diff --git a/jvm/CHANGELOG.md b/jvm/CHANGELOG.md
index 52aa3248..b0a9c003 100644
--- a/jvm/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/jvm/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
 ## [Unreleased]
+### Added
+- Added an entrypoint `Selfie.vcrTestLocator()` for the new `VcrSelfie` class for snapshotting and replaying network traffic. ([#517](https://github.com/diffplug/selfie/pull/517/files))
 ### Fixed
 - Fixed a bug when saving facets containing keys with the `]` character ([#518](https://github.com/diffplug/selfie/pull/518)) 
 
diff --git a/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/Mode.kt b/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/Mode.kt
index 3f49888a..8b60b431 100644
--- a/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/Mode.kt
+++ b/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/Mode.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (C) 2023-2024 DiffPlug
+ * Copyright (C) 2023-2025 DiffPlug
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -44,9 +44,16 @@ enum class Mode {
   internal fun msgSnapshotNotFoundNoSuchFile(file: TypedPath) =
       msg("Snapshot not found: no such file $file")
   internal fun msgSnapshotMismatch(expected: String, actual: String) =
-      msg(SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings(expected, actual))
+      msg("Snapshot " + SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings(expected, actual))
   internal fun msgSnapshotMismatchBinary(expected: ByteArray, actual: ByteArray) =
       msgSnapshotMismatch(expected.toQuotedPrintable(), actual.toQuotedPrintable())
+  internal fun msgVcrMismatch(key: String, expected: String, actual: String) =
+      msg("VCR frame $key " + SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings(expected, actual))
+  internal fun msgVcrUnread(expected: Int, actual: Int) =
+      msg("VCR frames unread - only $actual were read out of $expected")
+  internal fun msgVcrUnderflow(expected: Int) =
+      msg(
+          "VCR frames exhausted - only $expected are available but you tried to read ${expected + 1}")
   private fun ByteArray.toQuotedPrintable(): String {
     val sb = StringBuilder()
     for (byte in this) {
@@ -63,7 +70,9 @@ enum class Mode {
       when (this) {
         interactive ->
             "$headline\n" +
-                "‣ update this snapshot by adding `_TODO` to the function name\n" +
+                (if (headline.startsWith("Snapshot "))
+                    "‣ update this snapshot by adding `_TODO` to the function name\n"
+                else "") +
                 "‣ update all snapshots in this file by adding `//selfieonce` or `//SELFIEWRITE`"
         readonly -> headline
         overwrite -> "$headline\n(didn't expect this to ever happen in overwrite mode)"
diff --git a/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/Selfie.kt b/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/Selfie.kt
index 49b31e9c..7b40efca 100644
--- a/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/Selfie.kt
+++ b/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/Selfie.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (C) 2023-2024 DiffPlug
+ * Copyright (C) 2023-2025 DiffPlug
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -88,4 +88,20 @@ object Selfie {
   @JvmStatic
   fun <T> cacheSelfieBinary(roundtrip: Roundtrip<T, ByteArray>, toCache: Cacheable<T>) =
       CacheSelfieBinary<T>(deferredDiskStorage, roundtrip, toCache)
+
+  /**
+   * Whichever file calls this method is where Selfie will look for `//selfieonce` comments to
+   * control whether the VCR is writing or reading. If the caller lives in a package called
+   * `selfie.*` it will keep looking up the stack trace until a caller is not inside `selfie.*`.
+   */
+  @JvmStatic
+  @ExperimentalSelfieVcr
+  fun vcrTestLocator(sub: String = "") = VcrSelfie.TestLocator(sub, deferredDiskStorage)
 }
+
+@RequiresOptIn(
+    level = RequiresOptIn.Level.WARNING,
+    message = "This API is in beta and may change in the future.")
+@Retention(AnnotationRetention.BINARY)
+@Target(AnnotationTarget.CLASS, AnnotationTarget.FUNCTION, AnnotationTarget.PROPERTY)
+annotation class ExperimentalSelfieVcr
diff --git a/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/VcrSelfie.kt b/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/VcrSelfie.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3de60f0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/VcrSelfie.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2025 DiffPlug
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package com.diffplug.selfie
+
+import com.diffplug.selfie.guts.CallStack
+import com.diffplug.selfie.guts.DiskStorage
+import com.diffplug.selfie.guts.recordCall
+
+private const val OPEN = "«"
+private const val CLOSE = "»"
+
+class VcrSelfie
+internal constructor(
+    private val sub: String,
+    private val call: CallStack,
+    private val disk: DiskStorage,
+) : AutoCloseable {
+  class TestLocator internal constructor(private val sub: String, private val disk: DiskStorage) {
+    private val call = recordCall(false)
+    fun createVcr() = VcrSelfie(sub, call, disk)
+  }
+
+  private class State(val readMode: Boolean) {
+    var currentFrame = 0
+    val frames = mutableListOf<Pair<String, SnapshotValue>>()
+  }
+  private val state: State
+
+  init {
+    val canWrite = Selfie.system.mode.canWrite(isTodo = false, call, Selfie.system)
+    state = State(readMode = !canWrite)
+    if (state.readMode) {
+      val snapshot =
+          disk.readDisk(sub, call)
+              ?: throw Selfie.system.fs.assertFailed(Selfie.system.mode.msgSnapshotNotFound())
+      var idx = 1
+      for ((key, value) in snapshot.facets) {
+        check(key.startsWith(OPEN))
+        val nextClose = key.indexOf(CLOSE)
+        check(nextClose != -1)
+        val num = key.substring(OPEN.length, nextClose).toInt()
+        check(num == idx)
+        ++idx
+        val keyAfterNum = key.substring(nextClose + 1)
+        state.frames.add(keyAfterNum to value)
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  override fun close() {
+    if (state.readMode) {
+      if (state.frames.size != state.currentFrame) {
+        throw Selfie.system.fs.assertFailed(
+            Selfie.system.mode.msgVcrUnread(state.frames.size, state.currentFrame))
+      }
+    } else {
+      var snapshot = Snapshot.of("")
+      var idx = 1
+      for ((key, value) in state.frames) {
+        snapshot = snapshot.plusFacet("$OPEN$idx$CLOSE$key", value)
+      }
+      disk.writeDisk(snapshot, sub, call)
+    }
+  }
+  private fun nextFrameValue(key: String): SnapshotValue {
+    val mode = Selfie.system.mode
+    val fs = Selfie.system.fs
+    if (state.frames.size <= state.currentFrame) {
+      throw fs.assertFailed(mode.msgVcrUnderflow(state.frames.size))
+    }
+    val expected = state.frames[state.currentFrame++]
+    if (expected.first != key) {
+      throw fs.assertFailed(
+          mode.msgVcrMismatch("$sub[$OPEN${state.currentFrame}$CLOSE]", expected.first, key),
+          expected.first,
+          key)
+    }
+    return expected.second
+  }
+  fun <V> nextFrame(key: String, roundtripValue: Roundtrip<V, String>, value: Cacheable<V>): V {
+    if (state.readMode) {
+      return roundtripValue.parse(nextFrameValue(key).valueString())
+    } else {
+      val value = value.get()
+      state.frames.add(key to SnapshotValue.of(roundtripValue.serialize(value)))
+      return value
+    }
+  }
+  fun nextFrame(key: String, value: Cacheable<String>): String =
+      nextFrame(key, Roundtrip.identity(), value)
+  inline fun <reified V> nextFrameJson(key: String, value: Cacheable<V>): V =
+      nextFrame(key, RoundtripJson.of<V>(), value)
+  fun <V> nextFrameBinary(
+      key: String,
+      roundtripValue: Roundtrip<V, ByteArray>,
+      value: Cacheable<V>
+  ): V {
+    if (state.readMode) {
+      return roundtripValue.parse(nextFrameValue(key).valueBinary())
+    } else {
+      val value = value.get()
+      state.frames.add(key to SnapshotValue.of(roundtripValue.serialize(value)))
+      return value
+    }
+  }
+  fun <V> nextFrameBinary(key: String, value: Cacheable<ByteArray>): ByteArray =
+      nextFrameBinary(key, Roundtrip.identity(), value)
+}
diff --git a/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/guts/SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.kt b/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/guts/SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.kt
index 610c2ef2..d4e2e53e 100644
--- a/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/guts/SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.kt
+++ b/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/guts/SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (C) 2024 DiffPlug
+ * Copyright (C) 2024-2025 DiffPlug
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ object SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg {
             actual.indexOf('\n', index).let { if (it == -1) actual.length else it }
         val expectedLine = expected.substring(index - columnNumber + 1, endOfLineExpected)
         val actualLine = actual.substring(index - columnNumber + 1, endOfLineActual)
-        return "Snapshot mismatch at L$lineNumber:C$columnNumber\n-$expectedLine\n+$actualLine"
+        return "mismatch at L$lineNumber:C$columnNumber\n-$expectedLine\n+$actualLine"
       }
       if (expectedChar == '\n') {
         lineNumber++
@@ -53,11 +53,11 @@ object SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg {
       val endIdx =
           longer.indexOf('\n', endOfLineActual + 1).let { if (it == -1) longer.length else it }
       val line = longer.substring(endOfLineActual + 1, endIdx)
-      return "Snapshot mismatch at L${lineNumber+1}:C1 - line(s) ${if (added == "+") "added" else "removed"}\n${added}$line"
+      return "mismatch at L${lineNumber+1}:C1 - line(s) ${if (added == "+") "added" else "removed"}\n${added}$line"
     } else {
       val expectedLine = expected.substring(index - columnNumber + 1, endOfLineExpected)
       val actualLine = actual.substring(index - columnNumber + 1, endOfLineActual)
-      return "Snapshot mismatch at L$lineNumber:C$columnNumber\n-$expectedLine\n+$actualLine"
+      return "mismatch at L$lineNumber:C$columnNumber\n-$expectedLine\n+$actualLine"
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonTest/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/guts/SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsgTest.kt b/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonTest/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/guts/SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsgTest.kt
index e47183e9..a563212f 100644
--- a/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonTest/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/guts/SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsgTest.kt
+++ b/jvm/selfie-lib/src/commonTest/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/guts/SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsgTest.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (C) 2024 DiffPlug
+ * Copyright (C) 2024-2025 DiffPlug
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -22,12 +22,12 @@ class SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsgTest {
   @Test
   fun errorLine1() {
     SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings("Testing 123", "Testing ABC") shouldBe
-        """Snapshot mismatch at L1:C9
+        """mismatch at L1:C9
 -Testing 123
 +Testing ABC"""
 
     SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings("123 Testing", "ABC Testing") shouldBe
-        """Snapshot mismatch at L1:C1
+        """mismatch at L1:C1
 -123 Testing
 +ABC Testing"""
   }
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@ class SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsgTest {
   @Test
   fun errorLine2() {
     SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings("Line\nTesting 123", "Line\nTesting ABC") shouldBe
-        """Snapshot mismatch at L2:C9
+        """mismatch at L2:C9
 -Testing 123
 +Testing ABC"""
 
     SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings("Line\n123 Testing", "Line\nABC Testing") shouldBe
-        """Snapshot mismatch at L2:C1
+        """mismatch at L2:C1
 -123 Testing
 +ABC Testing"""
   }
@@ -48,11 +48,11 @@ class SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsgTest {
   @Test
   fun extraLine1() {
     SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings("123", "123ABC") shouldBe
-        """Snapshot mismatch at L1:C4
+        """mismatch at L1:C4
 -123
 +123ABC"""
     SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings("123ABC", "123") shouldBe
-        """Snapshot mismatch at L1:C4
+        """mismatch at L1:C4
 -123ABC
 +123"""
   }
@@ -60,11 +60,11 @@ class SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsgTest {
   @Test
   fun extraLine2() {
     SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings("line\n123", "line\n123ABC") shouldBe
-        """Snapshot mismatch at L2:C4
+        """mismatch at L2:C4
 -123
 +123ABC"""
     SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings("line\n123ABC", "line\n123") shouldBe
-        """Snapshot mismatch at L2:C4
+        """mismatch at L2:C4
 -123ABC
 +123"""
   }
@@ -72,26 +72,26 @@ class SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsgTest {
   @Test
   fun extraLine() {
     SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings("line", "line\nnext") shouldBe
-        """Snapshot mismatch at L2:C1 - line(s) added
+        """mismatch at L2:C1 - line(s) added
 +next"""
     SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings("line\nnext", "line") shouldBe
-        """Snapshot mismatch at L2:C1 - line(s) removed
+        """mismatch at L2:C1 - line(s) removed
 -next"""
   }
 
   @Test
   fun extraNewline() {
     SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings("line", "line\n") shouldBe
-        """Snapshot mismatch at L2:C1 - line(s) added
+        """mismatch at L2:C1 - line(s) added
 +"""
     SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings("line\n", "line") shouldBe
-        """Snapshot mismatch at L2:C1 - line(s) removed
+        """mismatch at L2:C1 - line(s) removed
 -"""
     SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings("", "\n") shouldBe
-        """Snapshot mismatch at L2:C1 - line(s) added
+        """mismatch at L2:C1 - line(s) added
 +"""
     SnapshotNotEqualErrorMsg.forUnequalStrings("\n", "") shouldBe
-        """Snapshot mismatch at L2:C1 - line(s) removed
+        """mismatch at L2:C1 - line(s) removed
 -"""
   }
 }
diff --git a/jvm/selfie-lib/src/jvmMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/guts/WriteTracker.jvm.kt b/jvm/selfie-lib/src/jvmMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/guts/WriteTracker.jvm.kt
index fcb7f19d..a01a6846 100644
--- a/jvm/selfie-lib/src/jvmMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/guts/WriteTracker.jvm.kt
+++ b/jvm/selfie-lib/src/jvmMain/kotlin/com/diffplug/selfie/guts/WriteTracker.jvm.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (C) 2024 DiffPlug
+ * Copyright (C) 2024-2025 DiffPlug
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -55,7 +55,10 @@ actual data class CallLocation(
 /** Generates a CallLocation and the CallStack behind it. */
 internal actual fun recordCall(callerFileOnly: Boolean): CallStack =
     StackWalker.getInstance().walk { frames ->
-      val framesWithDrop = frames.dropWhile { it.className.startsWith("com.diffplug.selfie") }
+      val framesWithDrop =
+          frames.dropWhile {
+            it.className.startsWith("com.diffplug.selfie.") || it.className.startsWith("selfie.")
+          }
       if (callerFileOnly) {
         val caller =
             framesWithDrop