split functionality file across new module as was getting too long on its own. All functions remian the same, but imports will need to be updated.

functionality/debug.py

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+"""
+This file contains functions for debugging and logging.
+
+Author(s): David Marchant
+"""
+
+from typing import Any, Tuple
+
+from core.correctness.validation import check_type
+from core.correctness.vars import DEBUG_INFO, DEBUG_WARNING
+
+
+def setup_debugging(print:Any=None, logging:int=0)->Tuple[Any,int]:
+    """Create a place for debug messages to be sent. Always returns a place, 
+    along with a logging level."""
+    check_type(logging, int)
+    if print is None:
+        return None, 0
+    else:
+        if not isinstance(print, object):
+            raise TypeError(f"Invalid print location provided")
+        writeable = getattr(print, "write", None)
+        if not writeable or not callable(writeable):
+            raise TypeError(f"Print object does not implement required "
+                "'write' function")
+
+    return print, logging
+
+
+def print_debug(print_target, debug_level, msg, level)->None:
+    """Function to print a message to the debug target, if its level exceeds 
+    the given one."""
+    if print_target is None:
+        return
+    else:
+        if level <= debug_level:
+            status = "ERROR"
+            if level == DEBUG_INFO:
+                status = "INFO"
+            elif level == DEBUG_WARNING:
+                status = "WARNING"
+            print(f"{status}: {msg}", file=print_target)