Proxelar
A programmable MITM proxy written in Rust for intercepting, inspecting, and modifying HTTP/HTTPS traffic with Lua scripting.
What is Proxelar?
Proxelar is a programmable man-in-the-middle proxy written in Rust that intercepts HTTP/HTTPS traffic between applications and the internet. It allows developers to inspect, modify, block, or mock requests and responses in real-time using Lua scripting, solving the problem of debugging and understanding network traffic without guessing.
Developers, QA engineers, and security researchers who need to debug APIs, reverse engineer third-party services, test mobile applications, or automate traffic transformations for development and testing purposes.
Developers choose Proxelar for its combination of performance (thanks to Rust), flexibility (via Lua scripting), and multiple interfaces (TUI, terminal, web GUI). It provides a powerful, open-source alternative to commercial debugging proxies with features like HTTPS interception and both forward and reverse proxy modes.
Overview
A programmable MITM proxy that intercepts HTTP/HTTPS traffic so you don't have to guess what your app is doing. Forward & reverse modes, TLS interception, TUI, terminal, and web GUI.
Use Cases
Best For
- Debugging and inspecting API calls in web or mobile applications
- Reverse engineering third-party services by intercepting and analyzing traffic
- Testing mobile apps by mocking API responses or injecting errors
- Automating request/response transformations with custom Lua scripts
- Security testing by intercepting and modifying HTTPS traffic
- Developing and testing web applications with modified headers or CORS policies
Not Ideal For
- Production environments requiring high-availability load balancing or enterprise security integrations
- Teams preferring GUI-based configuration over writing custom Lua scripts
- Projects needing to intercept non-HTTP protocols like WebSockets or gRPC
Pros & Cons
Pros
Enables real-time traffic modification with on_request and on_response hooks, as demonstrated in examples like blocking domains or mocking API endpoints.
Offers terminal output, an interactive TUI (ratatui), and a web GUI (axum + WebSocket), allowing users to choose how they monitor and interact with traffic.
Automatic CA generation and a built-in web page (http://proxel.ar) simplify certificate installation for decrypting TLS traffic without manual configuration.
Built in Rust, ensuring efficient and reliable handling of HTTP/HTTPS traffic interception and processing, as highlighted in the project description.
Cons
Requires installing a custom CA certificate, which can be cumbersome on some systems and browsers, despite the provided web-based install page.
Focuses solely on HTTP/HTTPS traffic, with no mention of intercepting other protocols like WebSockets or gRPC, restricting its use for broader network debugging.
Advanced customization depends on Lua scripting, which may deter users unfamiliar with Lua or those seeking a more configuration-driven approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
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