> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.insurgrid.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.insurgrid.com/get-started/05-local-development.md).

# Expose your local endpoint (local development)

When you build on your own machine, your server runs at something like `http://localhost:3000`. That address only exists *on your computer* — InsurGrid's servers can't reach it, and it isn't HTTPS. So webhooks will never arrive while you develop, unless you bridge that gap.

The fix is a **tunnel**: a tool that gives your local server a temporary public HTTPS URL and forwards any request on that URL to `localhost`. This is standard for webhook development — Stripe, GitHub, and every webhook provider expect it.

## Using ngrok (quickest)

1. Install [ngrok](https://ngrok.com/download) and sign up for a free account.
2. Start your local server (say, on port 3000).
3. In a second terminal, run:

   ```bash
   ngrok http 3000
   ```
4. ngrok prints a public HTTPS URL that forwards to your local server:

   ```
   Forwarding   https://a1b2-34-56-78-90.ngrok-free.app -> http://localhost:3000
   ```
5. Copy that `https://…` URL, add your endpoint path, and register it in the dashboard's **API section** as your **staging** webhook URL:

   ```
   https://a1b2-34-56-78-90.ngrok-free.app/hooks/insurgrid
   ```

Now any webhook InsurGrid sends to that URL is forwarded straight to your `localhost` server, and you can set breakpoints and read logs like normal.

## Good to know

* **The URL changes each restart** on the free plan. When you restart ngrok, update the URL in the dashboard. (A paid ngrok plan or a reserved domain gives you a stable URL.)
* **Any tunnel works** — [Cloudflare Tunnel](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/connections/connect-networks/), [localtunnel](https://github.com/localtunnel/localtunnel), or others. ngrok is just the most common.
* **This is for development only.** In production, register your real deployed HTTPS URL instead.
* Inspect what's arriving at ngrok's local dashboard (`http://127.0.0.1:4040`) — handy when debugging.

You're ready. Continue to Quickstart A →


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