Forem: Dinesh Thakur

How to convert OpenAPI spec to Requestly API collection

Dinesh Thakur — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 06:26:33 +0000

If you already have an OpenAPI Specification (Swagger) for your API, you don’t need to recreate everything manually. With Requestly’s OpenAPI Importer, you can instantly convert your .yaml or .json spec file into a fully organized API collection, ready to explore, test, and document your APIs.

What Is an OpenAPI Specification?

The OpenAPI Specification (OAS) defines a standard, language-agnostic format for describing RESTful APIs. It describes endpoints, request methods, parameters, responses, authentication, and more — typically written in YAML or JSON.

OpenAPI specs are commonly used with tools like Swagger, Postman, and backend frameworks such as FastAPI, NestJS, or Spring Boot.

Requestly now makes it easy to bring these specs directly into your workspace — no extra conversions needed.

Why Import an OpenAPI Spec into Requestly?

Importing your OpenAPI spec into Requestly saves time and ensures consistency between your API documentation and test collections.

Here are the main benefits:

Instant API Setup — Automatically creates collections and requests for all your endpoints.
Structured Organization — Groups endpoints under tags and paths for easy navigation.
Accurate Data — Automatically includes request methods, headers, and body schemas from the spec.
Ready for Testing — Test endpoints right away with variables, environments, and scripts.
Seamless Migration — Bring your existing Swagger or Postman definitions into Requestly in seconds.

Supported Formats

The OpenAPI importer supports both:

.json — JSON format specs (commonly exported from Swagger or code generators).
.yaml / .yml — YAML format specs (commonly used in backend frameworks).

How to Import an OpenAPI Spec in Requestly

Follow these simple steps:

Open the API Client Go to your API Client workspace in Requestly. Make sure you’re in the workspace where you want to import your API collection.

Import Your OpenAPI File Click Import → OpenAPI and select your .yaml or .json file.

Preview Before Import Requestly will show a preview of what will be imported — including: – The collections that will be created – The environments and variables that will be set up Review the preview and confirm to complete the import.

Requestly builds your collection
- Each path in your OpenAPI file becomes an individual request.
- Requests are grouped under collections named after your API or service.
- Requestly automatically fills in the method, URL, headers, and body (if defined in the spec).

Wrapping Up

Importing your OpenAPI spec into Requestly is the fastest way to set up your API collection — no manual work, no missed endpoints, and no inconsistencies.

Whether you’re migrating from Swagger, Postman, or a backend framework, Requestly helps you centralize your API development, testing, and collaboration in one place.

👉 Try it now: Import your OpenAPI file in Requestly

Hacktoberfest 2025 Requestly: Build with us this October

Dinesh Thakur — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 12:39:30 +0000

Hacktoberfest is here—and we’d love your help on Requestly, our open-source API Client + HTTP toolkit. First PR or fiftieth, we’ll guide you to ship something meaningful, learn along the way, and earn rewards.

What’s Hacktoberfest? (20 seconds)

A month-long open-source celebration every October. Contribute accepted pull/merge requests (and/or no-code contributions), learn from the community, meet folks, and snag rewards. This year, Requestly is taking part in Hacktoberfest.

How It Works (Quick Overview)

Every contribution—whether it’s a pull request, a blog post, or a social share—earns you points. The more impactful your contribution, the higher the points. At the end of Hacktoberfest (after Oct 31), we’ll tally up all contributions and announce the winners in the second week of November.

We announce Top Contributors of the week on linkedin! Keep an eye out on the leaderboard:

👉 Leaderboard

Join Our Community on Discord

Our Discord server is the main place to connect, ask questions, and get updates in real time.

👉 Join the Requestly Discord

Once inside, grab the Hacktoberfest-Requestly role and jump into the #requestly-hacktoberfest channel to chat with the team, find issues, or get guidance on your first PR.

How to Start (super simple)

Code & Product

Visit the repo → Requestly GitHub Repo
Star & fork the repo(s)
Pick any issue labeled Hacktoberfest
Raise a PR with a clear description + a quick screen recording (Loom or similar).
Share your work on social media for bonus points (see scoring).
Track your points on our public leaderboard (updated weekly) (add link).

We review fast and kindly—new contributors are very welcome.

Points:

UI change or “good first issue” — 25 pts
Medium/Senior issue — 50 pts

API Collections (for other projects)

Requestly’s API Client supports local workspaces—keep API collections in a local folder inside any project, merge it and your API collection is available on github

Refer to this case study: Upscayl Case Study

Quick steps

Clone the target project’s repo. (any open source project apart from Requestly)
In Requestly API Client, create a Local Workspace and point it to a folder inside the cloned repo.
Create a Collection named [{Tool name}] API Collections (e.g., Stripe API Collections).
Raise a PR to add the collection.
If the parent project accepts your PR, you get extra points.

Note: The parent project must have ≥ 200 stars.

Points

PR raised — 25 pts
Merged into parent repo — 125 pts

No-Code Contributions

Try Requestly (Desktop App or Chrome Extension) and explore features.
Write a blog/article/tutorial about your learnings or a use case (personal site / DEV.to / Medium) — 35 pts
Social Promotion (Be authentic and use multiple platforms): When you share on social media, don’t just copy and paste content. Add your own thoughts, insights, or experiences so your post feels genuine and offers something valuable to your audience.
- First platform (LinkedIn or X) — 10 pts
- Each additional platform (Threads, YouTube Short, Reddit, DEV.to cross-post) — +5 pts each, cap +15 per post
- Duplicate posts without new value count once
Impact bump (stackable):
- > 1,000 impressions — +10 pts
- > 30 likes — +10 pts
- > 5 reshares — +10 pts

We’ll spotlight the #1 contributor each week on LinkedIn.

How to Submit Your Work

We track PRs on GitHub, but we also award points for learnings shared publicly.

All code contributions will be tracked directly on GitHub.

You don’t need to fill any form — we’ll automatically review merged PRs.
🗣️ All non-code contributors (like blog posts, tutorials, API collections, or social shares) should comment under the relevant sub-issue in our main Hacktoberfest issue:

👉 Hacktoberfest 2025 × Requestly

Once your comment is added, our team will review it and award points based on the scoring system listed above.

The issue and its sub-issues will lock on Nov 1, 12:00 AM IST, after which we’ll tally all scores and announce winners.

Rewards 🎁

Bronze (≥ 100 pts) — Digital certificate + LinkedIn shout-out
Silver (≥ 175 pts) — ₹500 Amazon gift card + Bronze perks
Gold (≥ 275 pts) — Swag Kit + ₹2000 Amazon gift card
Hall of Fame — Top 5 overall get a dedicated blog shout-out
Grand Winner (#1, ≥ 400 pts) — Landing page spotlight + Swag Kit + ₹5000 Amazon gift card

Shipping note: Swag/gifts are India-only.

Timeline (Oct 6–31, 2025)

All October: Contribute PRs, comment on issues, ask questions, publish posts, share on social.
When accepted: We’ll merge and label Hacktoberfest-accepted.
Weekly: Top Contributor of the Week → LinkedIn.
After Oct 31: We verify points and ship rewards.

Winners announced: After 12:00 AM, Nov 1, 2025 (IST).

We’ll lock the Google Form and tally final points.

New to Open Source? Start Here

Look for a good first issue—we’ll add plenty for first-timers.
Try our API Client and create an API collection for an open-source project (see the Upscayl case study).
Not a coder (yet)? Blogs, tutorials, and docs about your learnings all count.

Share a short LinkedIn/X post—those points add up quickly.

Your First PR: Quick Checklist

Before you start

Comment on the issue to get assigned.
Ask scope/clarification questions on the thread.
Start only after assignment.

When you open the PR

Title: feat|fix: concise summary
Description (template):
- Context: What/why (issue link)
- Approach: How you solved it
- Testing: Steps + expected behavior
- Screens: Before/after or a 60–90s Loom

After you open the PR

Be responsive to review comments.

What We Review For (fast & friendly)

Screen recording (fastest way to verify)
Clarity (description & screenshots)
Scope (one change per PR)
Quality (lint/tests pass; no spam or generated noise)

Hacktoberfest only counts accepted contributions. Spammy PRs are disqualified across the program. We follow the official anti-spam guidelines.

FAQ

How many PRs do I need for rewards?
No fixed number—it’s points-based. Both code and no-code contributions count.

Do no-code contributions count?
Yes. Try Requestly, write about your learning, and share on social for extra points.

Can I do both Code and no-code contributions?
Yes! Make as many contributions as you can to earn points

What makes a repo “participating”?
Look for the hacktoberfest topic on the repository.

Are my social media posts accepted by default?
No. Posts must share genuine learnings. Duplicate/low-value posts won’t earn points.

Do you ship gifts internationally?
No. Rewards shipping is India-only.

Ready? Let’s Build Together

Visit our GitHub repo
Pick an issue, raise your PR, and share your work.
Stuck? Comment on the issue thread—we’ll help scope the work or suggest a beginner-friendly alternative.

Happy Contributing!

Rethinking API Workspaces for microservice architecture

Dinesh Thakur — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 12:18:47 +0000

In modern development, services rarely live in one giant codebase. Instead, applications are split into multiple microservices — each with its own repo, APIs, and logic.

Testing these APIs is just as important as writing the code, but here’s the problem:

Every service usually has its own API requests and environments.
Teams often manage these in separate workspaces.
Developers who need to test flows across multiple services end up juggling between workspaces.

This slows down debugging and makes collaboration harder.

Requestly’s Multi-Workspace View solves this by letting you keep API collections and environments inside each service’s source code and then combine them as needed.

Keeping API Collections Close to the Code

Instead of having a single central workspace for everything, each team can store its own Requestly workspace (collections + environments) alongside the service it belongs to.

For example:

📁 service-a
 ├─ 📁 src
 ├─ 📁 tests
 └─ 📁 requestly-workspace   # Contains API collections + environments

📁 service-b
 ├─ 📁 src
 └─ 📁 requestly-workspace

📁 service-c
 ├─ 📁 src
 └─ 📁 requestly-workspace

This approach has some big advantages:

Version-controlled: Workspaces live in Git, just like your code.
Scoped: Each service has only the API requests relevant to it.
Discoverable: Any new developer can clone the repo and instantly access the APIs for that service.

Mixing Services When You Need Them

Here’s where Multi-Workspace View comes in.

Say you’re working on a checkout flow that touches:

Service A (Auth)
Service D (Orders)

Instead of merging their API requests into one messy workspace, you can simply:

Clone both repos (service A and D).
Open Requestly.
Load the two local workspaces in Multi-Workspace View.

Now you have both sets of requests + environments available side by side. You can:

Call Auth APIs from service A.
Call Order APIs from service D.
Debug the full flow — without ever switching workspaces or duplicating requests.

This scales beautifully when teams maintain multiple repos but need to collaborate on larger workflows.

Benefits of This Approach

Close to source: Workspaces live where APIs are implemented.
Reproducible setups: New team members don’t need to hunt for API docs — they get the collections with the code.
Mix & match flexibility: Developers can load exactly the services they need (A + D, B + C, etc.) without clutter.
Cross-team collaboration: Workspaces can be versioned, reviewed, and shared just like code changes.

Getting Started with Multi-Workspace View

Step 1: Open Requestly and navigate to the API tab from the sidebar.

Step 2: In the top-right corner, click on your current workspace name to open the Workspace Selector dropdown.

Step 3: Check the boxes next to the local workspaces you want to load together.

Step 4: Your chosen workspaces will appear grouped in the selector.

Note: Multi-Workspace View currently works with local workspaces only.

Final Thoughts

Microservices encourage modularity in code — and your API testing setup should reflect that too. By keeping Requestly workspaces next to the service code and using Multi-Workspace View, you get the best of both worlds:

Organized, version-controlled API collections per service.
The flexibility to test across multiple services in one view.

This approach makes API testing more maintainable, collaborative, and aligned with how modern teams ship software.

Sharing Variables Across Workspaces in Requestly

Dinesh Thakur — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 07:53:04 +0000

When you’re working on different projects at once, it can be tricky to keep track of things like secret keys, user IDs, or special links. You might have workspaces for each project. But what if you need to use the same piece of information, like a login key, across all of them?

Copying and pasting is slow and you might make mistakes. Requestly has a cool feature to help with this, called Runtime Variables.

What Are Runtime Variables?

Think of Runtime Variables as temporary sticky notes for your work in Requestly. They are simple bits of information that you can create and use anywhere.

They have two key features:

They Work Everywhere: If you create a runtime variable once you can use it in any workspace right away.
You Can Save Them for Later: Usually, these “sticky notes” disappear when you close Requestly. But you can toggle them to “Persist”, which saves them for the next time you open the app.

How do runtime variables work?

The most important thing to know is that Runtime Variables have the highest precendence in Requestly. If another variable has the same name, the Runtime Variable will always be used instead.

Here’s how Requestly decides which variable to use, from most powerful to least powerful:

Runtime Variables
Environment Variables (Info for a specific setup, like “Testing”)
Collection Variables (Info for a specific folder of requests)
Global Variables (General info)

For example: Let’s say you have a saved link called {{baseURL}} that points to a test website. But for a quick test, you need to use a server running on your own computer.

Instead of changing your saved settings, you can just create a Runtime Variable also named {{baseURL}} and point it to your local server (like http://localhost:3000). Now, all your workspaces will use your local server. When you’re done, just delete the runtime variable, and everything goes back to normal!

How to Use Them

Getting started is easy.

In Requestly, go to the API Client. And click on Runtime Variables tab on the side.

In the variables table, click + Add More and enter the variable details:
- Key – The variable name (e.g., session_id).
- Value – The value you want to store.
- Type – Select from String, Number, Boolean, or Secret.
- Persistent – Toggle whether the variable should be saved across app restarts.
  - Yes → Keeps its value after restarting the app.
  - No → Clears itself automatically on restart.

That’s it! Now you can use {{session_id}} in any request in any of your workspace.

Some Cool Ways to Use Them

Login Keys: When you get a login key that expires soon, save it as a runtime variable. All your workspaces can now use that same key.
Testing with Different Users: Need to see how your app works for a specific person? Just create a runtime variable like {{userID}} and pop in their ID to test across all your workspaces.
Switching Features On/Off: If you’re testing a new feature that can be turned on or off with a special value, put that value in a runtime variable. This makes it super easy to flip the feature on or off everywhere at once.
Using Multiple Workspaces at Once: Requestly lets you open several workspaces side-by-side. Runtime Variables are perfect for this! If you update a variable like {{userID}}, the change happens everywhere instantly. This is super helpful for testing how different parts of your app work together at the same time.
Using Multiple Workspaces at Once: Requestly lets you open several workspaces side-by-side. Runtime Variables are perfect for this! If you update a variable like {{userID}}, the change happens everywhere instantly. This is super helpful for testing how different parts of your app work together at the same time.

How to Intercept & Modify GraphQL Requests with Requestly

Dinesh Thakur — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 07:58:32 +0000

GraphQL APIs have become the go-to choice for modern frontend applications. Their flexible querying system allows clients to request precisely the data they need—nothing more, nothing less. But this same flexibility often makes debugging, testing, and experimenting harder.

What if you could intercept a GraphQL request and tweak its variables, override certain fields, or simulate different input values—without touching a line of code?

That’s where Requestly comes in.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to intercept and modify outgoing GraphQL requests using Requestly’s Modify Request Body rule. Whether you’re testing pagination logic, simulating another user, or altering request payloads for debugging, Requestly makes it incredibly easy.

Why GraphQL Request Interception Is Different

GraphQL sends all operations (queries and mutations) to a single endpoint, typically as a POST request. Unlike REST, where URL and query parameters define the resource, GraphQL includes the operation and variables in the request body, making traditional URL-based interception ineffective.

That means:

You can’t just filter by URL—you must filter by operationName or payload keys
Any meaningful changes require modifying the body JSON, not headers or URL params

Requestly handles this gracefully with dedicated support for GraphQL operation filtering and request body rewriting.

Example: Limit Product list in Requestly Playground by Modifying a GraphQL Variable

In this example, we’ll demonstrate how to intercept a GraphQL request in the Requestly Playground and modify one of the query variables to control the number of products fetched.

Step 1: Understand the Playground Setup

First, open the Requestly Playground. Choose any GraphQL demo available. If you inspect the Network tab in DevTools, you’ll notice a request sent to the GraphQL server with a payload like this:

This is a POST request that contains the operationName, variables, and the query itself. In our case, we want to modify the first variable, which controls how many products are fetched.

Step 2: Create a Modify Request Body Rule

To intercept and update the request:

Open HTTP Rules

Navigate to the HTTP Rules section in the web or desktop app.
Create a New Rule

Click on “+ New Rule” and select Modify Request Body.
Configure Resource Type

Choose “GraphQL API” as the Resource Type.
Enter your source condition

In the Source Condition, enter the domain of the GraphQL API:
Set GraphQL Operation Filter

In the GraphQL Operation (Request Payload Filter) section:
- Enter Key as operationName.
- Set Value as Products (which is the operation used in this demo)

Customize Request

Now, let’s override the GraphQL request with modified values. You can either write dynamic JavaScript or directly paste the static modified payload.

For this demo, we’ll use a static replacement where we set first: 3 to limit the results.

{
    "operationName": "Products",
    "variables": {
        "searchJoin": "AND",
        "first": 3,
        "language": "en",
        "search": "type.slug:grocery;status:publish"
    },
    "query": "query Products($search: String, $date_range: String, $orderBy: String, $sortedBy: String, $language: String, $searchJoin: String = \"AND\", $first: Int = 15, $page: Int) {\n  products(\n    search: $search\n    date_range: $date_range\n    sortedBy: $sortedBy\n    orderBy: $orderBy\n    language: $language\n    searchJoin: $searchJoin\n    first: $first\n    page: $page\n  ) {\n    data {\n      ...ProductParts\n      author {\n        name\n        slug\n        id\n        __typename\n      }\n      __typename\n    }\n    paginatorInfo {\n      ...PaginatorParts\n      __typename\n    }\n    __typename\n  }\n}\n\nfragment ProductParts on Product {\n  id\n  name\n  slug\n  type {\n    id\n    name\n    slug\n    settings {\n      productCard\n      __typename\n    }\n    __typename\n  }\n  product_type\n  price\n  sale_price\n  min_price\n  max_price\n  quantity\n  unit\n  sku\n  is_digital\n  is_external\n  ratings\n  image {\n    id\n    thumbnail\n    original\n    __typename\n  }\n  video {\n    url\n    __typename\n  }\n  tags {\n    id\n    name\n    slug\n    __typename\n  }\n  status\n  external_product_url\n  external_product_button_text\n  in_flash_sale\n  __typename\n}\n\nfragment PaginatorParts on PaginatorInfo {\n  count\n  currentPage\n  firstItem\n  hasMorePages\n  lastItem\n  lastPage\n  perPage\n  total\n  __typename\n}"
}

We’ve updated "first": 3, this will instruct the server to return only 3 products.

Save and Activate

Click Save, then toggle the rule ON to activate it.

Refresh the Playground

Now return to the Requestly Playground and reload the demo. You should see only 3 products loaded instead of the default 20:

Advanced Targeting with GraphQL Operation Filters

Requestly allows you to precisely target GraphQL operations by their name, even when multiple queries share the same endpoint.

When defining your rule:

Use operationName to specify the GraphQL query/mutation you want to modify.
You can also add conditional checks for specific variable values (e.g., country: 'US').

This is especially useful when:

Multiple operations use the same endpoint
You only want to modify one particular request out of many

Conclusion

Modifying GraphQL requests in-flight can dramatically improve how you develop and test modern web apps. Requestly’s Modify Request Body rule gives you full control over the GraphQL payload—without touching the source code or backend services.

Whether you’re debugging, prototyping, or experimenting—Requestly empowers you to own your client-side workflows end-to-end.

Best Tools for GraphQL Development in 2025

Dinesh Thakur — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 06:20:37 +0000

GraphQL has rapidly gained popularity in recent years as a powerful alternative to REST, offering more flexibility in querying APIs. This article explores the best tools for GraphQL you can use in your workflow to build, test, and debug your APIs.

API Clients

API clients help developers explore GraphQL schemas, test queries, and debug APIs efficiently. Here are some of the best GraphQL API clients:

Altair GraphQL Client

Altair is a feature-rich GraphQL client designed for testing, debugging, and managing GraphQL queries.

Key Features

Multi-tab interface for running multiple queries
Supports custom headers and authentication tokens
Query history, environment variables, and file uploads

Pros and Cons

User-friendly and powerful features
Available as a browser extension and standalone app
Supports GraphQL subscriptions
Can feel overwhelming for beginners
Some advanced features require manual setup

Postman

Postman is a well-known API testing tool that supports GraphQL queries along with REST and other API types.

Key Features

GraphQL query execution with schema introspection
Supports authentication, headers, and variables
API collections for managing multiple requests

Pros and Cons

Great for teams working with multiple API types
Well-integrated with CI/CD pipelines
Supports automation and scripting
Doesn’t support multi-step (chained) requests.
Heavier compared to lightweight GraphQL clients

Insomnia

Insomnia is a powerful API client that provides a clean UI for testing GraphQL queries and managing API requests.

Key Features

GraphQL query execution with auto-completion
Environment variables and request chaining
Built-in authentication support (OAuth, JWT, etc.)

Pros and Cons

Lightweight and easy to use
Supports GraphQL introspection and schema exploration
Good for API testing and automation
Lacks some advanced debugging features
No built-in support for GraphQL subscriptions

Testing Tools

Mock servers and testing tools help developers simulate GraphQL APIs, test different scenarios, and validate API responses without needing a fully functional backend. Here are some of the best tools for mocking and testing GraphQL APIs:

Requestly

Requestly is a powerful tool for modifying GraphQL responses, intercepting requests, and debugging API interactions. It allows developers to tweak request bodies, capture GraphQL traffic, and share sessions for easier debugging and collaboration.

Key Features

Modify GraphQL responses in real time
Edit request bodies to test different scenarios
Capture and inspect GraphQL requests for debugging
Share captured API sessions with teammates

Pros and Cons

Useful for testing API changes without modifying backend code
Helps debug GraphQL issues quickly by capturing real API traffic
Supports sharing sessions for collaborative debugging
Requires setup within the browser or as an extension
Primarily focused on debugging rather than long-term monitoring

Apollo Server

Apollo Server is a popular GraphQL server that includes built-in schema mocking, making it easy to test GraphQL APIs without a real database.

Key Features

Built-in schema mocking for fast prototyping
Supports REST, databases, and other data sources
Caching, subscriptions, and federation support

Pros and Cons

Easy to set up and configure
Works seamlessly with Apollo Client and other tools
Scalable and production-ready
Can be overkill for simple mock APIs
Requires configuration for advanced mocking scenarios

GraphQL Faker

GraphQL Faker is a tool for generating mock GraphQL APIs with fake data, helping developers prototype and test APIs without a backend.

Key Features

Generate realistic fake data using Faker.js
Define a GraphQL schema and instantly create a mock API
Supports real-time schema changes

Pros and Cons

No need for a real backend to test queries
Helps quickly prototype GraphQL APIs
Customizable mock data generation
Limited to mocking; not a full GraphQL server
Requires manual schema setup for complex APIs

Mock Service Worker (MSW)

Mock Service Worker (MSW) is a request interception library that allows developers to mock GraphQL and REST API responses at the network level.

Key Features

Intercepts and mocks API requests in both browser and Node.js environments
Supports GraphQL queries and mutations
Works with Playwright, Cypress, and Jest for frontend testing

Pros and Cons

Great for frontend developers testing GraphQL APIs
Works at the network level, simulating real API behavior
Lightweight and easy to integrate into projects
Requires initial setup for complex APIs
Not a full-fledged GraphQL mock server

Design & Documentation Tools

Schema design and documentation tools help developers visualize, create, and maintain GraphQL schemas efficiently. These tools make it easier to understand API structures, collaborate with teams, and ensure consistency.

GraphQL Voyager

GraphQL Voyager is a powerful visualization tool that turns GraphQL schemas into an interactive graph, making it easy to explore relationships between types.

Key Features

Automatically generates an interactive schema graph
Provides a visual representation of queries, mutations, and relationships
Supports schema introspection from live GraphQL APIs

Pros and Cons

Great for understanding complex schemas
No setup required; works with any GraphQL API
Helps visualize data flow and dependencies
Read-only; does not support schema editing
Can be slow for very large schemas

GraphQL Editor

GraphQL Editor is a visual tool that allows developers to design, prototype, and visualize GraphQL schemas using a drag-and-drop interface.

Key Features

Drag-and-drop schema design
Interactive visualization of GraphQL APIs
Supports real-time schema collaboration

Pros and Cons

No coding required for schema design
Helps teams collaborate on API structure
Provides a real-time preview of changes
Requires manual export to use schemas in production
Some features are locked behind a paid plan

Apollo Studio

Apollo Studio is a complete GraphQL management platform that offers schema visualization, API documentation, and performance insights.

Key Features

Schema registry with version tracking
Interactive documentation for API consumers
Performance analytics and query insights

Pros and Cons

Helps teams manage schema changes over time
Provides real-time API usage monitoring
Supports collaboration with multiple team members
Requires an Apollo account
Some advanced features require a paid subscription

SpectaQL

SpectaQL is an open-source tool that automatically generates static GraphQL API documentation from a schema.

Key Features

Generates clean and readable API documentation
Supports custom themes and layouts
Can be used in CI/CD pipelines for automated docs

Pros and Cons

Fully open-source and customizable
No external dependencies; runs locally
Great for self-hosted documentation
No real-time interactivity like Apollo Studio
Requires manual updates for schema changes

Monitoring & Security Tools

Monitoring and security tools help ensure the performance, reliability, and safety of GraphQL APIs. These tools assist in tracking API usage, detecting vulnerabilities, and enforcing security best practices.

GraphQL Armor

GraphQL Armor is a middleware that helps protect GraphQL APIs from common security vulnerabilities.

Key Features

Blocks malicious queries such as deep recursion and introspection abuse
Limits query complexity and depth to prevent API overloading
Prevents brute-force attacks and unauthorized schema access

Pros and Cons

Lightweight and easy to integrate into GraphQL servers
Helps prevent denial-of-service (DoS) attacks
Works with Apollo Server, Express, and other GraphQL frameworks
Requires configuration for optimal security
Does not provide real-time monitoring

Escape.tech GraphQL Security

Escape.tech GraphQL Security is a security-focused tool that scans GraphQL APIs for vulnerabilities and provides recommendations for hardening endpoints.

Key Features

Automated vulnerability scanning for GraphQL APIs
Detects common security risks such as introspection leaks and overly permissive queries
Provides actionable security recommendations

Pros and Cons

Helps prevent unauthorized access and data leaks
Easy to integrate into CI/CD pipelines
Continuously updated to detect emerging threats
Some features require a paid plan
Focuses mainly on security, not performance monitoring

Grafbase

Grafbase is a GraphQL observability tool that provides real-time performance insights and debugging capabilities.

Key Features

Tracks API response times and query execution performance
Identifies slow queries and performance bottlenecks
Supports distributed tracing for microservices

Pros and Cons

Helps optimize GraphQL API performance
Supports real-time query analysis
Works well in cloud-based and microservice architectures
Requires integration with existing monitoring stacks
Limited security-focused features

Conclusion

GraphQL development requires the right tools to simplify querying, testing, monitoring, and security. From API clients to mock servers and schema design tools, each plays a role in improving the development process. Choosing the right tools based on your project needs can help you work more efficiently and build better APIs.

How to Test FastAPI Efficiently with Requestly API Client

Dinesh Thakur — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 04:23:31 +0000

Introduction to FastAPI

FastAPI is a Python web framework that makes building high-performance APIs a breeze. It’s designed to be fast, efficient, and developer-friendly, so you can create APIs with minimal code while keeping things scalable and reliable.

But once your API is up and running, testing it is just as important as building it. You need to make sure everything works as expected. While there are many ways to test APIs, the Requestly API Client makes the process smooth and hassle-free. It lets you send requests, tweak request data, and debug issues—all in one place.

In this article, we’ll dive into how you can use Requestly to test your FastAPI endpoints efficiently and why it might just be a better option than traditional testing methods.

Why and When to Use FastAPI

FastAPI is becoming a popular choice for API development due to its speed, simplicity, and modern features. But when should you use FastAPI over other web frameworks like Flask or Django? Let’s break it down.

Why Use FastAPI?

High Performance – FastAPI is one of the fastest Python web frameworks, thanks to its asynchronous capabilities and efficient request handling.
Easy to Use – With a clean and intuitive syntax, developers can build APIs quickly with minimal code.
Automatic Data Validation – FastAPI uses Pydantic to validate request and response data, reducing the chances of errors.
Built-in Async Support – Unlike Flask, which requires additional libraries for async programming, FastAPI natively supports asynchronous operations.
Type Safety – With type hints in Python, FastAPI ensures better code quality and catches potential issues early.

When to Use FastAPI?

When you need high-speed API performance – If your application requires handling a large number of concurrent requests efficiently, FastAPI is a great choice.
For real-time applications – FastAPI is ideal for WebSockets, chat applications, live data streaming, and similar use cases.
If you prefer modern Python features – With support for type hints, async/await, and automatic data validation, FastAPI is perfect for developers who want to leverage the latest Python capabilities.
When working with microservices – FastAPI is lightweight and integrates well with containerized environments, making it a strong candidate for microservices-based architectures.
For machine learning and AI applications – Many AI and ML engineers use FastAPI to expose their models as APIs due to its speed and ease of integration.

If you’re building a modern, scalable, and high-performance API, FastAPI is one of the best frameworks to consider.

How to Test FastAPI with Requestly

Testing is essential to ensure your app behaves as expected. While FastAPI provides some built-in tools for testing, Requestly API Client offers a more powerful and flexible way to test, debug, and modify API requests effortlessly.

Setting Up Your FastAPI Application

Before testing, ensure you have a running FastAPI application. Here’s a simple example of a FastAPI app:

from fastapi import FastAPI

app = FastAPI()

@app.get("/hello")
def read_root():
    return {"message": "Hello, FastAPI!"}

Run this FastAPI app using:

fastapi dev main.py

Your API will be available at http://127.0.0.1:8000/hello.

Installing Requestly API Client

To test this API, install Requestly by downloading the browser extension or using the standalone desktop app. Requestly allows you to send requests, modify parameters, and inspect responses easily.

Sending API Requests Using Requestly

Open Requestly navigate to API client

Here create a New Request.

Name your API Request and enter the FastAPI endpoint URL (http://127.0.0.1:8000/hello).

Click Send to see the response.

Requestly makes it easy to simulate different testing scenarios:

Changing Query Parameters – Modify request parameters dynamically to test different cases.
Altering Headers – Test authentication or different content types by adding/modifying headers.
Sending Payloads – Easily test POST or PUT requests by sending JSON data in the request body.
Simulating Errors – Modify request responses to test how your application handles failures.

Using Requestly API Client, you can efficiently test and debug your FastAPI endpoints without relying solely on code-based testing tools

Conclusion

FastAPI is a powerful and efficient web framework for building APIs in Python, offering high performance and ease of use. However, testing your API is just as important as building it to ensure it works as expected in real-world scenarios.

By using Requestly, developers can test FastAPI endpoints more efficiently, simulate different scenarios, and debug issues quickly—all within an intuitive interface. If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to test your APIs, Requestly is a great tool to add to your workflow.

Try Requestly today and streamline your FastAPI testing process! 🚀

What is Isolation Testing? Best Tool for Isolation Testing

Dinesh Thakur — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 09:01:41 +0000

Introduction

Isolation testing is a software testing technique where a specific component or module is tested independently, without relying on external dependencies. The goal is to ensure that the component works correctly on its own before integrating it with other parts of the system.

Isolation testing focuses on individual pieces of code in a controlled environment. This approach helps developers pinpoint issues faster, reduce debugging complexity, and improve test accuracy.

How Isolation Testing Works

To isolate a component during testing, developers use techniques like:

Mocking – Creating fake versions of dependencies (e.g., a mock API response instead of calling the real server).
Stubbing – Replacing parts of the code with predefined responses to avoid reliance on external systems.
Service Virtualization – Simulating third-party services to test an application without needing live connections.

By using these methods, isolation testing ensures that any failures in a component are due to issues within that component itself—rather than external factors.

Benefits of Isolation Testing

Isolation testing provides several advantages that improve the overall quality and reliability of software. Here are some key benefits:

Early Defect Detection By testing components individually, defects can be identified at an early stage before integration. This reduces the cost and effort required to fix issues later in the development cycle.
Faster Debugging & Easier Fault Localization Since isolation testing focuses on a single component, it’s easier to pinpoint the root cause of a failure without interference from other parts of the system.
Improved Test Reliability By eliminating external dependencies, tests become more stable and predictable. Changes in other modules or third-party services won’t affect the component under test.
Better Test Automation Isolation testing makes it easier to automate tests since dependencies are simulated using mocks or stubs. This leads to faster test execution and better continuous integration (CI/CD) workflows.
Increased Development Speed Developers can work on and test individual components independently, reducing bottlenecks caused by waiting for other parts of the system to be completed.
Enhanced Code Maintainability Since each module is thoroughly tested in isolation, refactoring and updating code become safer and more manageable, reducing the risk of introducing unintended bugs.
Supports Parallel Development Teams working on different parts of a project can test their modules independently, allowing for smoother collaboration and faster delivery.

Best Tools for Isolation Testing

Isolation testing requires specialized tools depending on the component being tested—whether it’s unit testing, API testing, database testing, or UI testing. Here are some of the best tools categorized by their use case:

Unit Testing Frameworks Unit testing frameworks help test isolated functions, methods, or classes without dependencies.
- Jest (JavaScript) – A popular testing framework for JavaScript with built-in mocking and snapshot testing.
- Mocha + Chai (JavaScript) – Flexible test framework with assertion libraries for behavior-driven testing.
- JUnit (Java) – Standard testing framework for Java applications, widely used in enterprise projects.
- PyTest (Python) – A powerful testing framework with easy-to-use fixtures and mocking.
- NUnit (C#/.NET) – A widely used testing framework for .NET applications.
Mocking & Stubbing Tools These tools help replace real dependencies like databases, APIs, or third-party services with mock versions.
- Requestly – Create mocks for HTTP responses, useful for API isolation and testing.
- Sinon.js (JavaScript) – Provides spies, stubs, and mocks for unit tests.
- Mockito (Java) – A widely used mocking framework for Java applications.
- unittest.mock (Python) – Built-in Python library for mocking objects.
- FakeItEasy (C#) – A simple, intuitive mocking framework for .NET applications.
API & Service Virtualization Tools When testing APIs without real dependencies, these tools help mock external services.
- Requestly – Create mocks for HTTP responses, useful for API isolation and testing.
- WireMock – A robust tool for mocking APIs and simulating external service behavior.
- MockServer – Allows creating mock HTTP services for backend testing.
- Postman Mock Server – Simulates API responses for testing API clients.
Database Mocking & In-Memory Databases These tools allow database testing without using real data, improving test speed and isolation.
- SQLite – A lightweight in-memory database for testing database operations.
- H2 Database – In-memory testing database for Java applications.
- Testcontainers – Runs temporary, isolated databases inside Docker containers.
- Faker.js – Generates fake data for testing without relying on real databases.
UI Component Isolation Testing These tools help test UI components independently before integrating them into the full application.
- Storybook – A tool for isolating and testing UI components in React, Vue, and Angular.
- Testing Library – Helps test UI behavior rather than implementation details.
- Cypress – Primarily an end-to-end testing tool, but also supports isolated UI component testing.

Leveraging Requestly for Isolation Testing

Isolation testing requires controlling dependencies like APIs, services, or external data sources to test components independently. Requestly, a powerful request interception tool, enables developers to modify, mock, and isolate API responses without changing backend code. It simplifies testing in various scenarios, from modifying responses to simulating entire services.

Below are key ways Requestly can be leveraged for isolation testing:

1. Modify API Response for Controlled Testing

In isolation testing, modifying API responses helps simulate different scenarios without relying on actual backend changes. Requestly allows users to intercept and modify API responses dynamically to test different edge cases.

Change response status codes to test how the application handles errors (e.g., 500 Internal Server Error).
Modify JSON responses to simulate different outputs (e.g., returning an empty user list for pagination testing).
Test failure scenarios like API timeouts or incorrect responses without modifying server-side code.

Example Use Case:

Suppose you’re testing an order tracking feature in an e-commerce app. The backend API isn’t ready, but you can use Requestly to modify the response and return fake tracking data, allowing frontend testing without backend dependency.

2. Bulk Mocking to Simulate an Entire Service

Instead of modifying individual API calls, bulk mocking allows testers to create a fully mocked API service for testing without real backend dependencies.

Simulates an entire microservice response instead of individual endpoints.
Helps test frontend applications before backend services are developed.
Reduces dependency on external APIs that may have rate limits or downtime.

Example Use Case:

Imagine you’re testing a hotel booking app, but the external API for availability checking is unreliable. With Requestly, intercept the requests once and you can mock all endpoints of the API, allowing seamless frontend and integration testing.

3. Mock server for Team Collaboration

Testing in distributed teams often requires access to shared test data. Requestly’s Mock server allow teams to create and share API mocks, ensuring consistency in testing across different environments.

Teams can create, save, and share mock APIs via the cloud.
Ensures consistent test results across different developers and testers.
No need to set up local mock servers—just use cloud-based endpoints.

Example Use Case:

A remote QA team testing a finance app can use Cloud Mocks to simulate API responses for stock price updates, ensuring consistent data across all test cases.

Conclusion

Isolation testing is a crucial technique for improving software reliability by testing individual components independently before integration. By using the right tools—whether for unit testing, API mocking, database virtualization, or UI component isolation—developers can identify issues early, streamline debugging, and ensure a smooth development process.

With various tools available, selecting the right one depends on your project type, language, automation needs, and ease of integration. By incorporating isolation testing into your workflow, you can build more robust and maintainable applications with confidence.

Insomnia vs Bruno vs Requestly: Which One Is Best for You?

Dinesh Thakur — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 10:51:06 +0000

API tools have become essential for developers and testers to streamline their workflows. Insomnia, Bruno, and Requestly are three prominent names in this space, each offering distinct features. In this article, we’ll compare these tools and explore which tool might be the right choice for your needs.

Insomnia

Insomnia is known for its minimalistic design and developer-friendly features. It’s particularly popular among those who value simplicity without compromising on functionality.

Key Features:

Intuitive UI: Clean and straightforward interface.
GraphQL Support: First-class support for GraphQL queries.
Plugins: Extend functionality with community-built plugins.
Environment Variables: Simplify switching between environments.

Strengths:

Lightweight and fast.
Open-source version available.
Excellent for individual developers.

Limitations:

Documentation cannot be made public
Offers basic mock servers that cannot be shared publicly

Bruno

Bruno is a relatively new API client, focused on simplicity and open-source principles. It offers an elegant interface and caters to developers who prioritise ease of use.

Key Features:

Open-Source: Open source and community-driven.
Clean UI: Offers an intuitive interface for sending API requests.
Environment Management: Supports variables for switching between environments.
Offline Mode: Works seamlessly offline for local testing.
Lightweight: Minimalistic design, ensuring fast performance.
Git Integration: Enables collaboration through Git, allowing teams to version control and share API collections easily.

Pricing

Free plan: Provides basic features for individuals or small teams, including sending requests, managing environments, and using GraphQL.
Pro Plan: Starts at $12/month for additional features such as RBAC and Native Git support
Professional: Starts at around $29/user/month and adds more features such as private workspaces, multi partner workspace, and more integrations
Enterprise: Starts at around $49/user/month and adds more advanced features such as monitoring, and User Groups.

Strengths:

Completely free to use.
Lightweight and offline-friendly.
Open-source, enabling customization.
Git-based collaboration makes it team-friendly.

Limitations:

Lacks advanced features like request interception and mock APIs.
No built-in collaboration tools beyond Git integration.

Requestly

Requestly’s API client is a unique tool that combines traditional API testing with powerful request interception and modification capabilities, providing developers with unparalleled control over their API workflows. It can be seen as a combination of Postman + Charles Proxy, offering both API request handling and network debugging capabilities.

Key Features:

Request Interception & Modification: Intercept outgoing API requests and modify headers, query parameters, and request bodies before they are sent to the server.
Mock APIs: Create mock APIs to simulate real server responses when the actual backend is not available.
Request Logging & Replay: View detailed logs of your API requests and responses. Replay requests with just a click for repeated testing.
Cross-Browser Support: Available as a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox, allowing you to interact with APIs directly within the browser.
Environment-Specific Settings: Configure different rules for different environments (e.g., staging, production), making testing smoother.
Easy Import/Export: Users can seamlessly import and export configurations, including directly importing Postman collections.
API Client Features: Includes environment variables support, detailed request history, and workspace organization for enhanced productivity.

Pricing

Free Plan: Includes all core features of API client like collections, requests, environments etc.

Strengths:

Real-time debugging and interception capabilities.
Available as both a browser extension and a standalone desktop app.
Lightweight and browser-integrated for quick access.
Powerful rule-based approach to modify and test APIs.
Effortless migration from other tools through import/export functionality.

Limitations:

Newer compared to Hopscotch and Bruno, so fewer third-party integrations.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Hopscotch	Insomnia	Requestly
Cross-platform Support	✅	✅	✅
Desktop and Browser Support	✅ (Both)	✅ (Desktop only)	✅ (Both)
Collaboration Tools	✅	✅	❌ (Git integration only)
Environment Variables	✅	✅	✅
API Design and Documentation	✅	✅	✅
Scripting with JavaScript	✅	✅	✅
Collection Sharing	✅	✅	✅
Pricing (Free Tier)	✅	✅	✅
Lightweight and Minimalist	❌	✅	✅
Mock Servers	✅	❌	✅
Team Workspaces	✅	✅	✅
Quick Import for Other Tools	✅	✅	✅
Interceptor	❌	❌	✅
HTTP Rules	❌	❌	✅

Why Choose Requestly?

While Hopscotch and Insomnia are excellent API tools, Requestly offers unique capabilities that cater specifically to developers who need real-time request interception, debugging, and rule management. Its lightweight design and browser-first approach make it an excellent choice for modern development workflows.

Additionally, Requestly’s quick import feature and user-friendly interface make it ideal for teams looking to streamline their API testing and request debugging processes.

Conclusion

Choosing the right API tool depends on your specific needs. For those who value simplicity, Insomnia is a great option. Bruno is an excellent open-source option for those seeking a lightweight and free API client, if you’re looking for a tool that combines request modification, API testing, and debugging in an intuitive package, Requestly is the way to go.

Give Requestly a try today and experience a modern, efficient approach to API management!

Hopscotch vs Insomnia vs Requestly: Which One Is Best for You?

Dinesh Thakur — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 10:50:49 +0000

API tools have become essential for developers and testers to streamline their workflows. Hopscotch, Insomnia, and Requestly are three prominent names in this space, each offering distinct features. In this article, we’ll compare these tools and explore which tool might be the right choice for your needs.

Hopscotch

Hopscotch is an open-source, web-based API client designed for simplicity and accessibility. It aims to provide a lightweight alternative to other resource intensive api clients.

Key Features:

Web-Based: No installation required; accessible directly in the browser.
Support for Multiple Protocols: Handles REST and GraphQL APIs.
Environment Variables: Manage environments and variables for testing.
Collaboration: Shareable collections for team collaboration.
Lightweight Design: Focused on speed and usability.
Offline Desktop App: Available for offline usage, offering flexibility beyond the browser.

Pricing

Free Plan: Completely free and open-source, providing all the features of a API client.
Enterprise Plans: Starting at $19/ user / month, it provides featues like SAML-based sign on, Dedicated support and IAM system.

Strengths:

Completely free and open-source.
Web-based and offline desktop app for broader accessibility.
Simple and fast for quick API testing.

Limitations:

Lacks advanced debugging tools and request interception.

Insomnia

Insomnia is known for its minimalistic design and developer-friendly features. It’s particularly popular among those who value simplicity without compromising on functionality.

Key Features:

Intuitive UI: Clean and straightforward interface.
GraphQL Support: First-class support for GraphQL queries.
Plugins: Extend functionality with community-built plugins.
Environment Variables: Simplify switching between environments.

Pricing

Free plan: Provides basic features for individuals or small teams, including sending requests, managing environments, and using GraphQL.
Pro Plan: Starts at $12/month for additional features such as RBAC and Native Git support
Professional: Starts at around $29/user/month and adds more features such as private workspaces, multi partner workspace, and more integrations
Enterprise: Starts at around $49/user/month and adds more advanced features such as monitoring, and User Groups.

Strengths:

Lightweight and fast.
Open-source version available.
Excellent for individual developers.

Limitations:

Documentation cannot be made public
Offers basic mock servers that cannot be shared publicly

Requestly

Key Features:

Request Interception & Modification: Intercept outgoing API requests and modify headers, query parameters, and request bodies before they are sent to the server.
Mock APIs: Create mock APIs to simulate real server responses when the actual backend is not available.
Request Logging & Replay: View detailed logs of your API requests and responses. Replay requests with just a click for repeated testing.
Cross-Browser Support: Available as a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox, allowing you to interact with APIs directly within the browser.
Environment-Specific Settings: Configure different rules for different environments (e.g., staging, production), making testing smoother.
Easy Import/Export: Users can seamlessly import and export configurations, including directly importing Postman collections.
API Client Features: Includes environment variables support, detailed request history, and workspace organization for enhanced productivity.

Pricing

Free Plan: Includes all core features of API client like collections, requests, environments etc.

Strengths:

Real-time debugging and interception capabilities.
Available as both a browser extension and a standalone desktop app.
Lightweight and browser-integrated for quick access.
Powerful rule-based approach to modify and test APIs.
Effortless migration from other tools through import/export functionality.

Limitations:

Newer compared to Hopscotch and Insomnia, so fewer third-party integrations.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Hopscotch	Insomnia	Requestly
Cross-platform Support	✅	✅	✅
Desktop and Browser Support	✅ (Both)	✅ (Desktop only)	✅ (Both)
Collaboration Tools	✅	✅	✅
Environment Variables	✅	✅	✅
API Design and Documentation	✅	✅	✅
Scripting with JavaScript	✅	✅	✅
Collection Sharing	✅	✅	✅
Pricing (Free Tier)	✅	✅	✅
Lightweight and Minimalist	❌	✅	✅
Mock Servers	❌	✅	✅
Team Workspaces	✅	✅	✅
Quick Import for Other Tools	✅	✅	✅
Interceptor	❌	❌	✅
HTTP Rules	❌	❌	✅

Why Choose Requestly?

Additionally, Requestly’s quick import feature and user-friendly interface make it ideal for teams looking to streamline their API testing and request debugging processes.

Conclusion

Choosing the right API tool depends on your specific needs. If you want a quick to use browser based API client, Hopscotch is a solid choice. For those who value simplicity of a desktop app, Insomnia is a great option, if you’re looking for a tool that combines request modification, API testing, and debugging in an intuitive package, Requestly is the way to go.

Give Requestly a try today and experience a modern, efficient approach to API management!

Hopscotch vs Bruno vs Requestly: Which One Is Best for You?

Dinesh Thakur — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 10:46:25 +0000

API tools have become essential for developers and testers to streamline their workflows. Hopscotch, Bruno, and Requestly are three prominent names in this space, each offering distinct features. In this article, we’ll compare these tools and explore which tool might be the right choice for your needs.

Hopscotch

Hopscotch is an open-source, web-based API client designed for simplicity and accessibility. It aims to provide a lightweight alternative to other resource intensive api clients.

Key Features:

Web-Based: No installation required; accessible directly in the browser.
Support for Multiple Protocols: Handles REST and GraphQL APIs.
Environment Variables: Manage environments and variables for testing.
Collaboration: Shareable collections for team collaboration.
Lightweight Design: Focused on speed and usability.
Offline Desktop App: Available for offline usage, offering flexibility beyond the browser.

Pricing

Free Plan: Completely free and open-source, providing all the features of a API client.
Enterprise Plans: Starting at $19/ user / month, it provides featues like SAML-based sign on, Dedicated support and IAM system.

Strengths:

Completely free and open-source.
Web-based and offline desktop app for broader accessibility.
Simple and fast for quick API testing.

Limitations:

Lacks advanced debugging tools and request interception.

Bruno

Bruno is a relatively new API client, focused on simplicity and open-source principles. It offers an elegant interface and caters to developers who prioritise ease of use.

Key Features:

Open-Source: Open source and community-driven.
Clean UI: Offers an intuitive interface for sending API requests.
Environment Management: Supports variables for switching between environments.
Offline Mode: Works seamlessly offline for local testing.
Lightweight: Minimalistic design, ensuring fast performance.
Git Integration: Enables collaboration through Git, allowing teams to version control and share API collections easily.

Pricing

Free plan: For individuals or a small team of 3 or less to start testing APIs.
Basic Plan: Starts at $14 per user/month and includes advanced features like team collaboration, collections
*Professional:* Starts at around $29/user/month and adds more features such as private workspaces, multi partner workspace, and more integrations
Enterprise: Starts at around $49/user/month and adds more advanced features such as monitoring, and User Groups.

Strengths:

Completely free to use.
Lightweight and offline-friendly.
Open-source, enabling customization.
Git-based collaboration makes it team-friendly.

Limitations:

Lacks advanced features like request interception and mock APIs.
No built-in collaboration tools beyond Git integration.

Requestly

Key Features:

Request Interception & Modification: Intercept outgoing API requests and modify headers, query parameters, and request bodies before they are sent to the server.
Mock APIs: Create mock APIs to simulate real server responses when the actual backend is not available.
Request Logging & Replay: View detailed logs of your API requests and responses. Replay requests with just a click for repeated testing.
Cross-Browser Support: Available as a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox, allowing you to interact with APIs directly within the browser.
Environment-Specific Settings: Configure different rules for different environments (e.g., staging, production), making testing smoother.
Easy Import/Export: Users can seamlessly import and export configurations, including directly importing Postman collections.
API Client Features: Includes environment variables support, detailed request history, and workspace organization for enhanced productivity.

Pricing

Free Plan: Includes all core features of API client like collections, requests, environments etc.

Strengths:

Real-time debugging and interception capabilities.
Available as both a browser extension and a standalone desktop app.
Lightweight and browser-integrated for quick access.
Powerful rule-based approach to modify and test APIs.
Effortless migration from other tools through import/export functionality.

Limitations:

Newer compared to Hopscotch and Bruno, so fewer third-party integrations.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Hopscotch	Bruno	Requestly
Cross-platform Support	✅	✅	✅
Desktop and Browser Support	✅ (Both)	✅ (Desktop only)	✅ (Both)
Collaboration Tools	✅	❌ (Git Integration)	✅
Environment Variables	✅	✅	✅
API Design and Documentation	✅	❌	✅
Scripting with JavaScript	✅	✅	✅
Collection Sharing	✅	❌	✅
Pricing (Free Tier)	✅	✅	✅
Lightweight and Minimalist	✅	✅	✅
Mock Servers	❌	❌	✅
Team Workspaces	✅	✅	✅
Quick Import for Other tools	✅	✅	✅
Interceptor	❌	❌	✅
HTTP Rules	❌	❌	✅

Why Choose Requestly?

While Hopscotch and Bruno are excellent API tools, Requestly offers unique capabilities that cater specifically to developers who need real-time request interception, debugging, and rule management. Its lightweight design and browser-first approach make it an excellent choice for modern development workflows.

Additionally, Requestly’s quick import feature and user-friendly interface make it ideal for teams looking to streamline their API testing and request debugging processes.

Conclusion

Choosing the right API tool depends on your specific needs. If you want a quick to use browser based API client, Hopscotch is a solid choice. Bruno is an excellent open-source option for those seeking a lightweight and free API client, if you’re looking for a tool that combines request modification, API testing, and debugging in an intuitive package, Requestly is the way to go.

Give Requestly a try today and experience a modern, efficient approach to API management!

Postman vs Bruno vs Requestly: Which One Is Best for You?

Dinesh Thakur — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 10:46:16 +0000

API tools have become essential for developers and testers to streamline their workflows. Postman, Bruno, and Requestly are three prominent names in this space, each offering distinct features. In this article, we’ll compare these tools and explore which tool might be the right choice for your needs.

Postman

Postman is one of the most popular API platforms, widely used for testing, collaboration, and documentation. It offers a comprehensive set of features, making it ideal for large teams.

Key Features:

API Testing: Simplifies testing REST, GraphQL, and SOAP APIs.
Collaboration Tools: Workspaces and version control for team collaboration.
Mock Servers: Create mock APIs for testing.
Automation: Powerful scripting capabilities with Postman’s built-in JavaScript sandbox.

Pricing

Free plan: For individuals or a small team of 3 or less to start testing APIs.
Basic Plan: Starts at $14 per user/month and includes advanced features like team collaboration, collections
*Professional:* Starts at around $29/user/month and adds more features such as private workspaces, multi partner workspace, and more integrations
Enterprise: Starts at around $49/user/month and adds more advanced features such as monitoring, and User Groups.

Strengths:

Extensive documentation and tutorials.
Suitable for complex workflows.
Strong community support.

Limitations:

Can feel bloated for smaller or simpler projects.
Resource-intensive, especially in enterprise setups.

Bruno

Bruno is a relatively new API client, focused on simplicity and open-source principles. It offers an elegant interface and caters to developers who prioritise ease of use.

Key Features:

Open-Source: Open source and community-driven.
Clean UI: Offers an intuitive interface for sending API requests.
Environment Management: Supports variables for switching between environments.
Offline Mode: Works seamlessly offline for local testing.
Lightweight: Minimalistic design, ensuring fast performance.
Git Integration: Enables collaboration through Git, allowing teams to version control and share API collections easily.

Pricing

Free Plan: Offering core API testing features with a focus on simplicity and Git integration.
Pro: Starting at $6 user/month it provides features like Git UI and Collection to OAS generation
Ultimate: Starts at $11/user/month provides support and features like Downloading Test Report and Integration with Secret Managers

Strengths:

Completely free to use.
Lightweight and offline-friendly.
Open-source, enabling customization.
Git-based collaboration makes it team-friendly.

Limitations:

Lacks advanced features like request interception and mock APIs.
No built-in collaboration tools beyond Git integration.

Requestly

Key Features:

Request Interception & Modification: Intercept outgoing API requests and modify headers, query parameters, and request bodies before they are sent to the server.
Mock APIs: Create mock APIs to simulate real server responses when the actual backend is not available.
Request Logging & Replay: View detailed logs of your API requests and responses. Replay requests with just a click for repeated testing.
Cross-Browser Support: Available as a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox, allowing you to interact with APIs directly within the browser.
Environment-Specific Settings: Configure different rules for different environments (e.g., staging, production), making testing smoother.
Easy Import/Export: Users can seamlessly import and export configurations, including directly importing Postman collections.
API Client Features: Includes environment variables support, detailed request history, and workspace organization for enhanced productivity.

Pricing

Free Plan: Includes all core features of API client like collections, requests, environments etc.

Strengths:

Real-time debugging and interception capabilities.
Available as both a browser extension and a standalone desktop app.
Lightweight and browser-integrated for quick access.
Powerful rule-based approach to modify and test APIs.
Effortless migration from other tools through import/export functionality.

Limitations:

Newer compared to Postman and Bruno, so fewer third-party integrations.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Postman	Bruno	Requestly
Cross-platform Support	✅	✅	✅
Desktop and Browser Support	✅ (Both)	✅ (Desktop only)	✅ (Both)
Collaboration Tools	✅	❌ (Git Integration)	✅
Environment Variables	✅	✅	✅
API Design and Documentation	✅	❌	✅
Scripting with JavaScript	✅	✅	✅
Collection Sharing	✅	❌	✅
Pricing (Free Tier)	✅	✅	✅
Lightweight and Minimalist	❌	✅	✅
Mock Servers	✅	❌	✅
Team Workspaces	✅	✅	✅
Quick Import for Other tools	✅	✅	✅
Interceptor	✅	❌	✅
HTTP Rules	❌	❌	✅

Why Choose Requestly?

While Postman and Bruno are excellent API tools, Requestly offers unique capabilities that cater specifically to developers who need real-time request interception, debugging, and rule management. Its lightweight design and browser-first approach make it an excellent choice for modern development workflows.

Additionally, Requestly’s quick import feature and user-friendly interface make it ideal for teams looking to streamline their API testing and request debugging processes.

Conclusion

Choosing the right API tool depends on your specific needs. If you prioritize extensive documentation and API flow automation, Postman is a solid choice. Bruno is an excellent open-source option for those seeking a lightweight and free API client, if you’re looking for a tool that combines request modification, API testing, and debugging in an intuitive package, Requestly is the way to go.

Give Requestly a try today and experience a modern, efficient approach to API management!