I'm currently looking for a lightweight tool to test APIs offline without relying on cloud features like Postman does. The heavy UI of Postman can slow things down, especially when all I want is a quick test. I've been checking out a few self-hosted options like Insomnia, Hoppscotch, HTTPie, and Apidog. If you're learning programming or working on projects, what tools do you prefer for testing APIs offline? Any tips on keeping your workflow efficient and quick?
5 Answers
If you need advanced features, I also use Burp Suite for more complex testing. It's not exactly lightweight, but it’s powerful. Otherwise, curl should cover basic needs just fine!
I built my own 'Postman' clone as a programming project once. It was a great way to learn! If you're feeling adventurous, coding your own might be fun too.
I've heard a lot about Bruno. It seems to be a solid alternative and it's FOSS, meaning it's open-source! Plus, it saves files locally which is a big plus.
I switched from Postman to Requestly, and it's been a game-changer for me. It's free and has a really intuitive workflow. I’ve also tried Bruno; my friends seem to like that option too!
I recommend trying out curl; it's super lightweight and quick for making API calls. You can easily handle various requests without any heavy interfaces.
Here's a great resource for getting started with curl: https://justuse.org/curl/.

Just a heads-up, they might start enforcing accounts soon, so keep an eye on that.