LocalCan

LocalCan: Simplifying Local Development with Domains and Public URLs

As a web developer, testing and sharing your projects can feel like navigating a labyrinth of obstacles. Complex configurations, unreliable public URLs, and network restrictions often hinder your workflow, leaving you frustrated. Enter LocalCan, a solution designed to streamline your development experience with hassle-free local domains and persistent public URLs.

Tackling Common Development Challenges

Imagine a scenario where you need to test a project across different devices, share it with a client, or integrate it with a webhook. Traditionally, this would involve setting up virtual hosts, configuring reverse proxies, or dealing with temporary and unreliable URLs. LocalCan eliminates these hurdles, optimizing your workflow and allowing you to focus on what matters most – your code.

What is LocalCan?

LocalCan is a powerful yet user-friendly macOS tool that enables developers to expose their local development environments seamlessly over the local network or the internet. Its core functionality revolves around creating local domains (ending in .local) and persistent, secure public URLs for effortless sharing and testing.

Key Features

• Effortless Local Domains: Publish an unlimited number of .local domains for development projects and access them from any device on your local network, testing your apps with HTTPS across devices for streamlined collaboration.
• Persistent Public URLs: Easily create public URLs to share projects with clients, test webhooks, or seamlessly integrate with OAuth providers, using either LocalCan's free localcan.dev domain or your own custom domain.
• Web Traffic Inspection: Analyze network traffic, debug webhooks (with replay and modification capabilities), and gain valuable insights into your application's behavior.
• Framework Agnostic: LocalCan works seamlessly with popular frameworks like Next.js, Vite.js, and others.
• Automatic HTTPS: LocalCan handles certificates, ensuring your local domains always serve secure connections, replicating production environments.

Who Can Benefit from LocalCan?

• Web Developers: Streamline testing, feedback gathering, and cross-device functionality checks.
• Teams: Boost collaboration with easy sharing and reduce the need for complex remote setup.
• Anyone seeking simplified project sharing: Showcase your work quickly and easily to clients or stakeholders without deployment hassles.

How it Works

LocalCan leverages a combination of clever technologies to deliver its magic:

• mDNS Protocol: The foundation for accessing .local domains from any device on a local network.
• SSH Tunneling: Enables the creation of secure, persistent public URLs with ease.
• Built-in Reverse Proxy: Streamlines HTTPS handling for your local domains and supports features like WebSockets, crucial for modern development flows.

Benefits of Using LocalCan

• Enhanced Productivity: Save time and minimize configuration headaches.
• Improved Collaboration: Effortlessly share projects for feedback or testing, regardless of technical expertise.
• Seamless Testing: Mimic production environments with HTTPS and public URLs for a more thorough development process.
• Streamlined Workflow: Enjoy a smoother development experience with simple and intuitive tools.

Pricing

LocalCan offers flexible pricing to cater to individuals and teams alike:

• Single License: Ideal for solo devs ($47 one-time)
• Personal License: Great for indie devs with multiple devices ($57 one-time)
• LocalCan for Teams: Scales with your team ($45/month).

The Bottom Line

LocalCan stands out as a must-have tool in the modern web developer's toolkit. It eliminates common development hurdles, offering a frictionless experience that translates to greater efficiency and seamless collaboration. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, LocalCan is a wise investment to level up your local development game.