# ⚡ Requestly Local Workspace — Offline, Private & Fast API Testing

As developers, we live and breathe APIs. We use tools like Requestly to intercept, modify, and test our network requests. It's an indispensable part of the modern development workflow. But what about when you're working on a flight, in a coffee shop with spotty Wi-Fi, or handling highly sensitive API keys that you'd rather not have synced to a cloud?

This is where Requestly's Local Workspace feature changes the game.

I recently spent time exploring this feature for the "No Bugs November" challenge and was blown away by its simplicity and utility. It addresses a core need for privacy, speed, and offline access.

This post is a beginner-friendly guide to get you started with Requestly's Local Workspace, based on my own experience. We'll cover what it is, why you should use it, and how to set up your first local collection.

🚀 What is a Local Workspace?

In short, it's a way to create, test, and save all your API requests and collections directly on your local machine.

Instead of syncing your data to Requestly's cloud servers, a local workspace saves everything into a folder on your computer. This might sound simple, but it unlocks some powerful benefits.

Why Should You Care?

• Offline-First: No internet? No problem. You have full access to create, run, and manage your API requests. This is a lifesaver for travel or unreliable connections.

• Privacy & Security: If you're working with sensitive data, personal access tokens, or internal-only APIs, a local workspace ensures that data never leaves your machine.

• Version Control (The "Aha!" Moment): This was my favorite discovery. Since your workspace is just a folder of files (like JSON) on your disk, you can git init
  it! You can commit your changes, create new branches for testing, and share your API collections with teammates via a standard Git workflow.

• Speed: It's incredibly fast. With no network sync to wait for, creating and saving requests is instantaneous.

⚖️ Comparison with Other Tools

When it comes to API testing, tools like Postman and Insomnia are quite popular.

However, Requestly Local Workspace offers something unique — full offline access and complete privacy.

🧩 Feature	🟢 Requestly Local Workspace	🟠 Postman	🔵 Insomnia
Offline Access	✅ Yes	❌ Limited	⚠️ Partial
Data Privacy	🔒 Local Only	☁️ Cloud Sync Default	⚙️ Optional Sync
Speed	⚡ Very Fast	🕓 Depends on Network	⚡ Fast
Version Control (Git)	✅ Easy & Built-in	❌ Manual Export Needed	⚙️ Possible via Plugins
Team Sharing	✅ Local + Git	✅ Built-in Cloud	✅ Cloud Workspaces

🛠️ Getting Started: Creating Your First Local Workspace

Okay, let's get our hands dirty. The process is incredibly straightforward.

Prerequisite: You'll need the Requestly Desktop App. This feature is not available on the browser extension alone.

Step 1: Find the Workspace Switcher

In the Requestly app, look at the top-left corner. You'll see the name of your current workspace (it probably says "My Workspace" or your team's name). Click on it.

Step 2: Create a New Workspace

From the dropdown menu, select Create New Workspace.

Step 3: Choose "Local Workspace"

Requestly will give you two options: "Cloud Workspace" (the default) and "Local Workspace." Select Local Workspace.

Step 4: Name and Save Your Workspace

A dialog box will appear asking you to name your workspace and choose a location on your computer to save it.

1. Give it a clear name (e.g., "My Project API," "Offline Tests").
2. Choose a directory. I recommend creating a new, empty folder for it.
3. Click "Save."

And that's it! You'll be switched to a clean, new workspace. You can confirm you're in the right place by checking the workspace name in the top-left corner again.

👨‍💻 Managing Your API Requests Locally

Now that you're in your local workspace, the interface will feel very familiar. You can manage your API requests just as you would in a cloud workspace.

1. Creating Collections

It's always a good practice to organize your requests.

• Click the + icon in the left-hand sidebar.
• Select "New Collection."
• Give your collection a name (e.g., "User Service," "Payment APIs").

This creates a new "folder" to hold all related requests.

2. Creating and Running a Request

• With your new collection selected, click the + icon next to it and choose "New HTTP Request."
• This opens the main request panel. You can set your HTTP method (GET, POST, etc.), enter the URL, add headers, and define a body.
• I tested this with a simple GET request to https://api.github.com/users/requestly.
• Hit the Send button.

3. Viewing the Response

Just like you'd expect, the response appears in the bottom panel. You can inspect the Body, Headers, and Status code.

The best part? When you close and reopen the app, it's all still there—no sign-in or syncing required.

⚡ The Real Power: Version Control with Git

Here's the trick I mentioned. I navigated to the folder where I saved my workspace on my computer. Inside, I found a requestly.json file and other data.``

I immediately ran:

`bash
git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial API collection for User Service"
`

Now, my entire API testing setup is version-controlled. I can create a new branch (git checkout -b feature/new-endpoint) before I start testing a new feature, and if I mess up my requests, I can just reset. This is a massive win for team collaboration.

you've ever been frustrated by cloud-sync delays or concerned about where your API keys are being stored, this feature is built for you.

Give it a try—it might just become your new default.