When debugging web applications or analyzing API calls, capturing HTTP traffic becomes crucial. For Windows developers, these tools stand out:

The go-to tool for most .NET developers:

// Sample FiddlerScript to modify requests
static function OnBeforeRequest(oSession: Session) {
    if (oSession.uriContains("example.com")) {
        oSession.oRequest["User-Agent"] = "CustomAgent/1.0";
    }
}

Key features:

• Decrypts HTTPS traffic with certificate installation
• Traffic manipulation through FiddlerScript
• Performance analysis with Waterfall view

For low-level network analysis:

# Capture filter for HTTP traffic only
http.request.method == "GET" || http.request.method == "POST"

Advanced usage tips:

• Use "Follow TCP Stream" to reconstruct conversations
• Apply display filters like http contains "password"
• Export packets as JSON for programmatic analysis

Python-based with powerful scripting:

# mitmproxy script example
def request(flow):
    if "api/v1" in flow.request.url:
        flow.request.headers["X-Debug"] = "true"

Why developers love it:

• Headless mode for CI/CD pipelines
• REST API for remote control
• Web interface for real-time inspection

For Chrome/Edge debugging:

chrome.exe --user-data-dir=temp --proxy-server=127.0.0.1:8888

Firefox alternative:

about:config -> network.proxy.allow_hijacking_localhost = true

Using PowerShell with netsh:

# Start capture
netsh trace start capture=yes tracefile=C:\trace.etl overwrite=yes

# Stop capture after test
netsh trace stop

# Convert to text format
netsh trace convert input=C:\trace.etl

Always remember:

• Only capture on trusted networks
• Never share raw captures containing sensitive data
• Use tool-specific features to anonymize data

---

As developers working on web applications or APIs, inspecting HTTP traffic is crucial for debugging, performance optimization, and security testing. Whether you're troubleshooting CORS issues, analyzing API responses, or reverse-engineering web services, having the right tool can save hours of frustration.

The most powerful option for deep packet inspection:

// Example filter for HTTP traffic in Wireshark
http.request.method == "GET" || http.request.method == "POST"

Pros:

• Captures all network traffic at packet level
• Supports hundreds of protocols
• Advanced filtering capabilities

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Can be overwhelming for simple HTTP debugging

The go-to tool for web developers:

// FiddlerScript example to modify requests
if (oSession.HostnameIs("example.com")) {
    oSession.oRequest["User-Agent"] = "MyCustomAgent/1.0";
}

Key features:

• HTTPS decryption out of the box
• Request/response modification
• Performance analysis tools
• AutoResponder for mocking endpoints

A newer contender with macOS-like UI on Windows:

// Sample configuration for capturing mobile traffic
1. Enable Proxy on Windows machine (127.0.0.1:9090)
2. Configure mobile device to use this proxy
3. Install Proxyman CA certificate on device

Why developers love it:

• Clean, intuitive interface
• Excellent native performance
• Built-in tools for GraphQL and gRPC

Tool	Best For	SSL Decryption	Performance Impact
Wireshark	Network-level analysis	Requires setup	High
Fiddler	Web development	Built-in	Medium
Proxyman	Modern web APIs	Built-in	Low

For testing authentication flows, try this Fiddler script:

// Auto-authenticate when 401 is received
if (oSession.responseCode == 401) {
    oSession.oRequest["Authorization"] = "Bearer " + getCachedToken();
    oSession["x-reprocess-request"] = "true";
}

For mobile development, configure Wireshark with this capture filter:

// Capture traffic from specific mobile IP
ip.src == 192.168.1.15 || ip.dst == 192.168.1.15