betwixt
A web debugging proxy that captures and analyzes network traffic using the Chrome DevTools interface.
What is betwixt?
Betwixt is a web debugging proxy tool that captures and analyzes network traffic from applications using the Chrome DevTools Network panel interface. It allows developers to inspect HTTP/HTTPS requests and responses outside of web browsers, helping debug network issues in various applications. The tool provides detailed traffic analysis similar to what's available in Chrome DevTools but for any application making web requests.
Developers and QA engineers who need to debug network traffic from desktop applications, command-line tools, or system-wide web requests. It's particularly useful for those already familiar with Chrome DevTools who want consistent debugging workflows.
Betwixt offers the familiar Chrome DevTools interface for network debugging applied to any application, not just browsers. Unlike commercial alternatives, it's free, open-source, and provides a consistent debugging experience for developers already comfortable with Chrome's tools.
Overview
:zap: Web Debugging Proxy based on Chrome DevTools Network panel.
Use Cases
Best For
- Debugging network requests from desktop applications
- Analyzing HTTP traffic from command-line tools and scripts
- Inspecting API calls from non-browser applications
- Learning about network protocols through real traffic inspection
- Debugging mobile app backend communications via system proxy
- Monitoring web traffic from system services and daemons
Not Ideal For
- Teams needing instant, no-configuration network debugging for browser-based applications
- Developers requiring advanced traffic manipulation like request modification or scripting
- Environments where system proxy changes are prohibited or difficult to implement
Pros & Cons
Pros
Uses the same UI as Chrome's Network panel, making it intuitive for web developers already comfortable with browser debugging tools, as shown in the screenshots.
Can capture traffic system-wide or for specific terminal sessions, offering versatility in debugging scenarios, per the setup instructions for proxy configuration.
Available for macOS, Windows, and Linux, ensuring accessibility across different operating systems, as indicated in the release downloads.
Supports analyzing encrypted traffic with additional configuration, which is crucial for modern web applications, though it requires extra steps as noted in the docs.
Cons
Requires manual configuration of certificates and proxy settings to decrypt HTTPS traffic, adding complexity and potential for errors compared to seamless tools.
Users must change system or application proxy settings manually, making it less user-friendly and prone to setup issues, as described in the setup guide.
Focuses on inspection with Chrome DevTools UI, lacking built-in capabilities for traffic modification, replay, or integration with automated testing frameworks.
Open Source Alternative To
betwixt is an open-source alternative to the following products:
Burp Suite is a comprehensive platform for web application security testing, used by penetration testers to identify vulnerabilities through intercepting and modifying HTTP traffic.
Charles is a web debugging proxy application that monitors and records HTTP/HTTPS traffic between a computer and the internet, used for development and testing of web applications.
Fiddler is a web debugging proxy tool that captures HTTP/HTTPS traffic between a computer and the internet, allowing developers to inspect, debug, and modify requests and responses.
Frequently Asked Questions
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