diff --git a/serial/urlhandler/protocol_spy.py b/serial/urlhandler/protocol_spy.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0e6270
--- /dev/null
+++ b/serial/urlhandler/protocol_spy.py
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+#! python
+#
+# Python Serial Port Extension for Win32, Linux, BSD, Jython
+# see __init__.py
+#
+# This module implements a special URL handler that wraps an other port,
+# printint the traffic for debugging purposes
+#
+# (C) 2015 Chris Liechti <cliechti@gmx.net>
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier:    BSD-3-Clause
+#
+# URL format:    spy://port[?option[=value][&option[=value]]]
+# options:
+# - dev=X   a file or device to write to
+# - color   use escape code to colorize output
+# - hex     hex encode the output
+#
+# example:
+#   redirect output to an other terminal window on Posix (Linux):
+#   python -m serial.tools.miniterm spy:///dev/ttyUSB0?dev=/dev/pts/12\&color
+
+import sys
+import serial
+
+try:
+    import urlparse
+except ImportError:
+    import urllib.parse as urlparse
+try:
+    basestring
+except NameError:
+    basestring = str    # python 3
+
+class Serial(serial.Serial):
+    """Just inherit the native Serial port implementation and patch the port property."""
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(Serial, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        self.output = sys.stderr
+        self.hexlify = False
+        self.color = False
+        self.rx_color = '\x1b[32m'
+        self.tx_color = '\x1b[31m'
+
+    @serial.Serial.port.setter
+    def port(self, value):
+        if value is not None:
+            serial.Serial.port.__set__(self, self.fromURL(value))
+
+    def fromURL(self, url):
+        """extract host and port from an URL string"""
+        print(url)
+        parts = urlparse.urlsplit(url)
+        if parts.scheme != "spy":
+            raise serial.SerialException('expected a string in the form "spy://port[?option[=value][&option[=value]]]": not starting with spy:// (%r)' % (parts.scheme,))
+        # process options now, directly altering self
+        for option, values in urlparse.parse_qs(parts.query, True).items():
+            if option == 'dev':
+                self.output = open(values[0], 'w')
+            elif option == 'color':
+                self.color = True
+            elif option == 'hex':
+                self.hexlify = True
+        return ''.join([parts.netloc, parts.path])
+
+    def write(self, tx):
+        if self.color:
+            self.output.write(self.tx_color)
+        if self.hexlify:
+            self.output.write(tx.encode('hex'))
+        else:
+            self.output.write(tx)
+        self.output.flush()
+        return super(Serial, self).write(tx)
+
+    def read(self, size=1):
+        rx = super(Serial, self).read(size)
+        if rx:
+            if self.color:
+                self.output.write(self.rx_color)
+            if self.hexlify:
+                self.output.write(rx.encode('hex'))
+            else:
+                self.output.write(rx)
+            self.output.flush()
+        return rx
+
+
+# - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    s = Serial(None)
+    s.port = 'spy:///dev/ttyS0'
+    print(s)
+