Socat
Socat is a command-line utility that establishes bidirectional data transfers between two independent data channels, such as files, pipes, devices, sockets, or SSL connections. It functions as a relay or proxy, enabling data forwarding, network debugging, and protocol conversion. Often described as a 'netcat on steroids', it supports a wide range of address types and advanced features like encryption and multiplexing.
Developers should learn Socat for network testing, debugging, and automation tasks where flexible data redirection is needed, such as creating TCP/UDP relays, testing client-server applications, or bridging different network protocols. It's particularly useful in DevOps and security contexts for port forwarding, SSL/TLS inspection, and simulating network conditions in development environments.