Top Related Projects
Open source API development ecosystem - https://hoppscotch.io (open-source alternative to Postman, Insomnia)
The open-source, cross-platform API client for GraphQL, REST, WebSockets, SSE and gRPC. With Cloud, Local and Git storage.
Postman is an API platform for building and using APIs. Postman simplifies each step of the API lifecycle and streamlines collaboration so you can create better APIs—faster.
Opensource IDE For Exploring and Testing Api's (lightweight alternative to postman/insomnia)
Developer-first error tracking and performance monitoring
Open source API development ecosystem - https://hoppscotch.io (open-source alternative to Postman, Insomnia)
Quick Overview
Restfox is an open-source, cross-platform HTTP client designed for API development and testing. It offers a user-friendly interface for sending HTTP requests, managing collections, and collaborating on API projects. Restfox aims to provide a lightweight and efficient alternative to popular tools like Postman.
Pros
- Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Lightweight and fast performance
- Open-source and free to use
- Supports team collaboration features
Cons
- Relatively new project, may lack some advanced features
- Smaller community compared to established tools like Postman
- Limited documentation and tutorials available
- May have fewer integrations with other development tools
Getting Started
To get started with Restfox:
- Visit the Restfox GitHub releases page
- Download the appropriate version for your operating system
- Install and run the application
- Create a new request by clicking the "+" button
- Enter the request URL, select the HTTP method, and add any necessary headers or body content
- Click "Send" to execute the request and view the response
Note: Restfox is a desktop application, not a code library, so there are no code examples or quick start instructions for integration into other projects.
Competitor Comparisons
Open source API development ecosystem - https://hoppscotch.io (open-source alternative to Postman, Insomnia)
Pros of Hoppscotch
- More feature-rich with support for GraphQL, WebSocket, and MQTT
- Offers a cloud-based solution for team collaboration
- Has a larger community and more frequent updates
Cons of Hoppscotch
- Requires more system resources due to its extensive feature set
- Learning curve might be steeper for beginners
- Some features may require a paid subscription
Code Comparison
Restfox (Vue.js component):
<template>
<div class="request-method-select">
<select v-model="method">
<option v-for="method in methods" :key="method" :value="method">
{{ method }}
</option>
</select>
</div>
</template>
Hoppscotch (Vue.js component):
<template>
<div class="method-selector">
<v-select
v-model="method"
:options="methods"
:clearable="false"
class="method-dropdown"
/>
</div>
</template>
Both projects use Vue.js for their frontend, but Hoppscotch tends to use more complex components and libraries, reflecting its broader feature set. Restfox aims for simplicity, which can be seen in its more straightforward component structure.
The open-source, cross-platform API client for GraphQL, REST, WebSockets, SSE and gRPC. With Cloud, Local and Git storage.
Pros of Insomnia
- More mature and feature-rich, with a larger user base and community support
- Offers advanced features like GraphQL support and environment variables
- Provides a desktop application for multiple platforms
Cons of Insomnia
- Closed-source and not self-hostable
- Requires an account for certain features and cloud sync
- Can be resource-intensive for larger projects
Code Comparison
Restfox (Vue.js component):
<template>
<div class="request-panel">
<RequestUrl />
<RequestHeaders />
<RequestBody />
</div>
</template>
Insomnia (React component):
function RequestPane() {
return (
<div className="request-pane">
<UrlBar />
<HeaderEditor />
<BodyEditor />
</div>
);
}
Both projects use modern JavaScript frameworks for their user interfaces, with Restfox utilizing Vue.js and Insomnia using React. The code structure is similar, focusing on composing smaller components to build the request interface.
Restfox is an open-source, lightweight alternative to Insomnia, offering a web-based interface that can be self-hosted. It aims to provide essential API testing functionality without the need for a desktop application or account creation. While Insomnia offers more advanced features and cross-platform support, Restfox may be preferred by users looking for a simpler, more privacy-focused solution.
Postman is an API platform for building and using APIs. Postman simplifies each step of the API lifecycle and streamlines collaboration so you can create better APIs—faster.
Pros of Postman-app-support
- Extensive documentation and user guides
- Large community support and active development
- Integration with various third-party tools and services
Cons of Postman-app-support
- Closed-source, limiting customization options
- Resource-intensive, especially for larger collections
- Steeper learning curve for advanced features
Code Comparison
While a direct code comparison is not possible due to Postman being closed-source, we can compare some aspects of the configuration:
Restfox (environment variable):
{
"name": "API_KEY",
"value": "your-api-key-here"
}
Postman (environment variable):
{
"key": "API_KEY",
"value": "your-api-key-here",
"type": "default",
"enabled": true
}
Both projects allow for environment variables, but Postman's structure includes additional fields for type and enabled status.
Restfox is an open-source alternative to Postman, offering a lightweight solution for API testing and development. It provides a simpler interface and faster performance, especially for smaller projects. However, Postman offers more advanced features and integrations, making it suitable for larger teams and complex API ecosystems. The choice between the two depends on specific project requirements and team preferences.
Opensource IDE For Exploring and Testing Api's (lightweight alternative to postman/insomnia)
Pros of Bruno
- More active development with frequent updates and bug fixes
- Supports a wider range of authentication methods, including OAuth 2.0
- Offers a CLI tool for running API collections from the command line
Cons of Bruno
- Steeper learning curve due to more advanced features
- Larger file size and potentially higher resource usage
- Limited export options compared to Restfox
Code Comparison
Bruno (JavaScript):
const collection = bruno.collection('My API');
const request = collection.request('Get Users');
request.get('https://api.example.com/users');
request.header('Authorization', 'Bearer {{token}}');
await request.send();
Restfox (JavaScript):
const request = {
url: 'https://api.example.com/users',
method: 'GET',
headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer {{token}}' }
};
await sendRequest(request);
Both Bruno and Restfox are API testing tools, but Bruno offers more advanced features and authentication options, making it suitable for complex API testing scenarios. Restfox, on the other hand, provides a simpler interface and may be easier to use for beginners or those with basic API testing needs. Bruno's active development and CLI tool give it an edge for power users, while Restfox's lightweight nature and straightforward approach may appeal to those seeking a more streamlined experience.
Developer-first error tracking and performance monitoring
Pros of Sentry
- More comprehensive error tracking and monitoring solution
- Supports a wider range of programming languages and frameworks
- Larger community and more extensive documentation
Cons of Sentry
- More complex setup and configuration process
- Heavier resource usage due to its extensive feature set
- Steeper learning curve for new users
Code Comparison
Sentry (Python):
import sentry_sdk
sentry_sdk.init(
dsn="https://examplePublicKey@o0.ingest.sentry.io/0",
traces_sample_rate=1.0
)
Restfox (JavaScript):
// No specific code setup required
// Restfox is a standalone API client and doesn't require integration
Key Differences
- Sentry is a full-featured error tracking and performance monitoring platform, while Restfox is primarily an API client and testing tool
- Sentry requires integration into your codebase, whereas Restfox is used as a separate application
- Sentry offers more advanced features like release tracking and user feedback, while Restfox focuses on API testing and documentation
Use Cases
- Choose Sentry for comprehensive error tracking and performance monitoring across multiple platforms and languages
- Opt for Restfox when you need a lightweight, easy-to-use API client for testing and exploring RESTful APIs
Open source API development ecosystem - https://hoppscotch.io (open-source alternative to Postman, Insomnia)
Pros of Hoppscotch
- More feature-rich with support for GraphQL, WebSocket, and MQTT
- Offers a cloud-based solution for team collaboration
- Has a larger community and more frequent updates
Cons of Hoppscotch
- Requires more system resources due to its extensive feature set
- Learning curve might be steeper for beginners
- Some features may require a paid subscription
Code Comparison
Restfox (Vue.js component):
<template>
<div class="request-method-select">
<select v-model="method">
<option v-for="method in methods" :key="method" :value="method">
{{ method }}
</option>
</select>
</div>
</template>
Hoppscotch (Vue.js component):
<template>
<div class="method-selector">
<v-select
v-model="method"
:options="methods"
:clearable="false"
class="method-dropdown"
/>
</div>
</template>
Both projects use Vue.js for their frontend, but Hoppscotch tends to use more complex components and libraries, reflecting its broader feature set. Restfox aims for simplicity, which can be seen in its more straightforward component structure.
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Restfox
Web App | Install | Releases/Downloads | Screenshots | Docs | Compiling | Compiling Web Standalone
Offline-First Minimalistic HTTP & Socket Testing Client for the Web & Desktop
Watch video to see plugins in action:
Installation
macOS
Package available in homebrew by using:
brew install restfox
Ubuntu and other distributions supporting snap
Package available through snap can be installed using:
sudo snap install restfox
RPM, DEB and NuPKG
There are precompiled binaries in the releases page.
Windows
scoop bucket add extras
scoop install restfox
There are also precompiled binaries in the releases page.
Docker
docker run --name Restfox -d -p 4004:4004 flawiddsouza/restfox:0.24.0
Start webapp using docker compose
docker-compose up -d
Start webapp using docker compose with custom port
docker-compose -p 5000:4004 up -d
Start webapp using docker compose with different version
RESTFOX_VERSION=0.24.0 docker-compose up -d
Screenshots
Response History
Context Menu
Environment Variables
Plugins
Compiling
ui
Development
npm run dev
Distribution
npm run build
Desktop distribution and development
npm run build-desktop
Web Standalone distribution and development
npm run build-web-standalone
To upgrade codemirror to latest version
npm i @codemirror/autocomplete@latest @codemirror/commands@latest @codemirror/lang-javascript@latest @codemirror/lang-json@latest @codemirror/language@latest @codemirror/search@latest @codemirror/state@latest @codemirror/view@latest
electron
To upgrade electron to latest version
npm install --save-dev electron@latest @electron-forge/cli@latest @electron-forge/maker-deb@latest @electron-forge/maker-rpm@latest @electron-forge/maker-squirrel@latest @electron-forge/maker-zip@latest @electron-forge/maker-flatpak@latest @electron-forge/publisher-github@latest electron-builder@latest
Development
npm run start
Distribution
npm run make
or
npm run publish
Development
npm run dev
Distribution
npm run build
Using web-standalone
git clone https://github.com/flawiddsouza/Restfox
cd Restfox/packages/ui
npm i
npm run build-web-standalone
cd ../web-standalone
npm i
npm start
By default npm start will run Restfox at port 4004. You can override the port by passing port like so PORT=5040 npm start
.
Docker Build Instructions
First refer to Compiling Web Standalone to build successfully locally and use it normally. Then in the project root directory (directory with Dockerfile), execute:
docker build -t restfox:xx .
Note: xx is the version number
After the build is complete, use the following command to start the service:
docker run -d -p:4004:4004 restfox:xx
Visit after successful startup: localhost:4004
Alternatively, you can also use the pre-built Docker image available on Docker Hub. See: Docker.
Top Related Projects
Open source API development ecosystem - https://hoppscotch.io (open-source alternative to Postman, Insomnia)
The open-source, cross-platform API client for GraphQL, REST, WebSockets, SSE and gRPC. With Cloud, Local and Git storage.
Postman is an API platform for building and using APIs. Postman simplifies each step of the API lifecycle and streamlines collaboration so you can create better APIs—faster.
Opensource IDE For Exploring and Testing Api's (lightweight alternative to postman/insomnia)
Developer-first error tracking and performance monitoring
Open source API development ecosystem - https://hoppscotch.io (open-source alternative to Postman, Insomnia)
Convert designs to code with AI
Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.
Try Visual Copilot