ChatTCP: The Simplest and Most User-Friendly TCP Analysis Tool

ChatTCP aims to be the simplest and most user-friendly TCP analysis tool out there, meeting users' needs from learning TCP protocols as beginners to tackling real-world TCP packet analysis and troubleshooting at work.

Learning Made Easy

ChatTCP started with just a chat-style interface for viewing TCP packets. To make learning TCP protocols less intimidating, we introduced commentary mode, which adds explanations below each packet to help beginners understand what's happening with seq, ack, and various flags.

Then we realized beginners needed more help, so we added sample cases - no need to capture your own packets! This saves tons of time for newcomers learning TCP packet analysis. The idea is simple: understand the TCP protocol first, then learn packet analysis, rather than having to master packet capture before you can really grasp TCP.

Hands-on practice is the best way to learn. Through case studies and commentary mode, the whole learning process becomes much more enjoyable. This feature has gotten great feedback from our users.

Building on this foundation, ChatTCP also helps users learn common application layer protocols like HTTP and WebSocket. We decode and display protocol data in a structured way that makes everything crystal clear, doubling your learning efficiency. We've also included sample pcap files for practice.

To help beginners understand TCP connection states, we label each packet with the current connection state, making it easier to follow how connections change during the three-way handshake and four-way teardown.

Real-World Work Needs

After solving the learning curve, ChatTCP tackles common TCP packet analysis needs you'll face at work.

Based on typical TCP troubleshooting scenarios, we built diagnostic analysis features to help users quickly pinpoint issues during packet analysis. We analyze packets to provide connection latency, packet loss rates, and more. We've extended this to application layer protocols like HTTP for common issue diagnosis too.

In the future, we're planning to integrate AI for even more powerful diagnostic capabilities.

Beyond diagnostics, ChatTCP has rolled out search functionality - no need to write complex filter expressions like in Wireshark.

Down the road, our search feature will also show you the equivalent Wireshark filter expressions, so you can learn Wireshark syntax while using ChatTCP.

We've also added stream following (application layer decoding, automatic filtering of retransmitted and out-of-order packets, handling TCP fragmentation and reassembly) and HTTP file extraction.

Eventually, we want to support custom decoders so users can decode their own proprietary application layer protocols.

ChatTCP vs Wireshark

The biggest difference between ChatTCP and Wireshark is that ChatTCP focuses on being the simplest, most user-friendly TCP analysis tool, while Wireshark is a powerful, feature-rich network protocol analyzer.

ChatTCP isn't meant to replace Wireshark - it's designed to complement it.