diff --git a/debug_client.js b/debug_client.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..18eeb93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/debug_client.js
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+const WebSocket = require('ws');
+const readline = require('readline');
+
+const url = 'wss://connect4.abunchofknowitalls.com';
+console.log(`Connecting to ${url}...`);
+const ws = new WebSocket(url);
+
+let pingInterval;
+
+ws.on('open', () => {
+    console.log('Connected to server!');
+    console.log('Type a message and press Enter to send raw text.');
+    // Keep the connection alive by sending a ping every 30 seconds
+    pingInterval = setInterval(() => {
+        if (ws.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {
+            ws.ping();
+        }
+    }, 30000);
+});
+
+ws.on('message', (data) => {
+    // data is usually a Buffer in 'ws', convert to string
+    console.log('< ' + data.toString());
+});
+
+ws.on('pong', () => {
+    // console.log('Received pong');
+});
+
+ws.on('close', () => {
+    console.log('Disconnected from server.');
+    if (pingInterval) clearInterval(pingInterval);
+    process.exit(0);
+});
+
+ws.on('error', (err) => {
+    console.error('WebSocket error:', err.message);
+    if (pingInterval) clearInterval(pingInterval);
+});
+
+const rl = readline.createInterface({
+    input: process.stdin,
+    output: process.stdout,
+    prompt: '> '
+});
+
+rl.prompt();
+
+rl.on('line', (line) => {
+    if (ws.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {
+        ws.send(line);
+    } else {
+        console.log('Socket not open. State:', ws.readyState);
+    }
+    rl.prompt();
+});