launchdns
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Description:
Mini DNS server designed solely to route queries to localhost
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: dns development local networking localhost
Install: brew install launchdns
About:
LaunchDNS is a lightweight, forwarding DNS server that resolves all queries to the local machine (127.0.0.1). It enables developers to map custom domains like 'app.local' to localhost without editing system files. This simplifies local web development, especially for testing subdomains, cookies, and complex routing scenarios.
Key Features:
  • Forwards all DNS queries to localhost (127.0.0.1)
  • Supports both UDP and TCP protocols
  • Configurable via a simple .launchdns file
  • Lightweight and easy to install/remove
  • Resolves any subdomain to localhost
Use Cases:
  • Developing web applications that require custom local domains
  • Testing third-party OAuth integrations locally
  • Running multiple local services on different subdomains
  • Avoiding /etc/hosts modifications for dynamic domains
Alternatives:
  • dnsmasq – More powerful and full-featured but significantly more complex to configure for this specific use case
  • dnsmasq – Heavier weight with many features not needed for simple localhost routing
  • pow – Application server with built-in DNS, but unmaintained and more opinionated about app structure
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 14, 2024 8:59pm 2 VERSION_BUMP a7f98391