Technical notes on local-first network debugging
Deep engineering write-ups on API, mobile, AI, WebSocket, GraphQL, Web3/RPC direction, HTTPS security, SwiftUI, AppKit, SwiftNIO, and native macOS debugging.
Local-First Network Evidence: Debugging API, Mobile, AI, and Web3 Traffic on macOS
Why modern debugging needs more than request visibility: capture real traffic, inspect it in context, replay failures, compare what changed, redact secrets, and share evidence without moving sensitive traffic off your Mac.
Looking for a Proxyman alternative?
This shorter comparison page is the direct answer if you are evaluating native macOS proxy tools side by side.
Babylon: Proxy-Free Capture and Agent Runtime Traces in Rockxy
Babylon is a companion capture client that pairs with Rockxy and streams your app's HTTP, WebSocket, and runtime traces over an encrypted local connection — no system proxy and no CA certificate.
Why Localhost Traffic Isn't Showing in Your Proxy on macOS
Loopback requests to localhost and 127.0.0.1 skip the proxy by design. Route one client explicitly through Rockxy, clear the no-proxy list, and capture local traffic end to end.
How to Mock an API Response on macOS with Map Local
Point one API URL at a local JSON file with Rockxy Map Local and test error and edge states without a backend change.
How to Compare Two API Responses on macOS with Diff Compare
Capture two flows and use Rockxy Diff Compare on macOS to see exactly what changed across status, headers, JSON body, and timing.
How to Intercept and Edit a Request with Breakpoints on macOS
Pause a live request or response with Rockxy Breakpoints on macOS, edit it in flight, and continue — test a fix before touching code.
HTTP_PROXY, HTTPS_PROXY, and NO_PROXY on macOS: Why Your Proxy Variables Don't Work
Why HTTP_PROXY/HTTPS_PROXY get ignored and NO_PROXY silently drops your host on macOS — and how to route traffic into Rockxy.
How to Redirect an API to Staging or Localhost with Map Remote on macOS
Point a shipped build at staging or localhost with no rebuild — Rockxy Map Remote rewrites a request's destination on macOS.
How to Debug Behind a Corporate Proxy on macOS by Chaining Rockxy Upstream
On a managed network every request must go through the company proxy. Chain Rockxy upstream to keep debugging.
How to Debug GraphQL Requests over HTTP on macOS
Every GraphQL call is one POST to /graphql. Capture and read the query, variables, and response per operation in Rockxy on macOS.
How to Export and Import a HAR File on macOS
Export captured flows to a HAR bug report and import a teammate's HAR in Rockxy on macOS — redacting secrets before the file leaves your Mac.
Requests Not Showing Up in Your Proxy on macOS: A Capture Checklist
An ordered triage checklist for when nothing shows up in your macOS proxy: capture state, client routing, HTTPS scope, certificate trust, and filters.
How to Redact Secrets and PII Before Sharing a Capture on macOS
A capture carries bearer tokens, cookies, and PII. Redact them in Rockxy first, then export a HAR or share a Workspace link — safe to hand off.
How to Install and Trust the Rockxy Root Certificate on macOS
HTTPS rows show only tunnels? Install and trust Rockxy's root certificate on macOS to decrypt the HTTPS traffic you own.
How to Replay a Failed API Request on macOS Without Reproducing It
Replay a captured failed API call in Rockxy on macOS, edit it with Compose, and diff the result — no driving the app to reproduce it.
Trust, TLS, and Redaction: A Security Model for Local HTTP Debugging
How Rockxy structures certificate trust, per-host HTTPS decryption, helper boundaries, input limits, stored traffic, and redaction before sharing.
Inside a Native macOS Network Debugger: SwiftUI, AppKit, SwiftNIO, and Secure Code Structure
A technical look at Rockxy's native Swift architecture: SwiftUI surfaces, AppKit scale points, SwiftNIO proxy flow, actors, and helper boundaries.
How to Debug Go (net/http) API Requests on macOS
Go's net/http client won't route through your proxy or trust the debug cert by default. Capture Go API requests in Rockxy with explicit proxy and CA config.
How to Debug Ruby (Net::HTTP and Faraday) API Requests on macOS
Ruby's Net::HTTP and Faraday route through a proxy only when told to. Capture Ruby API requests in Rockxy with explicit proxy and CA settings.
How to Simulate a Slow or Failing Network on macOS with Rockxy
Fast wifi hides your loading, timeout, and error states. Throttle, delay, or fail requests in Rockxy on macOS to test them before shipping.
How to Filter and Search Thousands of HTTP Requests on macOS
Isolate one flow from thousands with Rockxy's multi-field filters, saved filters, and JSONPath body matching on macOS.
How to Let Claude or Cursor Debug Your Captured Traffic with Local MCP on macOS
Rockxy's local MCP lets Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client list, read, replay, and diff your captured flows on macOS — no more pasting request dumps into chat.
How to Inspect WebSocket and Protobuf Frames on macOS
Capture a WebSocket in Rockxy on macOS, read its frames in order, and decode binary Protobuf frames without a schema to find the message that broke your UI.
How to Copy Any Captured Request as cURL on macOS
Select any captured flow in Rockxy and Copy as cURL to reproduce the exact request — method, headers, and body — in a terminal or a bug report.
Share a Debugging Session With Your Team Without Leaking Secrets
Rockxy Workspace turns a local macOS capture into a sanitized, scoped browser link — redact secrets locally, then share with your team. The Team tier, $9/seat/month.
How to Debug React Native API Requests on macOS
Capture React Native API traffic across JavaScript fetch calls, native SDKs, simulators, emulators, and devices with a local macOS proxy.
Advanced Flutter API Debugging on macOS with Rockxy
A production-style workflow for Flutter HTTPS, localhost, emulator/device routing, headers, mapping, blocking, latency, replay, and scripting.
How to Use Upstream Proxy and WebSocket Protobuf Decoding in Rockxy
Route Rockxy through an upstream HTTP or HTTPS proxy, configure bypass rules, and decode binary WebSocket Protobuf frames without a schema.
How to Debug Node.js API Requests on macOS
Start with one known localhost request, prove the proxy route in Rockxy, then move to axios, Node core, got, and HTTPS certificate trust.
How to Debug Python API Requests on macOS
Start with one known localhost request, prove the proxy route in Rockxy, then move to requests, httpx, aiohttp, urllib3, and HTTPS certificate trust.
How to Debug Flutter API Requests on macOS
The shortest path from "my Flutter app is timing out" to "I can see the real request, response, headers, and TLS behavior."
Debugging a Failing Stripe Webhook with Claude and Rockxy
A real debugging session using Rockxy capture plus MCP tools to isolate a failing Stripe webhook flow in minutes.
How to Connect Claude Desktop to Rockxy's MCP Server (3-Minute Setup)
A direct setup guide for connecting Claude Desktop to Rockxy so your assistant can inspect real captured traffic.
MCP Servers for API Debugging on macOS — A Developer's Shortlist
What matters when you want an assistant to inspect local traffic, and which kinds of tools actually hold up in a real workflow.
What Is an MCP Server? A Developer's Primer for 2026
A practical primer on MCP, why local tools fit stdio well, and how structured traffic access changes debugging workflows.
Charles Proxy Alternatives for macOS in 2026
A side-by-side look at the main HTTP debugging tools on macOS and the trade-offs that actually matter in day-to-day use.
How Rockxy Intercepts HTTPS Without Compromising Security
A technical walkthrough of certificate trust, per-host leaf certificates, and why local HTTPS interception does not need to be opaque.
Virtual-Scrolling 100k Network Requests in SwiftUI
Why Rockxy uses an AppKit bridge for very large flow lists, and what that buys in memory, smoothness, and responsiveness.
Charles Proxy vs Proxyman vs Rockxy
An honest breakdown of the three most common macOS HTTP debugging workflows: native UX, pricing, trust, and daily usability.
Why We Chose SwiftNIO Over Network.framework
A lower-level look at the networking stack choices behind Rockxy and why byte-level control mattered for a debugging proxy.
How to Debug HTTPS Traffic on macOS with a Local Proxy
The practical setup path for HTTPS interception on macOS: trust, TLS, and what you can actually inspect once the proxy is live.
Why We Built Rockxy
The origin story behind a native, open-source macOS proxy that treats local trust, source visibility, and developer ergonomics as first-class concerns.