domain %s already registered' % domain.name)
         self.domains[domain.name] = domain
 
     def override_domain(self, domain):
         # type: (Type[Domain]) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] overriding domain: %r', domain)
+        logger.debug('[app] overriding domain: %r', domain)
         if domain.name not in self.domains:
             raise ExtensionError('domain %s not yet registered' % domain.name)
         if not issubclass(domain, self.domains[domain.name]):
@@ -772,8 +723,8 @@ class Sphinx(object):
     def add_directive_to_domain(self, domain, name, obj,
                                 content=None, arguments=None, **options):
         # type: (unicode, unicode, Any, unicode, Any, Any) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding directive to domain: %r',
-                   (domain, name, obj, content, arguments, options))
+        logger.debug('[app] adding directive to domain: %r',
+                     (domain, name, obj, content, arguments, options))
         if domain not in self.domains:
             raise ExtensionError('domain %s not yet registered' % domain)
         self.domains[domain].directives[name] = \
@@ -781,14 +732,14 @@ class Sphinx(object):
 
     def add_role_to_domain(self, domain, name, role):
         # type: (unicode, unicode, Any) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding role to domain: %r', (domain, name, role))
+        logger.debug('[app] adding role to domain: %r', (domain, name, role))
         if domain not in self.domains:
             raise ExtensionError('domain %s not yet registered' % domain)
         self.domains[domain].roles[name] = role
 
     def add_index_to_domain(self, domain, index):
         # type: (unicode, unicode) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding index to domain: %r', (domain, index))
+        logger.debug('[app] adding index to domain: %r', (domain, index))
         if domain not in self.domains:
             raise ExtensionError('domain %s not yet registered' % domain)
         self.domains[domain].indices.append(index)
@@ -797,9 +748,9 @@ class Sphinx(object):
                         parse_node=None, ref_nodeclass=None, objname='',
                         doc_field_types=[]):
         # type: (unicode, unicode, unicode, Callable, nodes.Node, unicode, List) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding object type: %r',
-                   (directivename, rolename, indextemplate, parse_node,
-                    ref_nodeclass, objname, doc_field_types))
+        logger.debug('[app] adding object type: %r',
+                     (directivename, rolename, indextemplate, parse_node,
+                      ref_nodeclass, objname, doc_field_types))
         StandardDomain.object_types[directivename] = \
             ObjType(objname or directivename, rolename)
         # create a subclass of GenericObject as the new directive
@@ -817,9 +768,9 @@ class Sphinx(object):
     def add_crossref_type(self, directivename, rolename, indextemplate='',
                           ref_nodeclass=None, objname=''):
         # type: (unicode, unicode, unicode, nodes.Node, unicode) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding crossref type: %r',
-                   (directivename, rolename, indextemplate, ref_nodeclass,
-                    objname))
+        logger.debug('[app] adding crossref type: %r',
+                     (directivename, rolename, indextemplate, ref_nodeclass,
+                      objname))
         StandardDomain.object_types[directivename] = \
             ObjType(objname or directivename, rolename)
         # create a subclass of Target as the new directive
@@ -831,12 +782,12 @@ class Sphinx(object):
 
     def add_transform(self, transform):
         # type: (Transform) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding transform: %r', transform)
+        logger.debug('[app] adding transform: %r', transform)
         SphinxStandaloneReader.transforms.append(transform)
 
     def add_javascript(self, filename):
         # type: (unicode) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding javascript: %r', filename)
+        logger.debug('[app] adding javascript: %r', filename)
         from sphinx.builders.html import StandaloneHTMLBuilder
         if '://' in filename:
             StandaloneHTMLBuilder.script_files.append(filename)
@@ -846,7 +797,7 @@ class Sphinx(object):
 
     def add_stylesheet(self, filename):
         # type: (unicode) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding stylesheet: %r', filename)
+        logger.debug('[app] adding stylesheet: %r', filename)
         from sphinx.builders.html import StandaloneHTMLBuilder
         if '://' in filename:
             StandaloneHTMLBuilder.css_files.append(filename)
@@ -856,12 +807,12 @@ class Sphinx(object):
 
     def add_latex_package(self, packagename, options=None):
         # type: (unicode, unicode) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding latex package: %r', packagename)
+        logger.debug('[app] adding latex package: %r', packagename)
         self.builder.usepackages.append((packagename, options))
 
     def add_lexer(self, alias, lexer):
         # type: (unicode, Any) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding lexer: %r', (alias, lexer))
+        logger.debug('[app] adding lexer: %r', (alias, lexer))
         from sphinx.highlighting import lexers
         if lexers is None:
             return
@@ -869,27 +820,27 @@ class Sphinx(object):
 
     def add_autodocumenter(self, cls):
         # type: (Any) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding autodocumenter: %r', cls)
+        logger.debug('[app] adding autodocumenter: %r', cls)
         from sphinx.ext import autodoc
         autodoc.add_documenter(cls)
         self.add_directive('auto' + cls.objtype, autodoc.AutoDirective)
 
     def add_autodoc_attrgetter(self, type, getter):
         # type: (Any, Callable) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding autodoc attrgetter: %r', (type, getter))
+        logger.debug('[app] adding autodoc attrgetter: %r', (type, getter))
         from sphinx.ext import autodoc
         autodoc.AutoDirective._special_attrgetters[type] = getter
 
     def add_search_language(self, cls):
         # type: (Any) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding search language: %r', cls)
+        logger.debug('[app] adding search language: %r', cls)
         from sphinx.search import languages, SearchLanguage
         assert issubclass(cls, SearchLanguage)
         languages[cls.lang] = cls
 
     def add_source_parser(self, suffix, parser):
         # type: (unicode, Parser) -> None
-        self.debug('[app] adding search source_parser: %r, %r', suffix, parser)
+        logger.debug('[app] adding search source_parser: %r, %r', suffix, parser)
         if suffix in self._additional_source_parsers:
             logger.warning('while setting up extension %s: source_parser for %r is '
                            'already registered, it will be overridden',
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/__init__.py b/sphinx/builders/__init__.py
index b8baf7792..9dc757cd4 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/__init__.py
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ if False:
     from sphinx.util.tags import Tags  # NOQA
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 class Builder(object):
     """
     Builds target formats from the reST sources.
@@ -180,7 +183,7 @@ class Builder(object):
         def cat2relpath(cat):
             return path.relpath(cat.mo_path, self.env.srcdir).replace(path.sep, SEP)
 
-        self.info(bold('building [mo]: ') + message)
+        logger.info(bold('building [mo]: ') + message)
         for catalog in self.app.status_iterator(
                 catalogs, 'writing output... ', darkgreen, len(catalogs),
                 cat2relpath):
@@ -281,7 +284,7 @@ class Builder(object):
         First updates the environment, and then calls :meth:`write`.
         """
         if summary:
-            self.info(bold('building [%s]' % self.name) + ': ' + summary)
+            logger.info(bold('building [%s]' % self.name) + ': ' + summary)
 
         # while reading, collect all warnings from docutils
         with logging.pending_logging():
@@ -289,29 +292,29 @@ class Builder(object):
                                                    self.doctreedir, self.app))
 
         doccount = len(updated_docnames)
-        self.info(bold('looking for now-outdated files... '), nonl=1)
+        logger.info(bold('looking for now-outdated files... '), nonl=1)
         for docname in self.env.check_dependents(updated_docnames):
             updated_docnames.add(docname)
         outdated = len(updated_docnames) - doccount
         if outdated:
-            self.info('%d found' % outdated)
+            logger.info('%d found' % outdated)
         else:
-            self.info('none found')
+            logger.info('none found')
 
         if updated_docnames:
             # save the environment
             from sphinx.application import ENV_PICKLE_FILENAME
-            self.info(bold('pickling environment... '), nonl=True)
+            logger.info(bold('pickling environment... '), nonl=True)
             self.env.topickle(path.join(self.doctreedir, ENV_PICKLE_FILENAME))
-            self.info('done')
+            logger.info('done')
 
             # global actions
-            self.info(bold('checking consistency... '), nonl=True)
+            logger.info(bold('checking consistency... '), nonl=True)
             self.env.check_consistency()
-            self.info('done')
+            logger.info('done')
         else:
             if method == 'update' and not docnames:
-                self.info(bold('no targets are out of date.'))
+                logger.info(bold('no targets are out of date.'))
                 return
 
         # filter "docnames" (list of outdated files) by the updated
@@ -358,7 +361,7 @@ class Builder(object):
             docnames = set(build_docnames) | set(updated_docnames)
         else:
             docnames = set(build_docnames)
-        self.app.debug('docnames to write: %s', ', '.join(sorted(docnames)))
+        logger.debug('docnames to write: %s', ', '.join(sorted(docnames)))
 
         # add all toctree-containing files that may have changed
         for docname in list(docnames):
@@ -367,9 +370,9 @@ class Builder(object):
                     docnames.add(tocdocname)
         docnames.add(self.config.master_doc)
 
-        self.info(bold('preparing documents... '), nonl=True)
+        logger.info(bold('preparing documents... '), nonl=True)
         self.prepare_writing(docnames)
-        self.info('done')
+        logger.info('done')
 
         warnings = []  # type: List[Tuple[Tuple, Dict]]
         if self.parallel_ok:
@@ -425,7 +428,7 @@ class Builder(object):
             tasks.add_task(write_process, arg, add_warnings)
 
         # make sure all threads have finished
-        self.info(bold('waiting for workers...'))
+        logger.info(bold('waiting for workers...'))
         tasks.join()
 
         for warning, kwargs in warnings:
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/applehelp.py b/sphinx/builders/applehelp.py
index 3c2782802..b0c5c66b1 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/applehelp.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/applehelp.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import shlex
 
 from sphinx.builders.html import StandaloneHTMLBuilder
 from sphinx.config import string_classes
+from sphinx.util import logging
 from sphinx.util.osutil import copyfile, ensuredir, make_filename
 from sphinx.util.console import bold  # type: ignore
 from sphinx.util.fileutil import copy_asset
@@ -33,6 +34,9 @@ if False:
     from typing import Any  # NOQA
     from sphinx.application import Sphinx  # NOQA
 
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 # Use plistlib.dump in 3.4 and above
 try:
     write_plist = plistlib.dump  # type: ignore
@@ -118,13 +122,13 @@ class AppleHelpBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
         target_dir = self.outdir
 
         if path.isdir(source_dir):
-            self.info(bold('copying localized files... '), nonl=True)
+            logger.info(bold('copying localized files... '), nonl=True)
 
             excluded = Matcher(self.config.exclude_patterns + ['**/.*'])
             copy_asset(source_dir, target_dir, excluded,
                        context=self.globalcontext, renderer=self.templates)
 
-            self.info('done')
+            logger.info('done')
 
     def build_helpbook(self):
         # type: () -> None
@@ -165,20 +169,20 @@ class AppleHelpBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
         if self.config.applehelp_remote_url is not None:
             info_plist['HPDBookRemoteURL'] = self.config.applehelp_remote_url
 
-        self.info(bold('writing Info.plist... '), nonl=True)
+        logger.info(bold('writing Info.plist... '), nonl=True)
         with open(path.join(contents_dir, 'Info.plist'), 'wb') as f:
             write_plist(info_plist, f)
-        self.info('done')
+        logger.info('done')
 
         # Copy the icon, if one is supplied
         if self.config.applehelp_icon:
-            self.info(bold('copying icon... '), nonl=True)
+            logger.info(bold('copying icon... '), nonl=True)
 
             try:
                 copyfile(path.join(self.srcdir, self.config.applehelp_icon),
                          path.join(resources_dir, info_plist['HPDBookIconPath']))
 
-                self.info('done')
+                logger.info('done')
             except Exception as err:
                 self.warn('cannot copy icon file %r: %s' %
                           (path.join(self.srcdir, self.config.applehelp_icon),
@@ -186,16 +190,16 @@ class AppleHelpBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
                 del info_plist['HPDBookIconPath']
 
         # Build the access page
-        self.info(bold('building access page...'), nonl=True)
+        logger.info(bold('building access page...'), nonl=True)
         with codecs.open(path.join(language_dir, '_access.html'), 'w') as f:
             f.write(access_page_template % {
                 'toc': htmlescape(toc, quote=True),
                 'title': htmlescape(self.config.applehelp_title)
             })
-        self.info('done')
+        logger.info('done')
 
         # Generate the help index
-        self.info(bold('generating help index... '), nonl=True)
+        logger.info(bold('generating help index... '), nonl=True)
 
         args = [
             self.config.applehelp_indexer_path,
@@ -217,7 +221,7 @@ class AppleHelpBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
             args += ['-l', self.config.applehelp_locale]
 
         if self.config.applehelp_disable_external_tools:
-            self.info('skipping')
+            logger.info('skipping')
 
             self.warn('you will need to index this help book with:\n  %s'
                       % (' '.join([pipes.quote(arg) for arg in args])))
@@ -232,13 +236,13 @@ class AppleHelpBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
                 if p.returncode != 0:
                     raise AppleHelpIndexerFailed(output)
                 else:
-                    self.info('done')
+                    logger.info('done')
             except OSError:
                 raise AppleHelpIndexerFailed('Command not found: %s' % args[0])
 
         # If we've been asked to, sign the bundle
         if self.config.applehelp_codesign_identity:
-            self.info(bold('signing help book... '), nonl=True)
+            logger.info(bold('signing help book... '), nonl=True)
 
             args = [
                 self.config.applehelp_codesign_path,
@@ -251,7 +255,7 @@ class AppleHelpBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
             args.append(self.bundle_path)
 
             if self.config.applehelp_disable_external_tools:
-                self.info('skipping')
+                logger.info('skipping')
 
                 self.warn('you will need to sign this help book with:\n  %s'
                           % (' '.join([pipes.quote(arg) for arg in args])))
@@ -266,7 +270,7 @@ class AppleHelpBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
                     if p.returncode != 0:
                         raise AppleHelpCodeSigningFailed(output)
                     else:
-                        self.info('done')
+                        logger.info('done')
                 except OSError:
                     raise AppleHelpCodeSigningFailed('Command not found: %s' % args[0])
 
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/changes.py b/sphinx/builders/changes.py
index de9e95bf1..d1b908e3d 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/changes.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/changes.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from sphinx import package_dir
 from sphinx.locale import _
 from sphinx.theming import Theme
 from sphinx.builders import Builder
+from sphinx.util import logging
 from sphinx.util.osutil import ensuredir, os_path
 from sphinx.util.console import bold  # type: ignore
 from sphinx.util.fileutil import copy_asset_file
@@ -29,6 +30,9 @@ if False:
     from sphinx.application import Sphinx  # NOQA
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 class ChangesBuilder(Builder):
     """
     Write a summary with all versionadded/changed directives.
@@ -59,9 +63,9 @@ class ChangesBuilder(Builder):
         apichanges = []     # type: List[Tuple[unicode, unicode, int]]
         otherchanges = {}   # type: Dict[Tuple[unicode, unicode], List[Tuple[unicode, unicode, int]]]  # NOQA
         if version not in self.env.versionchanges:
-            self.info(bold('no changes in version %s.' % version))
+            logger.info(bold('no changes in version %s.' % version))
             return
-        self.info(bold('writing summary file...'))
+        logger.info(bold('writing summary file...'))
         for type, docname, lineno, module, descname, content in \
                 self.env.versionchanges[version]:
             if isinstance(descname, tuple):
@@ -125,7 +129,7 @@ class ChangesBuilder(Builder):
                     break
             return line
 
-        self.info(bold('copying source files...'))
+        logger.info(bold('copying source files...'))
         for docname in self.env.all_docs:
             with codecs.open(self.env.doc2path(docname), 'r',  # type: ignore
                              self.env.config.source_encoding) as f:
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/devhelp.py b/sphinx/builders/devhelp.py
index f1ed3a495..af8bcfeed 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/devhelp.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/devhelp.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from os import path
 from docutils import nodes
 
 from sphinx import addnodes
+from sphinx.util import logging
 from sphinx.util.osutil import make_filename
 from sphinx.builders.html import StandaloneHTMLBuilder
 
@@ -33,6 +34,9 @@ if False:
     from sphinx.application import Sphinx  # NOQA
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 class DevhelpBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
     """
     Builder that also outputs GNOME Devhelp file.
@@ -60,7 +64,7 @@ class DevhelpBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
 
     def build_devhelp(self, outdir, outname):
         # type: (unicode, unicode) -> None
-        self.info('dumping devhelp index...')
+        logger.info('dumping devhelp index...')
 
         # Basic info
         root = etree.Element('book',
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/epub.py b/sphinx/builders/epub.py
index 5d4686af6..97c736d9f 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/epub.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/epub.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from docutils import nodes
 
 from sphinx import addnodes
 from sphinx.builders.html import StandaloneHTMLBuilder
+from sphinx.util import logging
 from sphinx.util.osutil import ensuredir, copyfile, make_filename, EEXIST
 from sphinx.util.smartypants import sphinx_smarty_pants as ssp
 from sphinx.util.console import brown  # type: ignore
@@ -39,6 +40,9 @@ if False:
     from sphinx.application import Sphinx  # NOQA
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 # (Fragment) templates from which the metainfo files content.opf, toc.ncx,
 # mimetype, and META-INF/container.xml are created.
 # This template section also defines strings that are embedded in the html
@@ -547,14 +551,14 @@ class EpubBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
     def build_mimetype(self, outdir, outname):
         # type: (unicode, unicode) -> None
         """Write the metainfo file mimetype."""
-        self.info('writing %s file...' % outname)
+        logger.info('writing %s file...' % outname)
         with codecs.open(path.join(outdir, outname), 'w', 'utf-8') as f:  # type: ignore
             f.write(self.mimetype_template)
 
     def build_container(self, outdir, outname):
         # type: (unicode, unicode) -> None
         """Write the metainfo file META-INF/cointainer.xml."""
-        self.info('writing %s file...' % outname)
+        logger.info('writing %s file...' % outname)
         fn = path.join(outdir, outname)
         try:
             os.mkdir(path.dirname(fn))
@@ -589,7 +593,7 @@ class EpubBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
         """Write the metainfo file content.opf It contains bibliographic data,
         a file list and the spine (the reading order).
         """
-        self.info('writing %s file...' % outname)
+        logger.info('writing %s file...' % outname)
 
         # files
         if not outdir.endswith(os.sep):
@@ -800,7 +804,7 @@ class EpubBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
     def build_toc(self, outdir, outname):
         # type: (unicode, unicode) -> None
         """Write the metainfo file toc.ncx."""
-        self.info('writing %s file...' % outname)
+        logger.info('writing %s file...' % outname)
 
         if self.config.epub_tocscope == 'default':
             doctree = self.env.get_and_resolve_doctree(self.config.master_doc,
@@ -824,7 +828,7 @@ class EpubBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
         It is a zip file with the mimetype file stored uncompressed as the first
         entry.
         """
-        self.info('writing %s file...' % outname)
+        logger.info('writing %s file...' % outname)
         projectfiles = ['META-INF/container.xml', 'content.opf', 'toc.ncx']  # type: List[unicode]  # NOQA
         projectfiles.extend(self.files)
         epub = zipfile.ZipFile(path.join(outdir, outname), 'w',  # type: ignore
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/epub3.py b/sphinx/builders/epub3.py
index 5e0663a08..55434a499 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/epub3.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/epub3.py
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ from datetime import datetime
 
 from sphinx.config import string_classes
 from sphinx.builders.epub import EpubBuilder
+from sphinx.util import logging
+
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 # (Fragment) templates from which the metainfo files content.opf, toc.ncx,
@@ -235,7 +239,7 @@ class Epub3Builder(EpubBuilder):
 
     def build_navigation_doc(self, outdir, outname):
         """Write the metainfo file nav.xhtml."""
-        self.info('writing %s file...' % outname)
+        logger.info('writing %s file...' % outname)
 
         if self.config.epub_tocscope == 'default':
             doctree = self.env.get_and_resolve_doctree(
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/gettext.py b/sphinx/builders/gettext.py
index ced63e8f5..a38c9eca4 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/gettext.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/gettext.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from uuid import uuid4
 from six import iteritems
 
 from sphinx.builders import Builder
-from sphinx.util import split_index_msg
+from sphinx.util import split_index_msg, logging
 from sphinx.util.tags import Tags
 from sphinx.util.nodes import extract_messages, traverse_translatable_index
 from sphinx.util.osutil import safe_relpath, ensuredir, canon_path
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ if False:
     from sphinx.util.i18n import CatalogInfo  # NOQA
     from sphinx.application import Sphinx  # NOQA
 
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 POHEADER = r"""
 # SOME DESCRIPTIVE TITLE.
 # Copyright (C) %(copyright)s
@@ -216,8 +219,8 @@ class MessageCatalogBuilder(I18nBuilder):
     def _extract_from_template(self):
         # type: () -> None
         files = self._collect_templates()
-        self.info(bold('building [%s]: ' % self.name), nonl=1)
-        self.info('targets for %d template files' % len(files))
+        logger.info(bold('building [%s]: ' % self.name), nonl=1)
+        logger.info('targets for %d template files' % len(files))
 
         extract_translations = self.templates.environment.extract_translations
 
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/html.py b/sphinx/builders/html.py
index 31ee0a371..b4f4d7fd3 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/html.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/html.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ from docutils.frontend import OptionParser
 from docutils.readers.doctree import Reader as DoctreeReader
 
 from sphinx import package_dir, __display_version__
-from sphinx.util import jsonimpl
+from sphinx.util import jsonimpl, logging
 from sphinx.util.i18n import format_date
 from sphinx.util.osutil import SEP, os_path, relative_uri, ensuredir, \
     movefile, copyfile
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ INVENTORY_FILENAME = 'objects.inv'
 #: the filename for the "last build" file (for serializing builders)
 LAST_BUILD_FILENAME = 'last_build'
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 def get_stable_hash(obj):
     # type: (Any) -> unicode
@@ -502,7 +504,7 @@ class StandaloneHTMLBuilder(Builder):
 
     def gen_indices(self):
         # type: () -> None
-        self.info(bold('generating indices...'), nonl=1)
+        logger.info(bold('generating indices...'), nonl=1)
 
         # the global general index
         if self.use_index:
@@ -511,7 +513,7 @@ class StandaloneHTMLBuilder(Builder):
         # the global domain-specific indices
         self.write_domain_indices()
 
-        self.info()
+        logger.info('')
 
     def gen_additional_pages(self):
         # type: () -> None
@@ -520,25 +522,25 @@ class StandaloneHTMLBuilder(Builder):
             for pagename, context, template in pagelist:
                 self.handle_page(pagename, context, template)
 
-        self.info(bold('writing additional pages...'), nonl=1)
+        logger.info(bold('writing additional pages...'), nonl=1)
 
         # additional pages from conf.py
         for pagename, template in self.config.html_additional_pages.items():
-            self.info(' '+pagename, nonl=1)
+            logger.info(' '+pagename, nonl=1)
             self.handle_page(pagename, {}, template)
 
         # the search page
         if self.search:
-            self.info(' search', nonl=1)
+            logger.info(' search', nonl=1)
             self.handle_page('search', {}, 'search.html')
 
         # the opensearch xml file
         if self.config.html_use_opensearch and self.search:
-            self.info(' opensearch', nonl=1)
+            logger.info(' opensearch', nonl=1)
             fn = path.join(self.outdir, '_static', 'opensearch.xml')
             self.handle_page('opensearch', {}, 'opensearch.xml', outfilename=fn)
 
-        self.info()
+        logger.info('')
 
     def write_genindex(self):
         # type: () -> None
@@ -555,7 +557,7 @@ class StandaloneHTMLBuilder(Builder):
             genindexcounts = indexcounts,
             split_index = self.config.html_split_index,
         )
-        self.info(' genindex', nonl=1)
+        logger.info(' genindex', nonl=1)
 
         if self.config.html_split_index:
             self.handle_page('genindex', genindexcontext,
@@ -578,7 +580,7 @@ class StandaloneHTMLBuilder(Builder):
                 content = content,
                 collapse_index = collapse,
             )
-            self.info(' ' + indexname, nonl=1)
+            logger.info(' ' + indexname, nonl=1)
             self.handle_page(indexname, indexcontext, 'domainindex.html')
 
     def copy_image_files(self):
@@ -618,7 +620,7 @@ class StandaloneHTMLBuilder(Builder):
     def copy_static_files(self):
         # type: () -> None
         # copy static files
-        self.info(bold('copying static files... '), nonl=True)
+        logger.info(bold('copying static files... '), nonl=True)
         ensuredir(path.join(self.outdir, '_static'))
         # first, create pygments style file
         with open(path.join(self.outdir, '_static', 'pygments.css'), 'w') as f:
@@ -674,12 +676,12 @@ class StandaloneHTMLBuilder(Builder):
             elif not path.isfile(icontarget):
                 copyfile(path.join(self.confdir, self.config.html_favicon),
                          icontarget)
-        self.info('done')
+        logger.info('done')
 
     def copy_extra_files(self):
         # type: () -> None
         # copy html_extra_path files
-        self.info(bold('copying extra files... '), nonl=True)
+        logger.info(bold('copying extra files... '), nonl=True)
         excluded = Matcher(self.config.exclude_patterns)
 
         for extra_path in self.config.html_extra_path:
@@ -689,7 +691,7 @@ class StandaloneHTMLBuilder(Builder):
                 continue
 
             copy_asset(entry, self.outdir, excluded)
-        self.info('done')
+        logger.info('done')
 
     def write_buildinfo(self):
         # type: () -> None
@@ -890,7 +892,7 @@ class StandaloneHTMLBuilder(Builder):
 
     def dump_inventory(self):
         # type: () -> None
-        self.info(bold('dumping object inventory... '), nonl=True)
+        logger.info(bold('dumping object inventory... '), nonl=True)
         with open(path.join(self.outdir, INVENTORY_FILENAME), 'wb') as f:
             f.write((u'# Sphinx inventory version 2\n'
                      u'# Project: %s\n'
@@ -913,11 +915,11 @@ class StandaloneHTMLBuilder(Builder):
                         (u'%s %s:%s %s %s %s\n' % (name, domainname, type,
                                                    prio, uri, dispname)).encode('utf-8')))
             f.write(compressor.flush())
-        self.info('done')
+        logger.info('done')
 
     def dump_search_index(self):
         # type: () -> None
-        self.info(
+        logger.info(
             bold('dumping search index in %s ... ' % self.indexer.label()),
             nonl=True)
         self.indexer.prune(self.env.all_docs)
@@ -931,7 +933,7 @@ class StandaloneHTMLBuilder(Builder):
         with f:
             self.indexer.dump(f, self.indexer_format)  # type: ignore
         movefile(searchindexfn + '.tmp', searchindexfn)
-        self.info('done')
+        logger.info('done')
 
 
 class DirectoryHTMLBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
@@ -1097,36 +1099,36 @@ class SingleFileHTMLBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
         # type: (Any) -> None
         docnames = self.env.all_docs
 
-        self.info(bold('preparing documents... '), nonl=True)
+        logger.info(bold('preparing documents... '), nonl=True)
         self.prepare_writing(docnames)
-        self.info('done')
+        logger.info('done')
 
-        self.info(bold('assembling single document... '), nonl=True)
+        logger.info(bold('assembling single document... '), nonl=True)
         doctree = self.assemble_doctree()
         self.env.toc_secnumbers = self.assemble_toc_secnumbers()
         self.env.toc_fignumbers = self.assemble_toc_fignumbers()
-        self.info()
-        self.info(bold('writing... '), nonl=True)
+        logger.info('')
+        logger.info(bold('writing... '), nonl=True)
         self.write_doc_serialized(self.config.master_doc, doctree)
         self.write_doc(self.config.master_doc, doctree)
-        self.info('done')
+        logger.info('done')
 
     def finish(self):
         # type: () -> None
         # no indices or search pages are supported
-        self.info(bold('writing additional files...'), nonl=1)
+        logger.info(bold('writing additional files...'), nonl=1)
 
         # additional pages from conf.py
         for pagename, template in self.config.html_additional_pages.items():
-            self.info(' '+pagename, nonl=1)
+            logger.info(' '+pagename, nonl=1)
             self.handle_page(pagename, {}, template)
 
         if self.config.html_use_opensearch:
-            self.info(' opensearch', nonl=1)
+            logger.info(' opensearch', nonl=1)
             fn = path.join(self.outdir, '_static', 'opensearch.xml')
             self.handle_page('opensearch', {}, 'opensearch.xml', outfilename=fn)
 
-        self.info()
+        logger.info('')
 
         self.copy_image_files()
         self.copy_download_files()
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/htmlhelp.py b/sphinx/builders/htmlhelp.py
index 79268ab74..5f94460c8 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/htmlhelp.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/htmlhelp.py
@@ -18,11 +18,15 @@ from os import path
 from docutils import nodes
 
 from sphinx import addnodes
-from sphinx.util.osutil import make_filename
 from sphinx.builders.html import StandaloneHTMLBuilder
+from sphinx.util import logging
+from sphinx.util.osutil import make_filename
 from sphinx.util.pycompat import htmlescape
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 # Project file (*.hhp) template.  'outname' is the file basename (like
 # the pythlp in pythlp.hhp); 'version' is the doc version number (like
 # the 2.2 in Python 2.2).
@@ -207,12 +211,12 @@ class HTMLHelpBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
         StandaloneHTMLBuilder.write_doc(self, docname, doctree)
 
     def build_hhx(self, outdir, outname):
-        self.info('dumping stopword list...')
+        logger.info('dumping stopword list...')
         with self.open_file(outdir, outname+'.stp') as f:
             for word in sorted(stopwords):
                 print(word, file=f)
 
-        self.info('writing project file...')
+        logger.info('writing project file...')
         with self.open_file(outdir, outname+'.hhp') as f:
             f.write(project_template % {
                 'outname': outname,
@@ -233,7 +237,7 @@ class HTMLHelpBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
                         print(path.join(root, fn)[olen:].replace(os.sep, '\\'),
                               file=f)
 
-        self.info('writing TOC file...')
+        logger.info('writing TOC file...')
         with self.open_file(outdir, outname+'.hhc') as f:
             f.write(contents_header)
             # special books
@@ -273,7 +277,7 @@ class HTMLHelpBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
                 write_toc(node)
             f.write(contents_footer)
 
-        self.info('writing index file...')
+        logger.info('writing index file...')
         index = self.env.create_index(self)
         with self.open_file(outdir, outname+'.hhk') as f:
             f.write('<UL>\n')
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/latex.py b/sphinx/builders/latex.py
index 01be08cbd..15a127e7b 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/latex.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/latex.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ from docutils.utils import new_document
 from docutils.frontend import OptionParser
 
 from sphinx import package_dir, addnodes, highlighting
-from sphinx.util import texescape
+from sphinx.util import texescape, logging
 from sphinx.config import string_classes, ENUM
 from sphinx.errors import SphinxError
 from sphinx.locale import _
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ if False:
     from sphinx.application import Sphinx  # NOQA
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
     """
     Builds LaTeX output to create PDF.
@@ -119,7 +122,7 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
             destination = FileOutput(
                 destination_path=path.join(self.outdir, targetname),
                 encoding='utf-8')
-            self.info("processing " + targetname + "... ", nonl=1)
+            logger.info("processing " + targetname + "... ", nonl=1)
             toctrees = self.env.get_doctree(docname).traverse(addnodes.toctree)
             if toctrees:
                 if toctrees[0].get('maxdepth') > 0:
@@ -133,7 +136,7 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
                 appendices=((docclass != 'howto') and self.config.latex_appendices or []))
             doctree['tocdepth'] = tocdepth
             self.post_process_images(doctree)
-            self.info("writing... ", nonl=1)
+            logger.info("writing... ", nonl=1)
             doctree.settings = docsettings
             doctree.settings.author = author
             doctree.settings.title = title
@@ -141,7 +144,7 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
             doctree.settings.docname = docname
             doctree.settings.docclass = docclass
             docwriter.write(doctree, destination)
-            self.info("done")
+            logger.info("done")
 
     def get_contentsname(self, indexfile):
         # type: (unicode) -> unicode
@@ -157,7 +160,7 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
     def assemble_doctree(self, indexfile, toctree_only, appendices):
         # type: (unicode, bool, List[unicode]) -> nodes.Node
         self.docnames = set([indexfile] + appendices)
-        self.info(darkgreen(indexfile) + " ", nonl=1)
+        logger.info(darkgreen(indexfile) + " ", nonl=1)
         tree = self.env.get_doctree(indexfile)
         tree['docname'] = indexfile
         if toctree_only:
@@ -178,8 +181,8 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
             appendix = self.env.get_doctree(docname)
             appendix['docname'] = docname
             largetree.append(appendix)
-        self.info()
-        self.info("resolving references...")
+        logger.info('')
+        logger.info("resolving references...")
         self.env.resolve_references(largetree, indexfile, self)
         # resolve :ref:s to distant tex files -- we can't add a cross-reference,
         # but append the document name
@@ -202,16 +205,16 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
         # type: () -> None
         # copy image files
         if self.images:
-            self.info(bold('copying images...'), nonl=1)
+            logger.info(bold('copying images...'), nonl=1)
             for src, dest in iteritems(self.images):
-                self.info(' '+src, nonl=1)
+                logger.info(' '+src, nonl=1)
                 copy_asset_file(path.join(self.srcdir, src),
                                 path.join(self.outdir, dest))
-            self.info()
+            logger.info('')
 
         # copy TeX support files from texinputs
         context = {'latex_engine': self.config.latex_engine}
-        self.info(bold('copying TeX support files...'))
+        logger.info(bold('copying TeX support files...'))
         staticdirname = path.join(package_dir, 'texinputs')
         for filename in os.listdir(staticdirname):
             if not filename.startswith('.'):
@@ -220,11 +223,11 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
 
         # copy additional files
         if self.config.latex_additional_files:
-            self.info(bold('copying additional files...'), nonl=1)
+            logger.info(bold('copying additional files...'), nonl=1)
             for filename in self.config.latex_additional_files:
-                self.info(' '+filename, nonl=1)
+                logger.info(' '+filename, nonl=1)
                 copy_asset_file(path.join(self.confdir, filename), self.outdir)
-            self.info()
+            logger.info('')
 
         # the logo is handled differently
         if self.config.latex_logo:
@@ -232,7 +235,7 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
                 raise SphinxError('logo file %r does not exist' % self.config.latex_logo)
             else:
                 copy_asset_file(path.join(self.confdir, self.config.latex_logo), self.outdir)
-        self.info('done')
+        logger.info('done')
 
 
 def validate_config_values(app):
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/linkcheck.py b/sphinx/builders/linkcheck.py
index 0b95bcd6c..6a3c03e35 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/linkcheck.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/linkcheck.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ from requests.exceptions import HTTPError
 from six.moves import queue  # type: ignore
 from six.moves.urllib.parse import unquote
 from six.moves.html_parser import HTMLParser
-
 from docutils import nodes
 
 # 2015-06-25 barry@python.org.  This exception was deprecated in Python 3.3 and
@@ -33,7 +32,7 @@ except ImportError:
         pass
 
 from sphinx.builders import Builder
-from sphinx.util import encode_uri, requests
+from sphinx.util import encode_uri, requests, logging
 from sphinx.util.console import (  # type: ignore
     purple, red, darkgreen, darkgray, darkred, turquoise
 )
@@ -46,6 +45,9 @@ if False:
     from sphinx.util.requests.requests import Response  # NOQA
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 class AnchorCheckParser(HTMLParser):
     """Specialized HTML parser that looks for a specific anchor."""
 
@@ -231,24 +233,24 @@ class CheckExternalLinksBuilder(Builder):
         if status == 'working' and info == 'old':
             return
         if lineno:
-            self.info('(line %4d) ' % lineno, nonl=1)
+            logger.info('(line %4d) ' % lineno, nonl=1)
         if status == 'ignored':
             if info:
-                self.info(darkgray('-ignored- ') + uri + ': ' + info)
+                logger.info(darkgray('-ignored- ') + uri + ': ' + info)
             else:
-                self.info(darkgray('-ignored- ') + uri)
+                logger.info(darkgray('-ignored- ') + uri)
         elif status == 'local':
-            self.info(darkgray('-local-   ') + uri)
+            logger.info(darkgray('-local-   ') + uri)
             self.write_entry('local', docname, lineno, uri)
         elif status == 'working':
-            self.info(darkgreen('ok        ')  + uri + info)
+            logger.info(darkgreen('ok        ')  + uri + info)
         elif status == 'broken':
             self.write_entry('broken', docname, lineno, uri + ': ' + info)
             if self.app.quiet or self.app.warningiserror:
                 self.warn('broken link: %s (%s)' % (uri, info),
                           '%s:%s' % (self.env.doc2path(docname), lineno))
             else:
-                self.info(red('broken    ') + uri + red(' - ' + info))
+                logger.info(red('broken    ') + uri + red(' - ' + info))
         elif status == 'redirected':
             text, color = {
                 301: ('permanently', darkred),
@@ -259,7 +261,7 @@ class CheckExternalLinksBuilder(Builder):
             }[code]
             self.write_entry('redirected ' + text, docname, lineno,
                              uri + ' to ' + info)
-            self.info(color('redirect  ') + uri + color(' - ' + text + ' to '  + info))
+            logger.info(color('redirect  ') + uri + color(' - ' + text + ' to '  + info))
 
     def get_target_uri(self, docname, typ=None):
         # type: (unicode, unicode) -> unicode
@@ -275,7 +277,7 @@ class CheckExternalLinksBuilder(Builder):
 
     def write_doc(self, docname, doctree):
         # type: (unicode, nodes.Node) -> None
-        self.info()
+        logger.info('')
         n = 0
         for node in doctree.traverse(nodes.reference):
             if 'refuri' not in node:
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/manpage.py b/sphinx/builders/manpage.py
index e6f7c4104..cd8684c79 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/manpage.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/manpage.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from docutils.frontend import OptionParser
 from sphinx import addnodes
 from sphinx.builders import Builder
 from sphinx.environment import NoUri
+from sphinx.util import logging
 from sphinx.util.nodes import inline_all_toctrees
 from sphinx.util.osutil import make_filename
 from sphinx.util.console import bold, darkgreen  # type: ignore
@@ -30,6 +31,9 @@ if False:
     from sphinx.application import Sphinx  # NOQA
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 class ManualPageBuilder(Builder):
     """
     Builds groff output in manual page format.
@@ -62,7 +66,7 @@ class ManualPageBuilder(Builder):
             components=(docwriter,),
             read_config_files=True).get_default_values()
 
-        self.info(bold('writing... '), nonl=True)
+        logger.info(bold('writing... '), nonl=True)
 
         for info in self.config.man_pages:
             docname, name, description, authors, section = info
@@ -73,7 +77,7 @@ class ManualPageBuilder(Builder):
                     authors = []
 
             targetname = '%s.%s' % (name, section)
-            self.info(darkgreen(targetname) + ' { ', nonl=True)
+            logger.info(darkgreen(targetname) + ' { ', nonl=True)
             destination = FileOutput(
                 destination_path=path.join(self.outdir, targetname),
                 encoding='utf-8')
@@ -82,7 +86,7 @@ class ManualPageBuilder(Builder):
             docnames = set()  # type: Set[unicode]
             largetree = inline_all_toctrees(self, docnames, docname, tree,
                                             darkgreen, [docname])
-            self.info('} ', nonl=True)
+            logger.info('} ', nonl=True)
             self.env.resolve_references(largetree, docname, self)
             # remove pending_xref nodes
             for pendingnode in largetree.traverse(addnodes.pending_xref):
@@ -95,7 +99,7 @@ class ManualPageBuilder(Builder):
             largetree.settings.section = section
 
             docwriter.write(largetree, destination)
-        self.info()
+        logger.info('')
 
     def finish(self):
         # type: () -> None
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/qthelp.py b/sphinx/builders/qthelp.py
index c49f3d767..6ed9c6b7e 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/qthelp.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/qthelp.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from docutils import nodes
 
 from sphinx import addnodes
 from sphinx.builders.html import StandaloneHTMLBuilder
-from sphinx.util import force_decode
+from sphinx.util import force_decode, logging
 from sphinx.util.osutil import make_filename
 from sphinx.util.pycompat import htmlescape
 
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ if False:
     from sphinx.application import Sphinx  # NOQA
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 _idpattern = re.compile(
     r'(?P<title>.+) (\((class in )?(?P<id>[\w\.]+)( (?P<descr>\w+))?\))$')
 
@@ -138,7 +141,7 @@ class QtHelpBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
 
     def build_qhp(self, outdir, outname):
         # type: (unicode, unicode) -> None
-        self.info('writing project file...')
+        logger.info('writing project file...')
 
         # sections
         tocdoc = self.env.get_and_resolve_doctree(self.config.master_doc, self,
@@ -216,7 +219,7 @@ class QtHelpBuilder(StandaloneHTMLBuilder):
             nspace, 'doc', self.get_target_uri(self.config.master_doc))
         startpage = 'qthelp://' + posixpath.join(nspace, 'doc', 'index.html')
 
-        self.info('writing collection project file...')
+        logger.info('writing collection project file...')
         with codecs.open(path.join(outdir, outname+'.qhcp'), 'w', 'utf-8') as f:  # type: ignore  # NOQA
             f.write(collection_template % {  # type: ignore
                 'outname': htmlescape(outname),
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/texinfo.py b/sphinx/builders/texinfo.py
index 354575157..e46320456 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/texinfo.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/texinfo.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from sphinx import addnodes
 from sphinx.locale import _
 from sphinx.builders import Builder
 from sphinx.environment import NoUri
+from sphinx.util import logging
 from sphinx.util.nodes import inline_all_toctrees
 from sphinx.util.osutil import SEP, copyfile, make_filename
 from sphinx.util.console import bold, darkgreen  # type: ignore
@@ -33,6 +34,8 @@ if False:
     from typing import Any, Iterable, Tuple, Union  # NOQA
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 TEXINFO_MAKEFILE = '''\
 # Makefile for Sphinx Texinfo output
 
@@ -152,11 +155,11 @@ class TexinfoBuilder(Builder):
             destination = FileOutput(
                 destination_path=path.join(self.outdir, targetname),
                 encoding='utf-8')
-            self.info("processing " + targetname + "... ", nonl=1)
+            logger.info("processing " + targetname + "... ", nonl=1)
             doctree = self.assemble_doctree(
                 docname, toctree_only,
                 appendices=(self.config.texinfo_appendices or []))
-            self.info("writing... ", nonl=1)
+            logger.info("writing... ", nonl=1)
             self.post_process_images(doctree)
             docwriter = TexinfoWriter(self)
             settings = OptionParser(
@@ -173,12 +176,12 @@ class TexinfoBuilder(Builder):
             settings.docname = docname
             doctree.settings = settings
             docwriter.write(doctree, destination)
-            self.info("done")
+            logger.info("done")
 
     def assemble_doctree(self, indexfile, toctree_only, appendices):
         # type: (unicode, bool, List[unicode]) -> nodes.Node
         self.docnames = set([indexfile] + appendices)
-        self.info(darkgreen(indexfile) + " ", nonl=1)
+        logger.info(darkgreen(indexfile) + " ", nonl=1)
         tree = self.env.get_doctree(indexfile)
         tree['docname'] = indexfile
         if toctree_only:
@@ -199,8 +202,8 @@ class TexinfoBuilder(Builder):
             appendix = self.env.get_doctree(docname)
             appendix['docname'] = docname
             largetree.append(appendix)
-        self.info()
-        self.info("resolving references...")
+        logger.info('')
+        logger.info("resolving references...")
         self.env.resolve_references(largetree, indexfile, self)
         # TODO: add support for external :ref:s
         for pendingnode in largetree.traverse(addnodes.pending_xref):
@@ -222,23 +225,23 @@ class TexinfoBuilder(Builder):
         # type: () -> None
         # copy image files
         if self.images:
-            self.info(bold('copying images...'), nonl=1)
+            logger.info(bold('copying images...'), nonl=1)
             for src, dest in iteritems(self.images):
-                self.info(' '+src, nonl=1)
+                logger.info(' '+src, nonl=1)
                 copyfile(path.join(self.srcdir, src),
                          path.join(self.outdir, dest))
-            self.info()
+            logger.info('')
 
-        self.info(bold('copying Texinfo support files... '), nonl=True)
+        logger.info(bold('copying Texinfo support files... '), nonl=True)
         # copy Makefile
         fn = path.join(self.outdir, 'Makefile')
-        self.info(fn, nonl=1)
+        logger.info(fn, nonl=1)
         try:
             with open(fn, 'w') as mkfile:
                 mkfile.write(TEXINFO_MAKEFILE)
         except (IOError, OSError) as err:
             self.warn("error writing file %s: %s" % (fn, err))
-        self.info(' done')
+        logger.info(' done')
 
 
 def setup(app):
diff --git a/sphinx/environment/__init__.py b/sphinx/environment/__init__.py
index a952146fe..663442503 100644
--- a/sphinx/environment/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/environment/__init__.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ from docutils.frontend import OptionParser
 
 from sphinx import addnodes
 from sphinx.io import SphinxStandaloneReader, SphinxDummyWriter, SphinxFileInput
-from sphinx.util import get_matching_docs, docname_join, FilenameUniqDict
+from sphinx.util import get_matching_docs, docname_join, FilenameUniqDict, logging
 from sphinx.util.nodes import clean_astext, WarningStream, is_translatable, \
     process_only_nodes
 from sphinx.util.osutil import SEP, getcwd, fs_encoding, ensuredir
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ if False:
     from sphinx.domains import Domain  # NOQA
     from sphinx.environment.managers import EnvironmentManager  # NOQA
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 default_settings = {
     'embed_stylesheet': False,
     'cloak_email_addresses': True,
@@ -553,7 +555,7 @@ class BuildEnvironment(object):
         # this cache also needs to be updated every time
         self._nitpick_ignore = set(self.config.nitpick_ignore)
 
-        app.info(bold('updating environment: '), nonl=True)
+        logger.info(bold('updating environment: '), nonl=True)
 
         added, changed, removed = self.get_outdated_files(config_changed)
 
@@ -569,7 +571,7 @@ class BuildEnvironment(object):
 
         msg += '%s added, %s changed, %s removed' % (len(added), len(changed),
                                                      len(removed))
-        app.info(msg)
+        logger.info(msg)
 
         self.app = app
 
@@ -664,7 +666,7 @@ class BuildEnvironment(object):
             tasks.add_task(read_process, chunk, merge)
 
         # make sure all threads have finished
-        app.info(bold('waiting for workers...'))
+        logger.info(bold('waiting for workers...'))
         tasks.join()
 
         for warning, kwargs in warnings:
diff --git a/sphinx/ext/autodoc.py b/sphinx/ext/autodoc.py
index 4251c7169..3e7f84b8e 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/autodoc.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/autodoc.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ from sphinx.util import rpartition, force_decode
 from sphinx.locale import _
 from sphinx.pycode import ModuleAnalyzer, PycodeError
 from sphinx.application import ExtensionError
+from sphinx.util import logging
 from sphinx.util.nodes import nested_parse_with_titles
 from sphinx.util.inspect import getargspec, isdescriptor, safe_getmembers, \
     safe_getattr, object_description, is_builtin_class_method, \
@@ -52,6 +53,8 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
     typing = None
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 # This type isn't exposed directly in any modules, but can be found
 # here in most Python versions
 MethodDescriptorType = type(type.__subclasses__)
@@ -581,26 +584,25 @@ class Documenter(object):
 
         Returns True if successful, False if an error occurred.
         """
-        dbg = self.env.app.debug
         if self.objpath:
-            dbg('[autodoc] from %s import %s',
-                self.modname, '.'.join(self.objpath))
+            logger.debug('[autodoc] from %s import %s',
+                         self.modname, '.'.join(self.objpath))
         try:
-            dbg('[autodoc] import %s', self.modname)
+            logger.debug('[autodoc] import %s', self.modname)
             for modname in self.env.config.autodoc_mock_imports:
-                dbg('[autodoc] adding a mock module %s!', modname)
+                logger.debug('[autodoc] adding a mock module %s!', modname)
                 mock_import(modname)
             with warnings.catch_warnings():
                 warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", category=ImportWarning)
                 __import__(self.modname)
             parent = None
             obj = self.module = sys.modules[self.modname]
-            dbg('[autodoc] => %r', obj)
+            logger.debug('[autodoc] => %r', obj)
             for part in self.objpath:
                 parent = obj
-                dbg('[autodoc] getattr(_, %r)', part)
+                logger.debug('[autodoc] getattr(_, %r)', part)
                 obj = self.get_attr(obj, part)
-                dbg('[autodoc] => %r', obj)
+                logger.debug('[autodoc] => %r', obj)
                 self.object_name = part
             self.parent = parent
             self.object = obj
@@ -622,7 +624,7 @@ class Documenter(object):
                           traceback.format_exc()
             if PY2:
                 errmsg = errmsg.decode('utf-8')  # type: ignore
-            dbg(errmsg)
+            logger.debug(errmsg)
             self.directive.warn(errmsg)
             self.env.note_reread()
             return False
@@ -1024,7 +1026,7 @@ class Documenter(object):
             # be cached anyway)
             self.analyzer.find_attr_docs()
         except PycodeError as err:
-            self.env.app.debug('[autodoc] module analyzer failed: %s', err)
+            logger.debug('[autodoc] module analyzer failed: %s', err)
             # no source file -- e.g. for builtin and C modules
             self.analyzer = None
             # at least add the module.__file__ as a dependency
@@ -1730,8 +1732,8 @@ class AutoDirective(Directive):
             source, lineno = self.reporter.get_source_and_line(self.lineno)
         except AttributeError:
             source = lineno = None
-        self.env.app.debug('[autodoc] %s:%s: input:\n%s',
-                           source, lineno, self.block_text)
+        logger.debug('[autodoc] %s:%s: input:\n%s',
+                     source, lineno, self.block_text)
 
         # find out what documenter to call
         objtype = self.name[4:]
@@ -1760,7 +1762,7 @@ class AutoDirective(Directive):
         if not self.result:
             return self.warnings
 
-        self.env.app.debug2('[autodoc] output:\n%s', '\n'.join(self.result))
+        logger.debug2('[autodoc] output:\n%s', '\n'.join(self.result))
 
         # record all filenames as dependencies -- this will at least
         # partially make automatic invalidation possible
diff --git a/sphinx/ext/autosummary/__init__.py b/sphinx/ext/autosummary/__init__.py
index 158692c1e..cbe7c08f0 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/autosummary/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/autosummary/__init__.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ from docutils import nodes
 
 import sphinx
 from sphinx import addnodes
-from sphinx.util import import_object, rst
+from sphinx.util import import_object, rst, logging
 from sphinx.pycode import ModuleAnalyzer, PycodeError
 from sphinx.ext.autodoc import Options
 
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ if False:
     from sphinx.environment import BuildEnvironment  # NOQA
     from sphinx.ext.autodoc import Documenter  # NOQA
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 # -- autosummary_toc node ------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -305,8 +307,7 @@ class Autosummary(Directive):
                 # be cached anyway)
                 documenter.analyzer.find_attr_docs()
             except PycodeError as err:
-                documenter.env.app.debug(
-                    '[autodoc] module analyzer failed: %s', err)
+                logger.debug('[autodoc] module analyzer failed: %s', err)
                 # no source file -- e.g. for builtin and C modules
                 documenter.analyzer = None
 
diff --git a/sphinx/ext/doctest.py b/sphinx/ext/doctest.py
index b0c1f61f5..d8311c3b5 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/doctest.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/doctest.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ from docutils.parsers.rst import Directive, directives
 
 import sphinx
 from sphinx.builders import Builder
-from sphinx.util import force_decode
+from sphinx.util import force_decode, logging
 from sphinx.util.nodes import set_source_info
 from sphinx.util.console import bold  # type: ignore
 from sphinx.util.osutil import fs_encoding
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ if False:
     from typing import Any, Callable, IO, Iterable, Sequence, Tuple  # NOQA
     from sphinx.application import Sphinx  # NOQA
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 blankline_re = re.compile(r'^\s*<BLANKLINE>', re.MULTILINE)
 doctestopt_re = re.compile(r'#\s*doctest:.+$', re.MULTILINE)
 
@@ -262,7 +264,7 @@ Results of doctest builder run on %s
 
     def _out(self, text):
         # type: (unicode) -> None
-        self.info(text, nonl=True)
+        logger.info(text, nonl=True)
         self.outfile.write(text)
 
     def _warn_out(self, text):
@@ -270,7 +272,7 @@ Results of doctest builder run on %s
         if self.app.quiet or self.app.warningiserror:
             self.warn(text)
         else:
-            self.info(text, nonl=True)
+            logger.info(text, nonl=True)
         if isinstance(text, binary_type):
             text = force_decode(text, None)
         self.outfile.write(text)
@@ -311,7 +313,7 @@ Doctest summary
         if build_docnames is None:
             build_docnames = sorted(self.env.all_docs)
 
-        self.info(bold('running tests...'))
+        logger.info(bold('running tests...'))
         for docname in build_docnames:
             # no need to resolve the doctree
             doctree = self.env.get_doctree(docname)
diff --git a/sphinx/ext/intersphinx.py b/sphinx/ext/intersphinx.py
index d24290436..41f00e5a1 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/intersphinx.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/intersphinx.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ from docutils.utils import relative_path
 import sphinx
 from sphinx.locale import _
 from sphinx.builders.html import INVENTORY_FILENAME
-from sphinx.util import requests
+from sphinx.util import requests, logging
 
 if False:
     # For type annotation
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ if False:
 
     Inventory = Dict[unicode, Dict[unicode, Tuple[unicode, unicode, unicode, unicode]]]
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 UTF8StreamReader = codecs.lookup('utf-8')[2]
 
@@ -235,7 +236,7 @@ def fetch_inventory(app, uri, inv):
         if hasattr(f, 'url'):
             newinv = f.url  # type: ignore
             if inv != newinv:
-                app.info('intersphinx inventory has moved: %s -> %s' % (inv, newinv))
+                logger.info('intersphinx inventory has moved: %s -> %s' % (inv, newinv))
 
                 if uri in (inv, path.dirname(inv), path.dirname(inv) + '/'):
                     uri = path.dirname(newinv)
@@ -294,7 +295,7 @@ def load_mappings(app):
             if '://' not in inv or uri not in cache \
                     or cache[uri][1] < cache_time:
                 safe_inv_url = _get_safe_url(inv)  # type: ignore
-                app.info(
+                logger.info(
                     'loading intersphinx inventory from %s...' % safe_inv_url)
                 invdata = fetch_inventory(app, uri, inv)
                 if invdata:
diff --git a/sphinx/ext/viewcode.py b/sphinx/ext/viewcode.py
index 813a465db..a4f93c144 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/viewcode.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/viewcode.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import sphinx
 from sphinx import addnodes
 from sphinx.locale import _
 from sphinx.pycode import ModuleAnalyzer
-from sphinx.util import get_full_modname
+from sphinx.util import get_full_modname, logging
 from sphinx.util.nodes import make_refnode
 from sphinx.util.console import blue  # type: ignore
 
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ if False:
     from sphinx.application import Sphinx  # NOQA
     from sphinx.environment import BuildEnvironment  # NOQA
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 def _get_full_modname(app, modname, attribute):
     # type: (Sphinx, str, unicode) -> unicode
@@ -37,16 +39,16 @@ def _get_full_modname(app, modname, attribute):
     except AttributeError:
         # sphinx.ext.viewcode can't follow class instance attribute
         # then AttributeError logging output only verbose mode.
-        app.verbose('Didn\'t find %s in %s' % (attribute, modname))
+        logger.verbose('Didn\'t find %s in %s' % (attribute, modname))
         return None
     except Exception as e:
         # sphinx.ext.viewcode follow python domain directives.
         # because of that, if there are no real modules exists that specified
         # by py:function or other directives, viewcode emits a lot of warnings.
         # It should be displayed only verbose mode.
-        app.verbose(traceback.format_exc().rstrip())
-        app.verbose('viewcode can\'t import %s, failed with error "%s"' %
-                    (modname, e))
+        logger.verbose(traceback.format_exc().rstrip())
+        logger.verbose('viewcode can\'t import %s, failed with error "%s"' %
+                       (modname, e))
         return None
 
 
diff --git a/sphinx/transforms/__init__.py b/sphinx/transforms/__init__.py
index a72541666..8d469eabe 100644
--- a/sphinx/transforms/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/transforms/__init__.py
@@ -15,9 +15,13 @@ from docutils.transforms.parts import ContentsFilter
 
 from sphinx import addnodes
 from sphinx.locale import _
+from sphinx.util import logging
 from sphinx.util.i18n import format_date
 from sphinx.util.nodes import apply_source_workaround
 
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 default_substitutions = set([
     'version',
     'release',
@@ -215,7 +219,7 @@ class FilterSystemMessages(Transform):
         filterlevel = env.config.keep_warnings and 2 or 5
         for node in self.document.traverse(nodes.system_message):
             if node['level'] < filterlevel:
-                env.app.debug('%s [filtered system message]', node.astext())
+                logger.debug('%s [filtered system message]', node.astext())
                 node.parent.remove(node)
 
 
diff --git a/sphinx/util/__init__.py b/sphinx/util/__init__.py
index d89aae374..404556f36 100644
--- a/sphinx/util/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/util/__init__.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ from six.moves.urllib.parse import urlsplit, urlunsplit, quote_plus, parse_qsl,
 from docutils.utils import relative_path
 
 from sphinx.errors import PycodeError, SphinxParallelError, ExtensionError
+from sphinx.util import logging
 from sphinx.util.console import strip_colors
 from sphinx.util.fileutil import copy_asset_file
 from sphinx.util.osutil import fs_encoding
@@ -46,6 +47,9 @@ if False:
     # For type annotation
     from typing import Any, Callable, Iterable, Pattern, Sequence, Tuple  # NOQA
 
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 # Generally useful regular expressions.
 ws_re = re.compile(r'\s+')                      # type: Pattern
 url_re = re.compile(r'(?P<schema>.+)://.*')     # type: Pattern
@@ -532,3 +536,12 @@ def split_docinfo(text):
         return '', result[0]
     else:
         return result[1:]
+
+
+def display_chunk(chunk):
+    # type: (Union[List, Tuple, unicode]) -> unicode
+    if isinstance(chunk, (list, tuple)):
+        if len(chunk) == 1:
+            return text_type(chunk[0])
+        return '%s .. %s' % (chunk[0], chunk[-1])
+    return text_type(chunk)