Build, Test, and Debug Chargebee Webhooks on Localhost

You've set up your Chargebee Billing webhook integration following the getting started guide. Now comes the development workflow: iterating on your webhook handler, testing different event types, and debugging edge cases.

Testing webhooks during development can be frustrating. Triggering new events from Chargebee for every code change is slow and impractical. This guide focuses on the Hookdeck CLI's interactive mode features that transform local webhook development into an efficient, professional workflow.

You'll learn two key techniques: using the retry functionality (r key) to iterate on code without triggering new webhooks, and building test event libraries with bookmarks to create reusable test fixtures for your webhook scenarios.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• Completed the Chargebee webhook setup guide
• Hookdeck CLI installed and authenticated (hookdeck login)
• A local webhook server running on your machine
• At least one Chargebee Billing webhook event received in the CLI

What You'll Learn

This guide will teach you how to:

• Navigate and use the CLI interactive interface effectively
• Trigger test events from Chargebee
• Inspect webhook payload details using the d key
• Use retry functionality for rapid development iteration
• Build a library of test events with bookmarks
• Debug server responses and error scenarios
• Apply advanced debugging techniques
• Troubleshoot common issues during development

Step 1: Navigate the Hookdeck CLI Interactive Interface

The Hookdeck CLI's default mode is an interactive terminal interface. When you run hookdeck listen, it displays real-time webhook Events in a full-screen view.

Start the CLI if it's not already running:

hookdeck listen 3000 --path /webhooks/chargebee

The interface consists of three main areas:

Connections Header (top): Shows your source URL and local server routing. This auto-collapses when the first event arrives to save screen space.

Event List (middle): A scrollable history of received webhook events (up to 1000 events). Each line shows the event timestamp, type, and delivery status.

Status Bar (bottom): Displays keyboard shortcuts and information about the currently selected event.

Navigate through events using arrow keys (↑ / ↓) or Vim-style keys (k / j). The currently selected event is indicated by a > character at the beginning of the line.

Press i to toggle the connection header if you need to see or copy your webhook URL.

Step 2: Trigger Chargebee Webhook Events for Testing

To build a comprehensive test suite, you need various event types. Chargebee provides multiple ways to trigger webhook events for testing.

The most straightforward approach is using the Chargebee test mode. Log in to your Chargebee account and ensure you're in test mode (look for the test/live toggle in the navigation).

Trigger different event types based on your integration needs:

Subscription Events: Create a test subscription through the Chargebee dashboard. Navigate to Subscriptions > Create Subscription and create a new subscription with test customer data. This triggers subscription_created events.

Payment Events: Process a test payment using Chargebee's test payment gateway. Use test card numbers like 4111 1111 1111 1111 to simulate successful payments, triggering payment_succeeded events.

Invoice Events: Generate an invoice for a subscription. This triggers invoice_generated events immediately visible in your CLI.

Each triggered event appears in your CLI interface immediately. Take note of the different event types you'll need for your integration testing.

Consider creating a checklist of all event types your application must handle. Trigger each one and verify it appears in the CLI before moving to the next step.

Step 3: Inspect and Debug Chargebee Webhook Payloads

Understanding webhook payload structure is critical for proper handler implementation. The CLI provides detailed payload inspection without leaving the terminal.

Select any event in the CLI using arrow keys. Press d to open the detailed view.

The details view shows:

• Full HTTP headers sent by Chargebee
• Complete JSON payload with proper formatting
• Response headers from your server
• Response body and status code
• Timing information for the request

Use arrow keys (↑ / ↓) to scroll through the payload. For large payloads, use PgUp/PgDown for faster navigation.

Pay attention to the event structure. Chargebee webhooks typically include:

{
  "id": "ev_...",
  "occurred_at": 1234567890,
  "source": "scheduled",
  "type": "subscription_created",
  "content": {
    "subscription": {
      "id": "sub_...",
      "customer_id": "cust_...",
      "status": "active",
      ...
    }
  }
}

Note the type field - this determines how your handler processes the event. The content object contains the actual data for the subscription, invoice, or payment.

Press d or ESC to close the details view and return to the event list.

Step 4: Iterative Development with Retry Functionality

The retry functionality is the most powerful feature for local webhook development. It acts like hot-reload for webhooks - change your code and test immediately without triggering new events.

Here's the development workflow:

Initial Implementation: Start with a basic handler that logs the event.

app.post('/webhooks/chargebee', (req, res) => {
  const event = req.body;
  console.log('Received event:', event.type);
  
  // Initial implementation - just acknowledge
  res.status(200).send('OK');
});

@app.route('/webhooks/chargebee', methods=['POST'])
def chargebee_webhook():
    event = request.get_json()
    print(f'Received event: {event.get("type")}')
    
    # Initial implementation - just acknowledge
    return 'OK', 200

func chargebeeWebhook(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
    var event map[string]interface{}
    json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&event)
    
    fmt.Printf("Received event: %v\n", event["type"])
    
    // Initial implementation - just acknowledge
    w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
    w.Write([]byte("OK"))
}

post '/webhooks/chargebee' do
  event = JSON.parse(request.body.read)
  puts "Received event: #{event['type']}"
  
  # Initial implementation - just acknowledge
  status 200
  body 'OK'
end

Route::post('/webhooks/chargebee', function (Request $request) {
    $event = $request->json()->all();
    Log::info('Received event: ' . $event['type']);
    
    // Initial implementation - just acknowledge
    return response('OK', 200);
});

server.createContext("/webhooks/chargebee", exchange -> {
    JsonObject event = JsonParser.parseReader(
        new InputStreamReader(exchange.getRequestBody())
    ).getAsJsonObject();
    
    System.out.println("Received event: " + event.get("type"));
    
    // Initial implementation - just acknowledge
    String response = "OK";
    exchange.sendResponseHeaders(200, response.length());
    exchange.getResponseBody().write(response.getBytes());
    exchange.close();
});

app.MapPost("/webhooks/chargebee", async (HttpContext context) =>
{
    var body = await new StreamReader(context.Request.Body).ReadToEndAsync();
    var eventData = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<JsonElement>(body);
    
    Console.WriteLine($"Received event: {eventData.GetProperty("type")}");
    
    // Initial implementation - just acknowledge
    return Results.Ok("OK");
});

Trigger a test event from Chargebee using one of the methods from Step 2 (create a subscription, process a payment, or generate an invoice). The event appears in your CLI immediately.

Check your server logs to verify the basic handler received the event and logged the event type.

Now comes the key technique: Instead of triggering new events for every code change, you'll use the retry functionality (r key) to replay this same event repeatedly.

Iterate on Your Code: Add subscription handling logic.

app.post('/webhooks/chargebee', (req, res) => {
  const event = req.body;
  
  if (event.type === 'subscription_created') {
    const subscription = event.content.subscription;
    console.log(`New subscription: ${subscription.id}`);
    console.log(`Customer: ${subscription.customer_id}`);
    console.log(`Plan: ${subscription.plan_id}`);
  }
  
  res.status(200).send('OK');
});

@app.route('/webhooks/chargebee', methods=['POST'])
def chargebee_webhook():
    event = request.get_json()
    
    if event.get('type') == 'subscription_created':
        subscription = event['content']['subscription']
        print(f"New subscription: {subscription['id']}")
        print(f"Customer: {subscription['customer_id']}")
        print(f"Plan: {subscription['plan_id']}")
    
    return 'OK', 200

func chargebeeWebhook(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
    var event map[string]interface{}
    json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&event)
    
    if event["type"] == "subscription_created" {
        content := event["content"].(map[string]interface{})
        subscription := content["subscription"].(map[string]interface{})
        
        fmt.Printf("New subscription: %v\n", subscription["id"])
        fmt.Printf("Customer: %v\n", subscription["customer_id"])
        fmt.Printf("Plan: %v\n", subscription["plan_id"])
    }
    
    w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
    w.Write([]byte("OK"))
}

post '/webhooks/chargebee' do
  event = JSON.parse(request.body.read)
  
  if event['type'] == 'subscription_created'
    subscription = event['content']['subscription']
    puts "New subscription: #{subscription['id']}"
    puts "Customer: #{subscription['customer_id']}"
    puts "Plan: #{subscription['plan_id']}"
  end
  
  status 200
  body 'OK'
end

Route::post('/webhooks/chargebee', function (Request $request) {
    $event = $request->json()->all();
    
    if ($event['type'] === 'subscription_created') {
        $subscription = $event['content']['subscription'];
        Log::info('New subscription: ' . $subscription['id']);
        Log::info('Customer: ' . $subscription['customer_id']);
        Log::info('Plan: ' . $subscription['plan_id']);
    }
    
    return response('OK', 200);
});

server.createContext("/webhooks/chargebee", exchange -> {
    JsonObject event = JsonParser.parseReader(
        new InputStreamReader(exchange.getRequestBody())
    ).getAsJsonObject();
    
    if (event.get("type").getAsString().equals("subscription_created")) {
        JsonObject subscription = event.getAsJsonObject("content")
            .getAsJsonObject("subscription");
        
        System.out.println("New subscription: " + subscription.get("id"));
        System.out.println("Customer: " + subscription.get("customer_id"));
        System.out.println("Plan: " + subscription.get("plan_id"));
    }
    
    String response = "OK";
    exchange.sendResponseHeaders(200, response.length());
    exchange.getResponseBody().write(response.getBytes());
    exchange.close();
});

app.MapPost("/webhooks/chargebee", async (HttpContext context) =>
{
    var body = await new StreamReader(context.Request.Body).ReadToEndAsync();
    var eventData = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<JsonElement>(body);
    
    if (eventData.GetProperty("type").GetString() == "subscription_created")
    {
        var subscription = eventData.GetProperty("content")
            .GetProperty("subscription");
        
        Console.WriteLine($"New subscription: {subscription.GetProperty("id")}");
        Console.WriteLine($"Customer: {subscription.GetProperty("customer_id")}");
        Console.WriteLine($"Plan: {subscription.GetProperty("plan_id")}");
    }
    
    return Results.Ok("OK");
});

Test Immediately: In the CLI, make sure the event is selected (indicated by > at the start of the line). Press r to retry. The CLI instantly resends the exact same webhook to your server with all the original headers and payload. No need to trigger a new event from Chargebee.

Check your server logs to verify the new subscription handling logic worked. See the customer ID, plan ID, and other details logged correctly? If there's an issue, modify the code and press r again immediately.

Continue Iterating: Add database persistence logic.

app.post('/webhooks/chargebee', async (req, res) => {
  const event = req.body;
  
  if (event.type === 'subscription_created') {
    const subscription = event.content.subscription;
    
    // Add database logic
    await db.subscriptions.create({
      id: subscription.id,
      customer_id: subscription.customer_id,
      plan_id: subscription.plan_id,
      status: subscription.status,
      created_at: new Date(subscription.created_at * 1000)
    });
    
    console.log(`Subscription ${subscription.id} saved to database`);
  }
  
  res.status(200).send('OK');
});

@app.route('/webhooks/chargebee', methods=['POST'])
def chargebee_webhook():
    event = request.get_json()
    
    if event.get('type') == 'subscription_created':
        subscription = event['content']['subscription']
        
        # Add database logic
        db.session.add(Subscription(
            id=subscription['id'],
            customer_id=subscription['customer_id'],
            plan_id=subscription['plan_id'],
            status=subscription['status'],
            created_at=datetime.fromtimestamp(subscription['created_at'])
        ))
        db.session.commit()
        
        print(f"Subscription {subscription['id']} saved to database")
    
    return 'OK', 200

func chargebeeWebhook(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
    var event map[string]interface{}
    json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&event)
    
    if event["type"] == "subscription_created" {
        content := event["content"].(map[string]interface{})
        subscription := content["subscription"].(map[string]interface{})
        
        // Add database logic
        _, err := db.Exec(`
            INSERT INTO subscriptions (id, customer_id, plan_id, status, created_at)
            VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5)`,
            subscription["id"],
            subscription["customer_id"],
            subscription["plan_id"],
            subscription["status"],
            time.Unix(int64(subscription["created_at"].(float64)), 0),
        )
        
        if err == nil {
            fmt.Printf("Subscription %v saved to database\n", subscription["id"])
        }
    }
    
    w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
    w.Write([]byte("OK"))
}

post '/webhooks/chargebee' do
  event = JSON.parse(request.body.read)
  
  if event['type'] == 'subscription_created'
    subscription = event['content']['subscription']
    
    # Add database logic
    Subscription.create(
      id: subscription['id'],
      customer_id: subscription['customer_id'],
      plan_id: subscription['plan_id'],
      status: subscription['status'],
      created_at: Time.at(subscription['created_at'])
    )
    
    puts "Subscription #{subscription['id']} saved to database"
  end
  
  status 200
  body 'OK'
end

Route::post('/webhooks/chargebee', function (Request $request) {
    $event = $request->json()->all();
    
    if ($event['type'] === 'subscription_created') {
        $subscription = $event['content']['subscription'];
        
        // Add database logic
        \App\Models\Subscription::create([
            'id' => $subscription['id'],
            'customer_id' => $subscription['customer_id'],
            'plan_id' => $subscription['plan_id'],
            'status' => $subscription['status'],
            'created_at' => now()->setTimestamp($subscription['created_at'])
        ]);
        
        Log::info("Subscription {$subscription['id']} saved to database");
    }
    
    return response('OK', 200);
});

server.createContext("/webhooks/chargebee", exchange -> {
    JsonObject event = JsonParser.parseReader(
        new InputStreamReader(exchange.getRequestBody())
    ).getAsJsonObject();
    
    if (event.get("type").getAsString().equals("subscription_created")) {
        JsonObject subscription = event.getAsJsonObject("content")
            .getAsJsonObject("subscription");
        
        // Add database logic
        Subscription sub = new Subscription();
        sub.setId(subscription.get("id").getAsString());
        sub.setCustomerId(subscription.get("customer_id").getAsString());
        sub.setPlanId(subscription.get("plan_id").getAsString());
        sub.setStatus(subscription.get("status").getAsString());
        subscriptionRepository.save(sub);
        
        System.out.println("Subscription " + subscription.get("id") + " saved to database");
    }
    
    String response = "OK";
    exchange.sendResponseHeaders(200, response.length());
    exchange.getResponseBody().write(response.getBytes());
    exchange.close();
});

app.MapPost("/webhooks/chargebee", async (HttpContext context, AppDbContext db) =>
{
    var body = await new StreamReader(context.Request.Body).ReadToEndAsync();
    var eventData = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<JsonElement>(body);
    
    if (eventData.GetProperty("type").GetString() == "subscription_created")
    {
        var subscription = eventData.GetProperty("content")
            .GetProperty("subscription");
        
        // Add database logic
        await db.Subscriptions.AddAsync(new Subscription
        {
            Id = subscription.GetProperty("id").GetString(),
            CustomerId = subscription.GetProperty("customer_id").GetString(),
            PlanId = subscription.GetProperty("plan_id").GetString(),
            Status = subscription.GetProperty("status").GetString(),
            CreatedAt = DateTimeOffset.FromUnixTimeSeconds(
                subscription.GetProperty("created_at").GetInt64()
            ).DateTime
        });
        await db.SaveChangesAsync();
        
        Console.WriteLine($"Subscription {subscription.GetProperty("id")} saved to database");
    }
    
    return Results.Ok("OK");
});

Press r again to test the database logic. The webhook is delivered instantly with all the data intact. Check your database to confirm the subscription record was created correctly.

This workflow eliminates the slow cycle of triggering new webhooks from Chargebee. You iterate on the same event repeatedly, refining your handler until it's perfect. Each press of r is like hitting "save and reload" - instant feedback on your code changes.

Step 5: Building a Test Event Library with Bookmarks

After you've received various webhook event types, you want to preserve them for future testing. Bookmarks create a persistent library of test events.

To bookmark an event, select it in the CLI and use the Hookdeck dashboard. Press o to open the selected event in your browser.

In the dashboard, click the Bookmark button. Add a descriptive label like "subscription_created_basic" or "payment_failed_insufficient_funds".

Bookmarked events are permanently saved to your Hookdeck account. They're accessible from:

• The Bookmarks page in the dashboard
• The Bookmarks API for automation
• Any connection in your workspace

Use bookmarks to build a comprehensive test suite:

• Happy path events: Successful subscription creation, payment success
• Error scenarios: Payment failures, subscription cancellation
• Edge cases: Zero-amount invoices, trial conversions
• Different event types: All the event types your application handles

Label bookmarks clearly. Instead of "test 1", use "subscription_created_annual_plan" or "invoice_generated_with_discount". Future you will appreciate the clarity.

For teams, bookmarks are shared across the workspace. Build a collective test library that everyone can use during development.

You can also use the Bookmarks API to automate test runs. Fetch all bookmarks with a specific label and replay them sequentially to test your handler's robustness.

Step 6: Debugging Server Responses

Understanding what your server returns is crucial for debugging. The CLI shows full response details for every webhook delivery.

Select any event and press d to open the details view. Scroll down past the request section to see the response.

The response section includes:

• HTTP status code (200, 400, 500, etc.)
• Response headers from your server
• Response body content
• Delivery duration in milliseconds

Look for these common issues:

Status Code Mismatches: Your server might return 200 but log an error. The CLI helps you spot the disconnect between the status code and actual behavior.

Slow Responses: The duration shows how long your handler takes. Hookdeck expects responses within 60 seconds. If you see durations approaching that limit, optimize your handler.

Unexpected Response Bodies: Some frameworks return HTML error pages instead of JSON. The CLI shows the actual response, making it obvious when this happens.

Missing Headers: Check if your server returns expected headers like Content-Type: application/json.

If your server returns an error status (400, 500), the CLI marks the event with a failed delivery indicator. Use d to see the error details and fix the underlying issue.

After fixing server code, use r to retry the event and verify the response is now correct.

Step 7: Testing Error Scenarios and Edge Cases

Robust webhook handlers must handle failures gracefully. Use the CLI to test error scenarios without affecting production data.

Test Error Responses: Deliberately return an error status.

app.post('/webhooks/chargebee', (req, res) => {
  // Simulate database error
  res.status(500).send('Database connection failed');
});

@app.route('/webhooks/chargebee', methods=['POST'])
def chargebee_webhook():
    # Simulate database error
    return 'Database connection failed', 500

func chargebeeWebhook(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
    // Simulate database error
    w.WriteHeader(http.StatusInternalServerError)
    w.Write([]byte("Database connection failed"))
}

post '/webhooks/chargebee' do
  # Simulate database error
  status 500
  body 'Database connection failed'
end

Route::post('/webhooks/chargebee', function (Request $request) {
    // Simulate database error
    return response('Database connection failed', 500);
});

server.createContext("/webhooks/chargebee", exchange -> {
    // Simulate database error
    String response = "Database connection failed";
    exchange.sendResponseHeaders(500, response.length());
    exchange.getResponseBody().write(response.getBytes());
    exchange.close();
});

app.MapPost("/webhooks/chargebee", async (HttpContext context) =>
{
    // Simulate database error
    return Results.Problem("Database connection failed", statusCode: 500);
});

Replay the event. The CLI shows the failed delivery. Hookdeck automatically retries failed webhooks based on your retry configuration, but during development, you control when to retry with the r key.

Test Malformed Payloads: While you can't modify Chargebee's payload structure, you can test how your handler responds to unexpected data. Add validation to ensure your handler gracefully handles missing fields.

Test Idempotency: Replay the same event multiple times with r. Your handler should produce the same result each time without creating duplicate database records or side effects.

Step 8: Advanced Debugging Techniques

Beyond basic retry and inspection, the CLI offers advanced workflows for complex debugging scenarios.

Correlating CLI and Server Logs: Open two terminal windows side by side. Run the CLI in one and your server logs in the other. When you press r, watch both logs simultaneously to correlate the webhook delivery with your application's internal logging.

Testing Multiple Event Sequences: Some workflows require specific event ordering. For example, testing a refund after a payment. Use bookmarks to preserve both events, then replay them in sequence to test your state management.

Using Browser DevTools: Press o to open an event in the dashboard. The dashboard provides additional tools like JSON formatting, webhook signature validation, and detailed delivery attempt history.

Bookmark Management via API: For advanced test automation, use the Bookmarks API to programmatically manage your test library. Fetch bookmarks by label and replay them using the Requests API.

Example using the Requests API to replay a bookmarked event:

curl https://api.hookdeck.com/2025-07-01/requests/{request_id}/retry \
  -X POST \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Replace {request_id} with the ID from your bookmarked event. This allows you to build automated test suites that replay saved webhook events against your handler.

Connection Rules Testing: If you've configured filters or transformations in Hookdeck, test them by replaying events. The CLI shows whether events were filtered out or transformed before reaching your server.

Rate Limiting Simulation: Replay multiple events rapidly by pressing r repeatedly on different events. This helps test your handler's behavior under load and verify rate limiting or queuing logic.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: Events Not Appearing in CLI

Symptoms: You trigger an event from Chargebee but don't see it in the CLI.

Cause: The webhook URL in Chargebee might not match your Hookdeck source URL, or Hookdeck might be rejecting requests from Chargebee due to authentication issues or other errors.

Solution:

1. Verify the webhook URL: Check the CLI output for your source URL (press i to show the connection header). Verify this matches the webhook URL configured in Chargebee's dashboard under Settings > Configure Chargebee > Webhooks.

2. Check Hookdeck for incoming requests: Open the Hookdeck dashboard and navigate to the Requests section. Look for recent requests from Chargebee. If requests are arriving but not being delivered to your CLI:

   • Check for authentication errors (e.g., basic auth credentials mismatch between Chargebee configuration and your Hookdeck connection)
   • Review any error messages or status codes shown in the request details
   • Verify your connection is enabled and not paused

If you see requests in the dashboard but not in your CLI, the issue is with your local connection. If you don't see requests at all, the issue is with the Chargebee webhook configuration or network connectivity.

Issue 2: Server Returns 404 for Webhooks

Symptoms: The CLI shows 404 responses from your server.

Cause: The path in the CLI command doesn't match your server's route.

Solution: Check your server code for the exact route path. If your server uses /api/webhooks/chargebee, update the CLI command:

hookdeck listen 3000 --path /api/webhooks/chargebee

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I test Chargebee webhooks without triggering new events?

Use the Hookdeck CLI's retry functionality by pressing r on any selected event. This replays the exact same webhook to your server without triggering new events from Chargebee. You can iterate on your code and press r repeatedly to test changes instantly.

What's the fastest way to iterate on webhook handler code during development?

Keep the Hookdeck CLI running in a terminal, make code changes to your webhook handler, then press r to instantly test your changes. This eliminates the slow cycle of triggering new webhooks from Chargebee for every code modification. The retry acts like hot-reload for webhooks.

How do I save Chargebee webhook events for reuse in testing?

Use Hookdeck Bookmarks to permanently save webhook events. Select an event in the CLI, press o to open it in the dashboard, then click the Bookmark button. Add a descriptive label like "subscription_created_annual_plan". Bookmarked events are accessible from the dashboard, API, and any connection in your workspace for repeated testing.

Can I test error scenarios without affecting my Chargebee account?

Yes. Select any bookmarked or recent event and press r to replay it. Modify your webhook handler to return error responses (like 500 status codes). The CLI shows the failed delivery, and you can iterate on error handling without triggering new events or affecting production data.

How do I debug why my webhook handler isn't working correctly?

Select the failing event in the CLI and press d to view detailed information including the full request payload, response status, response body, and timing. Check for status code mismatches, unexpected response bodies, or slow response times. After fixing your code, press r to test the same event again.

Best Practices for Local Development

Label Bookmarks Descriptively: Use clear, searchable names. Include the event type, scenario, and any relevant data like "subscription_created_annual_with_trial".

Test Edge Cases Early: Don't wait until production to test error scenarios. Use retry to test failure handling during initial development.

Keep CLI Running During Development: Leave the CLI running in a dedicated terminal. This provides continuous visibility into webhook deliveries.

Use Bookmarks as Test Fixtures: Build your bookmark library early. It becomes your regression test suite for webhook handling.

Verify Idempotency with Replay: Always test that replaying an event doesn't cause duplicate side effects. Press r multiple times to verify idempotent behavior.

Check Response Times: Monitor the duration shown in event details. Optimize handlers that take more than a few seconds to respond.

Combine CLI and Dashboard: Use the CLI for rapid iteration, but open events in the dashboard (o key) when you need deeper inspection or want to share with teammates.

Document Your Test Library: Maintain a list of bookmarked events and their purpose. This helps teammates understand available test scenarios.

Test Authentication Changes: When updating webhook authentication (like basic auth credentials), test with a replayed event to verify your server accepts the new credentials.

Clean Up Test Data: After development, clean up any test subscriptions, customers, or payments created in Chargebee to keep your test environment tidy.

Next Steps

Now that you've mastered local webhook testing and debugging, consider these next steps:

Implement Webhook Signature Verification: Add cryptographic signature verification to ensure webhooks are genuinely from Chargebee. Review Chargebee's webhook security documentation.

Set Up Automatic Retry Logic: Configure Hookdeck's retry policies to automatically handle transient failures in production.

Add Webhook Event Monitoring: Use Hookdeck's issue tracking to get alerted when webhook deliveries fail in production.

Deploy to Production: When you're ready, deploy your handler and update the webhook URL in Chargebee to your production endpoint through Hookdeck.

Explore Connection Transformations: Learn how to use Hookdeck transformations to modify webhook payloads before they reach your handler.

Build CI/CD Tests: Use the Bookmarks API to create automated tests that replay saved webhooks as part of your continuous integration pipeline.

With these local development techniques, you can build robust Chargebee webhook integrations efficiently. The retry functionality eliminates the slow feedback loop of triggering new events, while bookmarks provide a professional test library for comprehensive coverage of your webhook scenarios.