As a mobile developer, I spend a lot of time debugging API requests.
Most of the time, the workflow looks something like this:
- Open Charles Proxy or Proxyman on a Mac
- Configure proxy settings
- Install certificates
- Connect devices to the same network
- Start inspecting traffic
These tools are excellent and have become essential parts of many developers’ workflows.
But recently I found myself in a situation where I only had my iPhone with me.
No MacBook.
No desktop setup.
I simply wanted to inspect HTTPS traffic from a mobile app.
That raised a simple question:
Why is mobile network debugging still so dependent on desktop tools?
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The Problem
Modern mobile applications communicate with dozens of APIs.
When something goes wrong, developers often need to inspect:
- Request headers
- Authentication tokens
- Request payloads
- Response bodies
- HTTP status codes
For years, desktop proxy tools have been the standard solution.
The problem is that they assume you always have access to a computer.
For quick testing, QA validation, or debugging on the go, that assumption doesn’t always hold true.
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Existing Solutions
Today, many developers rely on tools such as:
- Charles Proxy
- Proxyman
- HTTP Toolkit
They’re powerful and battle-tested.
However, they are primarily designed around a desktop-first workflow.
I started wondering what a mobile-first debugging experience would look like.
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Building a Mobile-First Workflow
That curiosity eventually led me to build Moni Proxy.
The goal wasn’t to replace existing tools.
The goal was simply to make network debugging easier when working directly from mobile devices.
The core requirements were straightforward:
✅ Capture HTTPS traffic
✅ Inspect requests and responses
✅ Remote debugging support
✅ Minimal setup
✅ Native mobile experience
The ideal workflow became:
- Open Moni Proxy
- Start a session
- Connect a device
- Inspect traffic in real time
No desktop required.
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A Typical Debugging Scenario
Imagine you’re testing a mobile application and an API call suddenly fails.
Without traffic inspection, you’re often guessing:
- Was the request sent?
- Did the token expire?
- Did the backend return an error?
- Was the payload malformed?
Being able to inspect raw requests and responses immediately answers those questions.
For mobile developers and QA engineers, this can save a surprising amount of time.
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Lessons Learned
Building developer tools is interesting because developers already have good solutions.
The challenge isn’t creating another tool.
The challenge is improving a specific workflow.
In my case, I focused on one question:
How can network debugging feel native on mobile devices instead of being an extension of desktop software?
The answer is still evolving, but the journey has been incredibly rewarding.
⸻
Looking for Feedback
Moni Proxy is now available on iOS and macOS.
I’m actively looking for feedback from:
- iOS Developers
- Android Developers
- Flutter Developers
- React Native Developers
- QA Engineers
What does your current network debugging workflow look like?
If you regularly inspect HTTPS traffic, what is the biggest pain point in your setup today?
Website:
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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