The error logs I was referring to are on the other side of an API, and the error response isn't being returned to the client in any way. But I get your point, there should be better, faster ways to debug, like:

a) return the error messages, even if only in dev environments

b) convince my supervisor that I should have access to the shared api server

c) run the entire app stack in a local dev environment (which I prefer the most)

We're making progress on all those now, but only after a round or 2 of push back from my supervisor.