Remote debugging toolset for iOS apps using Chrome Developer Tools to inspect network traffic, Core Data, view hierarchy, and logs.
PonyDebugger is a remote debugging toolset for iOS applications that allows developers to use Chrome Developer Tools to debug network traffic, Core Data, view hierarchies, and logs. It consists of a client library integrated into the iOS app and a gateway server that proxies debugging data to the browser.
iOS developers working on native applications who need advanced debugging capabilities beyond Xcode's built-in tools, especially for inspecting network requests and Core Data in real-time.
It provides a familiar Chrome DevTools interface for iOS debugging, supports secure traffic inspection, and offers unique features like Core Data browsing and remote object introspection without requiring app modifications or physical device debugging.
Remote network and data debugging for your native iOS app using Chrome Developer Tools
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Leverages the familiar Chrome Developer Tools interface, allowing developers to use existing web debugging skills for iOS app inspection without learning new tools.
Proxies HTTPS traffic directly, enabling debugging of secure connections without man-in-the-middle setup, as it forwards traffic rather than sniffing it.
Provides a read-only browser for NSManagedObjectContexts, letting developers inspect entities and managed objects visually in Chrome DevTools' Resource tab.
Allows dynamic editing of view attributes and interactive highlighting, with gestures to move and resize views directly from the app, as shown in the view hierarchy debugging feature.
Last update was in 2014 (v0.4.0), so it lacks support for newer iOS versions, Swift, and may have unresolved bugs or compatibility issues with modern development practices.
Requires installing a Python script for the gateway server, integrating the client via CocoaPods or manual steps, and managing dependencies like SocketRocket, which adds setup overhead.
CoreData.framework must be linked even if Core Data debugging is not used, adding unnecessary size and dependencies to the app, as noted in the known issues.
Designed for NSURLConnection and NSURLSession in Objective-C, with no support for Swift concurrency, URLSession in Swift, or newer iOS frameworks introduced after 2014.