Introduction

Astra's CLI runs inside a Docker container to ensure it works consistently across different environments without requiring manual dependency setup on your machine.

What Runs Inside the Container

The CLI bundles two tools internally:

• mitmproxy — intercepts HTTP/S traffic for capture

• OpenTelemetry Collector — collects and forwards traces and metadata

Both tools have specific system-level dependencies and network requirements. Packaging them in Docker means you get a working setup without installing or configuring anything beyond Docker itself.

Why Docker Specifically

• Consistency — the CLI behaves the same way regardless of your OS or local software stack, with no conflicts with existing tools or Python environments.

• Simplified setup — no manual dependency management. Install Docker, run the CLI.

• Reliable networking — traffic capture via proxy requires specific port and routing configurations that Docker handles predictably across platforms.

What the CLI Supports

Once running, the CLI enables two primary workflows:

• Setting up a proxy to capture live API traffic

• Importing traffic from tools like Burp Suite

Can't Use Docker?

Reach out to help@getastra.com or raise a support ticket. The team can help you explore alternative approaches for submitting API traffic securely.