EchoAPI for VS CodeEchoAPI for VS Code is a lightweight REST API client extension for Visual Studio Code, designed with a focus on simplicity, clean design, and local storage, and it's free to use. Why EchoAPI?EchoAPI has a few standout features:
Installing EchoAPI for VS CodeGetting started with EchoAPI is a breeze. Just navigate to the VS Code Extensions Marketplace, search for EchoAPI, and hit install. No additional tools or sign-ins are necessary—everything operates straight from your VS Code sidebar. API Design (Designing a New Request)In the Design area, simply click on “HTTP/1.2 Request” to quickly generate the API design documentation. It supports real-time editing and instant document updates, ensuring a smooth and efficient design process. API Debug (Creating a New Request)To create a new request, start by opening the EchoAPI tab where you’ll see options for recent activities, collections, and environments. It’s pretty intuitive if you’ve used Postman before. Right-click on the collection list to create a New Collection, name it, and then right-click on the collection name to add a new request. API Tests (Running a collection)Just pick the folder you want to run, right-click, and hit "Run All." That’s it! Variables and EnvironmentsJust like in Postman, you can use variables and manage environments in EchoAPI. EchoAPI is 100% compatible with Postman script syntax. To activate a specific environment for your tests, just set it as active (indicated by a star next to the environment name). Importing and exporting environments is compatible with Postman 2.1.0 format and .env files. System VariablesEchoAPI also has a set of system variables that streamline generating unique data. Prepend $ before the variable name to use them:
Script-less TestingTesting in EchoAPI is straightforward and script-less. Choose a parameter from the dropdown menu, set your condition and value, and you’re done! There are plenty of parameters and conditions to choose from, like ResponseCode, ResponseBody, or Content-Type. You can even set values from API responses to environment variables or verify specific JSON path values. AuthenticationEchoAPI supports various authorization types, including None, Inherit, Basic Auth, Bearer, and OAuth 1.0. This is super useful for testing secured APIs that require credentials or tokens. Useful LinksEchoAPI is continually growing, and I’ll definitely keep an eye on its progress. Here are some useful links: Give EchoAPI a try and see how it compares to Postman for your API testing needs! |