Hookwise documentation

From public hook to localhost.

Create webhook endpoints, inspect every request, forward traffic, and connect your local application with the Hookwise CLI.

01 · Quick start

Receive your first webhook

  1. Create a hook.

    Sign in, name your hook, and copy the generated URL beginning with https://hook.tryhookwise.xyz/hook/.

  2. Send it a request.
    curl -X POST \
  https://hook.tryhookwise.xyz/hook/YOUR_TOKEN \
  -H "content-type: application/json" \
  -d '{"event":"payment.succeeded"}'
  3. Inspect the result.

    Open the hook to see its method, headers, query parameters, body, source, delivery status, and timing.

02 · The application

Your webhook workspace

Hooks

Each hook has a stable public URL and a private request history. Use separate hooks for different applications or providers.

Request inspector

Select any request to inspect its payload and forwarding outcome. Incoming requests appear in real time.

Replay

Resend a captured request to a forwarding target without asking the original provider to emit it again.

Reliability

Track status, latency, retries, failures, and recovery for every configured destination.

03 · The CLI

Forward hooks to localhost

The CLI opens an outbound authenticated WebSocket to Hookwise. You do not need to expose a local port or change your firewall.

Install

npm install -g @hookwise/cli

Authenticate this device

hookwise login

Hookwise opens a browser authorization page. Approve the device, then return to the terminal. The credential is stored in ~/.hookwise/config.json.

Start listening

hookwise listen

Select an existing hook, select or create a Local Agent target, and enter your local forwarding URL. For example:

http://localhost:3002/api/webhooks
Expected output
✓ Listening
  Hook      https://hook.tryhookwise.xyz/hook/…
  Forward   http://localhost:3002/api/webhooks
  Target    465cee61-fa66-…

Start an HTTP tunnel

hookwise http [port]

Expose a local HTTP server with a temporary public URL:

hookwise http 3000

Running hookwise http without a port prompts for one. Hookwise allocates a random *.tunnel.tryhookwise.xyz URL and forwards requests until the command is stopped.

Expected output
✓ Tunnel online
  Public    https://hw-f93b8a1b.tunnel.tryhookwise.xyz
  Forward   http://localhost:3000

Other commands

hookwise whoamiShow the currently authenticated account.hookwise logoutRemove the locally stored CLI credential.
04 · Forwarding

Choose the right target

HTTP

Remote destination

Forward captured requests to an HTTPS endpoint hosted elsewhere. Hookwise manages delivery attempts and retries.

Local Agent

Your development machine

Forward synchronously through the connected CLI and return your local application's status, headers, and body.

The Hookwise CLI is intentionally interactive. Authenticate with hookwise login, then use hookwise listen to choose the hook, target, and local URL. Target IDs and agent tokens are not accepted as user-facing CLI flags.
05 · Request flow

What happens after a request arrives

1ProviderPOSTs to your hook URL
→
2HookwiseCaptures and inspects
→
3CLI agentRelays over WebSocket
→
4Local appReturns the response

The original request waits for the Local Agent response. Keep local handlers fast and avoid long-running work in the request path.

06 · Security

Manage authenticated devices

Open Account & devices from your dashboard profile menu to review every authorized CLI device. You can see when it was authorized, when it was last used, and revoke it immediately.

CLI credentials are device-specific. Never commit ~/.hookwise/config.json, agent tokens, or hook secrets to source control.
07 · Troubleshooting

Common issues

The CLI keeps disconnecting with code 4000

Another CLI is connected to the same target. Stop the older process or choose a different Local Agent target. Only one active connection owns a target at a time.

My local application returns 404

Confirm the forwarding URL includes the exact local route that handles the webhook, including any path prefix.

Can Hookwise expose an entire frontend app?

The current Local Agent forwards hook traffic to the local URL you select. General-purpose wildcard public forwarding URLs for full applications are coming next.

Ready to try it?

Create your first hook.

Open Hookwise