DEV Community: Hoppscotch

Hoppscotch Desktop for Mac: A Fast, Lightweight Alternative to Postman

Kiran Johns — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 05:33:50 +0000

Meet Hoppscotch Desktop: a fast, open-source alternative to Postman, designed with performance and simplicity in mind. Built using Rust and Tauri, Hoppscotch Desktop runs natively on macOS, giving developers a snappy and resource efficient API testing experience, online or offline.

Whether you're building RESTful APIs, working with GraphQL, or debugging WebSockets, Hoppscotch Desktop has you covered with all the essential features, without the bloat.

Download Hoppscotch Today!

Why Hoppscotch Desktop?

We created Hoppscotch to make API testing feel less like a chore and more like part of the creative development flow. The web version of Hoppscotch already delivers that experience in the browser. But we knew many developersm especially those on macOS, wanted something more native, more powerful, and available offline.

That’s where Hoppscotch Desktop comes in.

It’s everything you love about the Hoppscotch web app, wrapped in a native desktop experience that’s fast, lightweight, and built specifically for macOS.

Built with Rust and Tauri: Performance Matters

A big part of what makes Hoppscotch Desktop different from heavier tools like Postman app lies in its architecture.

Instead of relying on Electron which packages an entire Chromium browser with every app, we built Hoppscotch Desktop using Rust and Tauri.

🦀 Rust powers the backend of the app, ensuring memory safety, zero-cost abstractions, and blazing speed.

🧰 Tauri enables us to create native desktop apps using web technologies, but without the heavyweight Chromium overhead. It uses the system’s built-in web renderer, resulting in smaller install sizes and lower memory usage.

This tech stack means Hoppscotch Desktop boots faster, consumes far less RAM, and feels more responsive, perfect for developers who want their tools to stay out of the way and just work.

A Native macOS Experience

Hoppscotch Desktop isn’t a web wrapper pretending to be a desktop app. It’s been designed to feel truly at home on your Mac.
What You’ll Love as a macOS User:

✅ Fast Launch Times – Open the app instantly, no waiting around.

✅ Minimal Memory Footprint – Use your resources for your work, not your tools.

✅ Offline First – Work on the go or in secure environments without needing an internet connection.

✅ Native Look and Feel – Smooth UI interactions that feel like a true Mac app.

Whether you’re on an M1 MacBook Air or a powerhouse Mac Studio, Hoppscotch Desktop runs efficiently and looks great doing it.

Cloud Sync + Self-Host Support

We believe developers should be able to choose how and where they work. That’s why the Hoppscotch Desktop app supports both Hoppscotch Cloud and self-hosted editions.

🔐 Hoppscotch Cloud

Log in to your account and sync collections, environments, and history across devices. Perfect for collaboration and continuity.

🛠️ Self-Hosted Hoppscotch

Running your own instance of Hoppscotch? Connect your desktop app to your backend and work in a secure, private environment. Great for enterprise teams or privacy-focused developers.

Whether you prefer convenience or control, Hoppscotch adapts to your workflow, not the other way around.

Features That Matter

Hoppscotch Desktop keeps things simple and focused, without skimping on power. Here's what you can expect:

🌐 REST, GraphQL, and WebSocket Support
Test and debug any kind of API with a clean and intuitive interface.
🧪 Collections & Environments
Organize your requests and switch between setups effortlessly.
🧾 Request History
See what you’ve done recently, without needing to remember endpoints or headers.
💻 Keyboard Shortcuts
Navigate and test faster with shortcuts designed for developers.
🔁 Environment Variables
Use variables to simplify testing across different stages of your API.

And the best part? It all runs offline—so your tools are ready even when your internet isn’t.

Migrating from Postman? It's Easy.

We know a lot of developers have years of work tied up in Postman collections. That’s why Hoppscotch supports importing Postman collections.

You can bring your existing API requests into Hoppscotch with just a few clicks and start testing immediately—no manual rework required.

If you’re looking for a way to move off Postman without losing your progress, this makes the transition smooth.

Download Postman for Mac vs Hoppscotch Desktop

If you're searching for download Postman for Mac, you're probably comparing features and performance. Here's a quick look at how Hoppscotch Desktop stacks up:

Feature	Postman (Mac)	Hoppscotch Desktop (Mac)
Install Size	~200MB+	~20MB
Memory Usage	High (Electron)	Low (Tauri)
Offline Support	✅	✅
Open Source	❌	✅
Self-Host Option	❌.	✅
Native macOS Experience	⚠️ (Electron-based)	✅
Sync with Cloud	✅	✅
Postman Collection Import	—	✅

If your priorities include security, speed, simplicity, and transparency, Hoppscotch Desktop offers a refreshing change of pace.

How to Download Hoppscotch for Mac

Getting started with Hoppscotch Desktop is quick and easy:

Head over to hoppscotch.com/download
Click on the macOS option to download the .dmg file
Drag and drop it into your Applications folder
Launch the app and start testing!

No bloated install wizards. No sign-in wall. Just download, open, and go.

Why Developers Are Making the Switch

We built Hoppscotch Desktop because we believe your developer tools should be fast, transparent, and a joy to use. More and more developers are discovering that they don’t need heavyweight software to do serious API work.

Whether you’re a solo indie hacker, a backend engineer, or part of a large team—Hoppscotch Desktop gives you the speed and flexibility to focus on building, not battling your tools.

Hoppscotch Desktop is more than just a lighter alternative. It’s a modern, open-source tool designed with performance, privacy, and developer happiness at its core. And with native macOS support, it fits perfectly into your workflow.

So if you're ready to try something faster, cleaner, and fully open—you know where to go.

Hoppscotch Self-Host: The Open-Source Postman Alternative for On-Premise Hosting

Kiran Johns — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 06:26:19 +0000

Hoppscotch, a lightweight and fast Postman alternative, has emerged as the perfect solution. With its self-hosting capabilities, organizations can run their own instance of Hoppscotch locally or on their private cloud infrastructure—offering greater control over data privacy, security, and customization.

In this article, we’ll explore:

Why you should consider Hoppscotch as an open-source Postman alternative
Benefits of self-hosting Hoppscotch
Use cases and best practices for on-premise API testing
How to get started with Hoppscotch Self-Host

✅ Why Choose Hoppscotch Over Postman?

Postman has long been a popular choice for API testing, but it comes with limitations—especially for teams seeking cost-effective, open-source, and on-premise solutions. Here’s why Hoppscotch is a compelling alternative:

🚀 1. Open-Source and Community-Driven

Unlike Postman, which is proprietary software, Hoppscotch is 100% open-source and backed by a growing community of developers. This means:

No vendor lock-in
Transparent codebase with regular contributions
Flexibility to customize and extend functionality

💻 2. Lightweight and Fast

Hoppscotch is designed for speed and simplicity. Its lightweight architecture allows for faster request execution and reduced resource consumption compared to the bulky Postman app.

🔒 3. On-Premise Hosting for Data Privacy

One of the biggest advantages of Hoppscotch over Postman is its self-hosting capabilities. By running Hoppscotch on your own infrastructure, you can:

Keep sensitive API data within your network
Enforce strict access controls
Comply with internal security and regulatory policies

🛠️ Benefits of Self-Hosting Hoppscotch

Hosting Hoppscotch on-premise provides several benefits, making it a top-tier Postman alternative for organizations prioritizing privacy, performance, and control.

🔐 1. Enhanced Security and Privacy

By running Hoppscotch on your own infrastructure, you eliminate the need for third-party data storage. This is ideal for organizations with strict compliance requirements, such as:

Healthcare (HIPAA) regulations
Finance (GDPR) compliance
Government agencies handling sensitive data

⚡ 2. Improved Performance and Speed

When you self-host Hoppscotch, you can optimize it for your specific infrastructure. This leads to:

Faster request processing
Reduced latency for internal APIs
Better control over caching and scaling

🔥 Use Cases for Self-Hosted Hoppscotch

Many organizations benefit from self-hosting Hoppscotch. Here are some common scenarios:

✅ 1. Internal API Testing

Teams can host Hoppscotch on-premise to test internal APIs without exposing them to the public internet.

🔒 2. Secure API Development

Companies handling sensitive data (e.g., healthcare, finance) can keep all API testing and request logs within their secure environment.

🚀 3. CI/CD Pipelines

Hoppscotch’s API testing capabilities can be integrated into CI/CD pipelines for automated testing, ensuring consistent performance across deployments.

🌐 4. Developer Portals

Organizations building API developer portals can self-host Hoppscotch to offer API testing sandboxes for external partners or customers.

🚀 Hoppscotch vs. Postman: On-Premise Comparison

Feature	Hoppscotch (Self-Hosted)	Postman (Cloud)
Open Source	✅ Yes	❌ No
On-Premise Hosting	✅ Yes	❌ No
Privacy	🔒 Full data control	🌐 Stored on Postman servers

🚀 Why Hoppscotch is the Best Open-Source Postman Alternative

For organizations seeking a Postman alternative open source solution, Hoppscotch offers unmatched flexibility, affordability, and performance. Its self-hosting capabilities make it ideal for teams prioritizing privacy and control over their API testing infrastructure.

With Hoppscotch Self-Host, you can:

Own your data and infrastructure
Customize the platform to suit your needs
Enjoy faster, lightweight API testing

If you’re looking for a cost-effective, self-hosted, and open-source alternative to Postman, Hoppscotch is the solution you’ve been searching for.

🛠️ Get Started with Hoppscotch Self-Host

Setting up your own self-hosted Hoppscotch instance is straightforward. Check out the Hoppscotch Self-Hosting Documentation for detailed setup instructions.

Hoppscotch also offers an Enterprise plan with self-hosted with more advanced features for organizations starting at $19/user.

The Best Postman Alternative: Hoppscotch!

Kiran Johns — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 12:36:53 +0000

If you're searching for a Postman alternative that is faster, lightweight, and more cost-effective, look no further than Hoppscotch.

API testing is a crucial part of modern software development, ensuring that APIs function correctly and meet performance expectations.

While Postman has long been the industry standard, it comes with unnecessary complexity, high pricing, and a bloated interface. Hoppscotch, on the other hand, is a fast, open-source, and lightweight alternative designed to make API testing seamless and efficient.

In this blog, we'll compare Hoppscotch and Postman to show why Hoppscotch is the best Postman alternative for developers.

Why Hoppscotch is the Best Postman Alternative

Simplicity and Speed

Postman’s feature-heavy approach makes it slow and cumbersome, while Hoppscotch is built with speed in mind. Hoppscotch offers a minimalist, intuitive UI that loads instantly in the browser without requiring heavy installations. If you're looking for a lightweight Postman alternative, Hoppscotch is the perfect fit.

Open-Source and Developer-Friendly

Unlike Postman, which locks users into a proprietary ecosystem, Hoppscotch is fully open-source, allowing developers to self-host and customize their experience. This means more control over your API testing workflow without vendor lock-in—an essential feature when considering a Postman replacement.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Postman	Hoppscotch
API Client	Yes	Yes
Collection Management	Yes	Yes
Environment Variables	Yes	Yes
GraphQL Support	Yes	Yes
WebSocket Support	Yes	Yes
gRPC Support	Yes	No (planned)
CLI Integration	Yes	Yes
Cloud Sync	Yes	Yes
Open Source	No	Yes
Lightweight UI	No	Yes
Self-Hosting	No	Yes
AI-Powered Scripting	No	Yes

AI-Powered Assistance for API Testing

One of Hoppscotch’s biggest advantages over Postman is its AI-powered scripting and testing capabilities. With built-in AI features, Hoppscotch can help you write test scripts and automate workflows effortlessly, reducing the time spent on manual scripting. This makes it easier for developers of all skill levels to generate robust test cases without diving deep into scripting complexities—something you won’t find in most Postman alternatives.

Collaboration Without the Hefty Price Tag

Postman locks key collaboration features behind expensive pricing tiers, while Hoppscotch offers team workspaces at just $8 per user/month, significantly lower than Postman’s $14+ per user/month pricing. If you need a cost-effective Postman alternative, Hoppscotch is the clear winner.

Pricing Comparison

Plan	Postman Price (per user/month)	Hoppscotch Price (per user/month)
Free Plan	$0 (3 users max)	$0 (unlimited users)
Basic	$14	N/A
Pro/Teams	$29	$8
Enterprise	$49	$19

Automation and Testing Made Simple

Postman’s automation features often come with a steep learning curve and added costs. Hoppscotch, however, provides a straightforward scripting system, enhanced with AI-powered test generation, to automate API testing without unnecessary complexity. This makes it one of the best Postman competitors in the market today.

Why Developers Choose Hoppscotch as a Postman Alternative

Blazing-fast, lightweight, and browser-based – no heavy downloads.
Completely open-source and self-hostable – no vendor lock-in.
More affordable team collaboration – powerful features at a fraction of the cost.
Intuitive UI and seamless experience – API testing without distractions.
AI-powered assistance – automate testing and generate scripts effortlessly.

Hoppscotch is the Best Postman Alternative
Postman might be a well-known name, but it’s bloated, expensive, and restrictive. Hoppscotch is the best Postman alternative for modern developers who want an open-source, fast, and affordable API testing tool. Whether you're an individual developer, a startup, or a large organization, Hoppscotch provides everything you need without the unnecessary baggage.

If you're looking for a free, open-source, and powerful Postman alternative, try Hoppscotch today and experience the future of API testing!

Migrate from Postman to Hoppscotch Today

Kiran Johns — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 07:10:21 +0000

If you're looking for a lightweight, fast, and open-source alternative to Postman, Hoppscotch is the perfect choice. Whether you're tired of Postman's bloated UI, high resource usage, or pricing changes, migrating to Hoppscotch is seamless and easy. In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to migrate from Postman to Hoppscotch and make the most of your API testing workflow.

Why Migrate from Postman to Hoppscotch?

Before diving into the migration process, let's explore why many developers are switching from Postman to Hoppscotch:

Lightweight and Fast – Hoppscotch is designed to be fast and efficient, running directly in your browser with minimal resource consumption.
User-Friendly Interface – The clean and intuitive UI of Hoppscotch makes API testing easier and distraction-free.
Collaborative Features – With Hoppscotch, you can share API collections and collaborate seamlessly with your team.
No Installations Required – Hoppscotch runs in the browser, eliminating the need for heavy desktop installations.
Desktop Application - Access Hoppscotch offline with our dedicated desktop client
Self-Hostable– Hoppscotch can be deployed on your own infrastructure for complete control over your data and security.

Step 1: Export Your Collections from Postman

To migrate your existing API collections from Postman to Hoppscotch, follow these steps:

Open Postman and navigate to the Collections tab.
Click on the three-dot menu next to the collection you want to export.
Select Export.
Choose the format v2.1 (recommended) or v2.0.
Click Export and save the JSON file to your computer.

You now have a Postman collection file ready to be imported into Hoppscotch.

Step 2: Import Collections into Hoppscotch

Now that you've exported your collections from Postman, let's import them into Hoppscotch:

Open Hoppscotch in your browser.
Click on the Collections tab.
Click on Import/Export.
Select the Postman JSON file you exported earlier.
Hoppscotch will parse the file and import all your API requests.

Your Postman collection is now available in Hoppscotch, and you can start testing your APIs immediately.

Step 3: Reconfigure Environment Variables

Postman allows you to use environment variables to manage different API environments. You can migrate these variables to Hoppscotch:

In Postman, navigate to the Environments tab.
Click on the environment you want to export.
Click Export and save the JSON file.
In Hoppscotch, go to Environments and click Import.
Select the JSON file and import your environment variables.

Your API requests will now work seamlessly with the same variable setup as in Postman.

Step 4: Recreate Workspaces (If Needed)

Hoppscotch allows you to organize your API requests using workspaces. While workspaces in Postman don't directly transfer, you can easily recreate them in Hoppscotch:

Go to the Workspaces section in Hoppscotch.
Create a new workspace.
Assign your imported collections to the workspace.
Share the workspace with your team for seamless collaboration.

This ensures that your team can continue working as they did in Postman.

Step 5: Explore Hoppscotch’s Features

Now that you've migrated your API collections, take some time to explore Hoppscotch’s features:

GraphQL Support – Hoppscotch has excellent support for GraphQL queries and mutations.
WebSocket & SSE Testing – Hoppscotch provides built-in tools for WebSocket and Server-Sent Events testing.
cURL Import & Export – Easily import/export API requests as cURL commands.
Collection Runner - Execute multiple requests in sequence to test API workflows
Hoppscotch CLI - Command-line interface for automated API testing
Keyboard Shortcuts – Speed up your workflow with built-in keyboard shortcuts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Hoppscotch completely free?

Yes! Hoppscotch is an open-source project and is free to use for everyone. We offer an Enterprise plan for organizations requiring advanced collaboration features! Hoppscotch Enterprise can be self-hosted on your own servers! — Contact us to setup Hoppscotch Enterprise for your organization

2. Can I collaborate with my team in Hoppscotch?

Absolutely! Hoppscotch supports team collaboration and sharing API collections just like Postman.

3. Does Hoppscotch support authentication methods like OAuth?

Yes, Hoppscotch supports various authentication methods, including API keys, OAuth, and more.

4. Can I use Hoppscotch offline?

You can use the Hoppscotch Desktop app and work completely offline to test your APIs

5. How do I contribute to Hoppscotch?

Since Hoppscotch is open-source, you can contribute via GitHub.

Make the Switch Today!

Migrating from Postman to Hoppscotch is a smart choice for organizations looking for a lightweight, fast, and open-source API testing tool. With seamless import options, environment variable management, and powerful features, Hoppscotch makes API testing effortless.

Try Hoppscotch today and experience a better way to test your APIs!

Optimize API Testing with Hoppscotch CLI and Web based Collection Runners

Sanskriti Harmukh — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 07:29:07 +0000

APIs are the backbone of modern applications, powering everything from user authentication to pulling in complex data. We understand that there’s no harm in making API calls individually, if you've got, say, 5 requests bundled in a collection. But if you have 10, 50, or more API endpoints to test, verify responses, and ensure everything works across environments, then, mate, the entire process becomes not only inefficient and insanely tedious but also prone to human error.

The Collection Runner takes that burden off your shoulders by automating API testing for entire collection, eliminating repetitive tasks, ensuring consistency, and saving you hours of debugging headaches. In this blog, we'll break down exactly how it works. We’ll walk you through the different variations of Hoppscotch’s Collection Runner, so you can easily figure out which one to choose based on your specific needs.

Meet Hoppscotch 👽

Hoppscotch is an open-source and self-hostable platform, that makes API development, testing, debugging, and documenting a walk in the park. It’s designed to work directly in your browser with no installations, no complex setups, and no account required. Just jump into hoppscotch.io, craft your requests, and you're good to go.

Check out Hoppscotch 🛸

Collection Runner ▶️

At Hoppscotch, we’re obsessed with making API testing fast, easy, and, dare we say, ✨ fun ✨. The Collection Runner for it is your ultimate hack. Instead of slogging through individual requests, you just set it up once, hit run, and watch as your entire collection is executed in sequence, validated, and reported back to you in seconds. It’s like putting your API tests on autopilot.

📟 Hoppscotch CLI-based Collection Runner

The CLI Edition of Hoppscotch works as a powerhouse for developers who prefer working in the terminal. If you’re the type who prefers working from the command line, this is your ticket to get started. All you need to do is check the prerequisites based on your system setup, verify your Node version ( v20+ ), and install the latest version of Hoppscotch CLI with this simple command:

npm i -g @hoppscotch/cli

Once you've got your app’s server up and running, head over to the REST API section of Hoppscotch, create a collection for your app’s APIs, and set up an environment if needed. Now, here’s where things get cool. You’ve got two ways to run your collection with the Hoppscotch CLI:

➡️ Using JSON Exports: Export your collection and associated environment in JSON format and pass it alongside the hopp test command to get the test summary:

hopp test [-e <environment file>] <hoppscotch collection file>

➡️ Using IDs: If you don't want to download any files locally, you can use this method. Every time you create a collection or environment, Hoppscotch assigns them unique IDs. You can run tests using these IDs through the CLI. To connect your instance account(Self-hosted or Cloud) with Hoppscotch CLI, you'll also need a personal access token. And if you're using a self-hosted instance of Hoppscotch, don’t forget to throw in the server URL as well:

hopp test  [-e <environment id>] <hoppscotch collection id> [--token <access_token>] [--server <server url>]

Hoppscotch CLI-based Collection Runner fits right into your workflow if you are looking for:

✅ Automate API testing and integrate CLI with automated processes, ensuring that your APIs are tested as part of your build and deployment pipeline. (Checkout this blog to learn end-to-end about this).
✅ Generate JUnit reports of the test summary for structured test result tracking.
✅ Run large-scale test suites without the hassle of manually triggering each request.
✅ Run tests in different environments by simply referencing environment variables and configurations in your command line.
✅ Test against self-hosted instances of Hoppscotch, giving you full control over the testing process while keeping things secure.
✅ Scale your tests easily across multiple endpoints and use cases, enabling more comprehensive API validation in less time.
✅ Quickly debug APIs by running test collections with real-time results, assuring that your application runs smoothly after every update.
✅ Execute tests easily on remote servers, making it ideal for testing APIs across distributed systems or cloud environments.
✅ Trigger tests based on specific conditions, allowing you to run tests only when certain criteria are met (e.g., after new commits, or after a particular stage in your deployment process).

Refer to the documentation for a complete overview of Hoppscotch CLI and how it operates. Plus, watch the video attached below to know how to run a collection using Hoppsoctch CLI.

🌐 Hoppscotch Web-based Collection Runner

The GUI Edition of the Collection Runner is perfect for those moments when you want to visually manage your tests without the hassle of extra setup. It’s super convenient, especially when you want to generate a test summary side by side while working on your collection. All you need to do is pick your collection, set up your environment, and let the runner take care of the rest.

Once you hover over your collection, you’ll spot the Runner icon, which opens up a variety of configurations for you to tweak, including:

➡️ Delay: Set an interval delay (in milliseconds) between each request in your collection run.
➡️ Stop Run if Error Occurs: If any error pops up in a script or there’s an issue sending a request, the entire run stops, so no messy situations here.
➡️ Persist Responses: Log response headers and bodies for later review. (Keep in mind, this may slow things down if you’ve got a huge collection.)
➡️ Keep Variable Values: Save the variables used during the run. Any updates made to the variables will stick after the run finishes.

Once you're ready, click Run, a new tab opens showing the test results and execution details. You can dig deeper into any passed or failed test case to troubleshoot or just bask in the glory of a successful run.

The Web-based Collection Runner is just what you need when you want to:

✅ Quickly run tests without worrying about the setup or complex configurations.
✅ Track your tests visually with a real-time summary of each request and its results.
✅ Review and debug results with easy access to test case details in case something fails.
✅ Execute tests in an interactive environment, ideal for manual verification or smaller-scale testing.

To learn how to use the GUI edition of the Collection Runner, check out this video to understand the run settings and analyze the runner results.

That wraps up our blog for today! We hope this quick overview helped you figure out which Collection Runner is the right fit for your needs. Go ahead and give both editions a try, and let us know which one you prefer.

We're truly grateful for your continued support of Hoppscotch over the years. We're on a mission to make Hoppscotch the best suite for API development, testing, documentation, and more. Stay tuned to Hoppscotch X and LinkedIn for the latest updates. If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at hello@hoppscotch.io, or create an issue or discussion on our GitHub repository 💚.

Automate API Testing with Hoppscotch and GitHub Actions

Sanskriti Harmukh — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 07:15:36 +0000

API testing can often feel repetitive, especially when you are manually verifying endpoints every time there’s a change. It’s easy to overlook a detail or get bogged down in the process. Plus, as your codebase grows, this manual testing process becomes more time-consuming and prone to errors. In situations like these, you can’t help but wonder how much easier it would be if things could be automated. And hey, it's 2025, automation is totally within our reach. With the right setup, you can now run tests automatically every time there's an update to your code, making sure everything’s still working as it should. And with Hoppscotch, integrating automated API testing into your CI/CD pipeline comes in a snap.

Hoppscotch is an open-source, self-hostable platform that makes API development and testing ridiculously easy. It’s quick to get started, no account required, just hop onto hoppscotch.io, create your request, and hit send. Simple as that.

Check out Hoppscotch 🛸

But today, we’re going to explore another cool perk of using Hoppscotch and that is leveraging Hoppscotch CLI to automatically execute API requests stored in your collection.

Hoppscotch CLI 📟

Hoppscotch offers various editions, and one of them is the CLI, which lets you run your API requests remotely from the comfort of your terminal. If you're looking to create a setup and test your APIs locally, check out the pre-requisites described here based on your system configurations, verify the node version, and install the latest version of Hoppscotch CLI into your machine with a simple command:

npm i -g @hoppscotch/cli

There are two ways to run your collection using the Hoppscotch CLI:

1️⃣ Using JSON Exports: Export your collection and associated environment in JSON format and pass it alongside the hopp test command to get the test summary:

hopp test [-e <environment file>] <hoppscotch collection file>

2️⃣ Using IDs: Every time you create a collection or an environment, Hoppscotch assigns a unique ID to them. You can use these IDs to reference your collection when running tests via the CLI. But to connect your instance account with Hoppscotch, you also need to provide a personal access token, which is super simple to generate in Hoppscotch. Follow the steps here to generate the token. And if you're using a self-hosted instance of Hoppscotch, don't forget to provide the server URL in the command:

hopp test [-e <environment id>] <hoppscotch collection id> [--token <access_token>] [--server <server url>]

Hoppscotch + GitHub Actions 🔁

Let’s take a simple Express application as an example. This app defines routes to perform CRUD operations on quotes, exposed to localhost:5000. We'll also create a collection within Hoppscotch that includes APIs for fetching all quotes from the database, fetching a specific quote by ID, adding a new quote to the list, updating an existing quote, and removing a quote. To avoid repeatedly typing the URL and paths, we'll also create an environment so we can refer to them via variables.
To get familiar with the codebase, refer to this repository. If you want to understand the logic behind each API request, follow this blog.

Now that we have the basics in place, let's take things up a notch by introducing GitHub Actions. GitHub Actions allows us to automate various tasks like running tests, building, and deploying our application directly from our repository. In this blog, we’ll specifically focus on the CI (Continuous Integration) part to automate API testing for our Express app.

🔑 Generating a Personal Access Token

In this example, we’ll be running our collection using IDs, and to do that successfully, we need a Personal Access Token. Head over to your profile page in Hoppscotch, then switch to the “Tokens” tab. Click on “Generate new token,” give it a label, choose an expiration date, and click “Generate Token.” Be sure to save the token somewhere safe, as you won’t be able to see it ever again.

Now that we have our token, let’s ensure it stays secure in our pipeline. To do this, we’ll store it as an action secret. Go to your GitHub repository, then navigate to Settings > Secrets and Variables > Actions > New Repository Secret. Give it a meaningful name (e.g. HOPPSCOTCH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN) and paste in your Personal Access Token.

🆔 Collecting Collection and Environment IDs

One of the easiest ways to fetch both the collection and environment IDs is by clicking on the Runner icon that appears when you hover over your collection. Switch to the CLI tab in the modal, and you’ll find a command ready to use. If you select the option to include environment properties, the environment ID will be appended to the command as well. Cool, right?

But, if you prefer to collect the IDs manually, you can find them under the "Properties" menu of both the collection and environment.

We’ll use these IDs in the command within our pipeline. Below is an example:

hopp test cm5wuvaf700jwwdopsb68uoic -e cm47dw3jy002d3f238uk4yfr1 --token <access_token>

▶️ Creating the CI Workflow

Since this application isn't deployed yet and is only a sample for API testing, as mentioned earlier, we'll focus on crafting a CI (Continuous Integration) pipeline to validate the functionality of the API endpoints defined in quotes.js.

Workflow files use YAML (a data serialization language) syntax. To learn more about YAML, check out this YAML in Y Minutes tutorial. For a detailed explanation of different jobs you can define in a GitHub Actions workflow, refer to the GitHub Actions Workflow Syntax documentation.

To get started, create a .github/workflows directory in your project root. Inside this folder, create a YAML file (e.g., quotes-api.yml) to define the pipeline instructions. This file will specify the steps and jobs required to automate our workflows.

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main  
  pull_request:
    branches:
      - main 

jobs:
  test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v2

      - name: Set up Node.js
        uses: actions/setup-node@v2
        with:
          node-version: '20'  

      - name: Install dependencies
        run: |
          npm install

      - name: Install Hoppscotch CLI
        run: |
          npm i -g @hoppscotch/cli

      - name: Verify Hoppscotch version
        run: |
          hopp --ver

      - name: Start the server
        run: |
          nohup npm start & 
          echo $! > server.pid
          sleep 10

      - name: Wait for server to be ready
        run: |
          until curl -s http://127.0.0.1:5000; do
            echo "Waiting for server..."
            sleep 5
          done

      - name: Run Hoppscotch tests
        run: |
          hopp test cm5wuvaf700jwwdopsb68uoic -e cm47dw3jy002d3f238uk4yfr1 --token $HOPPSCOTCH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN
        env:
          HOPPSCOTCH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HOPPSCOTCH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}

      - name: Stop the server
        run: |
          kill $(cat server.pid) 
          rm server.pid

The workflow is pretty straightforward, and it covers all the key steps needed to automate your API testing with Hoppscotch in your CI pipeline. Every time new changes are introduced to the codebase or when a new PR is created for the main branch, this workflow will run automatically.

First, we check out the code and set up the Node.js environment, ensuring all dependencies are installed. Next, we install the Hoppscotch CLI globally to enable testing via the command line. After confirming the Hoppscotch version, we start the server that will host the API for testing. The workflow waits until the server is fully up and running before executing the actual Hoppscotch tests.

Here, you can see Hoppscotch’s power in action, using the hopp test command to run the API collection tests with a personal access token, securely referenced through GitHub Actions secrets. Finally, the server is stopped once the tests are completed.

Tip 💡

You can even generate a JUnit report of the test summary to integrate seamlessly with your CI/CD pipelines or for structured test result tracking. Just add the --reporter-junit flag to your existing hopp test command and specify the path where the file should be saved. If no path is mentioned, the report will be saved in the working directory by default.

hopp test <file_path_or_id> [-e <file_path_or_id>] --reporter-junit [path]

And that’s it! You can commit your changes and push the code to see the results in action. You can also view the logs of the pipeline I’ve set up for the quotes application here. Pretty simple, right?

If you prefer a graphical interface over the command line then check out the GUI version of our collection runner. It offers an intuitive way to run your collections directly from the Hoppscotch web interface. Have a look at this video and refer the documentation for the same.

So go ahead, integrate Hoppscotch into your automation workflow and simplify API testing for yourself and your team. Thank you for supporting Hoppscotch 💚. We’re always looking to improve, and your feedback makes a difference. If you have any suggestions or run into issues, feel free to reach out at hello@hoppscotch.io, or visit our GitHub repository to open an issue or chat with us 💬.

Hoppscotch: Your Browser-Based Solution for API Testing

Kiran Johns — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 07:27:42 +0000

What is Hoppscotch?

Hoppscotch is a lightweight, web-based API development ecosystem. It's designed to help developers test, debug, and document APIs directly from their web browsers. Hoppscotch offers a web client that doesn't require any installation or setup, making it an attractive option for developers who want a quick and easy way to test their APIs.

Key Features of Hoppscotch

Browser-based: Access from any device with an internet connection
User-friendly interface: Clean and intuitive design
Support for multiple request methods: GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and more
Real-time collaboration: Share API requests and responses with team members
Collections: Organize and save API requests for future use
Environment variables: Manage different environments easily
Self-Hostable: Deploy Hoppscotch in your own servers and collaborate with your team

How Hoppscotch Compares to Postman Web

Accessibility

Hoppscotch being a web-based tool, it can be accessed directly from any browser without installation. It also supports offline functionality through local caching, making it convenient for quick testing. You don’t need an active internet connection to test APIs with Hoppscotch. Moreover, Hoppscotch can be self-hosted so that you get more control on where your data resides, unlike postman where you always need to be online to test an API or have no option to choose where your data is stored.

User Interface

Hoppscotch offers a clean, minimalist interface that many developers find appealing. Web Postman, while feature-rich, can sometimes feel cluttered in comparison. Hoppscotch's simplicity makes it easier for newcomers and experienced developers to get started quickly.

Performance

Being lightweight, Hoppscotch tends to load faster and consume fewer system resources compared to web Postman. This can be particularly beneficial when working on less powerful devices or with slower internet connections. Moreover, Hoppscotch caches all your data alllowing you to work even without an active internet connection.

Getting Started with Hoppscotch

Now that we've compared Hoppscotch to web Postman, let's walk through how to get started with Hoppscotch:

1. Accessing Hoppscotch

To use Hoppscotch, simply open your web browser and navigate to the Hoppscotch website. There's no need to create an account or install anything - you can start testing APIs right away.

2. Making Your First API Request

Choose your request method (GET, POST, etc.) from the dropdown menu.
Enter the API endpoint URL in the address bar.
If needed, add headers, query parameters, or a request body.
Click the "Send" button to make the request.
View the response in the panel below.

3. Saving and Organizing Requests

Hoppscotch allows you to save your API requests for future use:

Click the "Save" button after configuring your request.
Give your request a name and choose a collection to save it in.
Access your saved requests from the Collections panel.

4. Using Environment Variables

Environment variables help you manage different settings for various environments (e.g., development, staging, production):

Click on the "Environments" button in the sidebar.
Add your environment variables with keys and values.
Use these variables in your requests by wrapping them in double angle brackets, like <<variable>>

Advanced Features of Hoppscotch

As you become more comfortable with Hoppscotch, you may want to explore some of its advanced features:

WebSocket Testing

In addition to RESTful APIs, Hoppscotch supports WebSocket testing, allowing you to work with real-time applications and APIs.

GraphQL Support

For developers working with GraphQL APIs, Hoppscotch offers a dedicated GraphQL interface with features like query autocompletion and schema exploration.

Authentication

Hoppscotch supports various authentication methods, including Basic Auth, Bearer Token, and OAuth 2.0, making it easy to test APIs.

Conclusion

Hoppscotch is a powerful, browser-based alternative to traditional API testing tools like Postman and Insomnia. Its simplicity, speed, and accessibility make it an attractive option for developers looking for a Postman web alternative.Hoppscotch covers most essential API testing needs and continues to evolve.

Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, Hoppscotch offers a user-friendly platform for testing and documenting your APIs directly from your browser. By eliminating the need for installation and providing a clean, intuitive interface, Hoppscotch allows you to focus on what matters most - building and testing great APIs.

Hoppscotch: The Best Browser-Based API Testing Tool – A Postman Online Alternative

Kiran Johns — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 07:51:29 +0000

API testing is an essential part of modern software development. Developers are always seeking solutions that allow them to work efficiently from anywhere and on any device. This is where browser-based API testing tools become useful.

Both Postman online and Hoppscotch offer flexibility in testing APIs directly from the browser. However, if you're looking for a fast, no-login alternative, Hoppscotch is the ideal choice.

Postman Online Web Client: Feature-Rich but Resource-Heavy

For a long time, Postman online has been the go-to tool for API testing. Its extensive feature set includes automated tests, well-organized API documentation, and collections for managing requests. Yet, for those who want to perform quick, one-off tests, Postman can feel cumbersome.

Challenges with Postman Online:

Account Requirement: Accessing any features necessitates creating an account, which can slow you down when you just want to test an API quickly.
Resource-Heavy: The richness of Postman's features can lead to high resource consumption, causing performance issues on older machines or in browsers with numerous tabs open.
Forced Data Sync: Postman forces you to sync all your data with their cloud, giving you no other option to choose where your data resides.

Hoppscotch: A Fast, No-Login API Testing Tool

Hoppscotch is an open-source API testing tool designed for simplicity and efficiency. It operates entirely within your browser, requires no installation, and doesn't force account creation. You can start testing APIs immediately after opening it.

Here's why Hoppscotch excels as a Postman online alternative:

Instant Testing: No account setup is required. Just enter your API endpoint and start testing right away.
Lightweight and Fast: Designed to be responsive, Hoppscotch performs well even on lower-powered devices.
Open-Source: As a community-driven tool, Hoppscotch is free to use and regularly updated based on developer feedback.
Collaboration Made Easy: You can share API requests and collections with Hoppscotch workspaces, making it easy to collaborate with teammates.
Offline First: Hoppscotch stores all the data in your personal workspace locally, and you can opt out of cloud sync if you prefer.
Self-Hostable: If you prefer to choose where your data resides, you have the option to self-host Hoppscotch anywhere from a Raspberry Pi to your own bare metal.

Getting Started with Hoppscotch for API Testing

Visit Hoppscotch.io.
Enter your API endpoint in the URL bar and choose the HTTP method (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.).
Add headers, parameters, or body content to your request if needed.
Click "Send" to execute your request and see the response in an instant within your browser.
Share or save your requests without needing to create an account.

For lightweight, fast API testing, Hoppscotch is a far more efficient choice compared to Postman online, which always requires signing in or syncing saved requests. With Hoppscotch, everything happens instantly, and you can choose where your data resides, including self-hosted options.

Bypassing CORS Issues

CORS is always a major issue when testing APIs in the browser. The browser often has a lot of limitations, and that's why we launched the Hoppscotch agent to provide full functionalities of API testing on the browser.

The Hoppscotch agent is a tiny app for your PC that solves API testing limitations in the browser. It goes beyond the browser extension by offering full API testing features like SSL verification and HTTP proxy support.

Why Companies Should Self-Host Hoppscotch for Their API Testing

Kiran Johns — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 16:45:07 +0000

API testing is critical for building secure, reliable applications. As a developer or business, choosing the right tool for API testing can have a significant impact on your workflow.

While Postman is widely known, many are turning to Hoppscotch as a powerful self-hosted Postman alternative. In this post, we’ll explore why self-hosting Hoppscotch could be the perfect fit for your API testing needs, and how it offers flexibility, security, and performance beyond cloud-based solutions —

Interested in setting up Hoppscotch?

What is Hoppscotch?

Hoppscotch is an open-source, web-based API development and testing tool designed to be fast, efficient, and developer-friendly. It offers a lightweight solution that’s not only easier to use than some cloud-based tools but also customizable to fit the specific needs of your team.

Key features of Hoppscotch:

Support for all major HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.)
Intuitive request builder with headers, parameters, and body customization
Built-in collaboration tools for teams
Management of environment variables and collections
API workflows that integrates with your organization

Why Choose Self-Hosting with Hoppscotch?

1. Enhanced Security and Privacy

By self-hosting Hoppscotch, you maintain complete control over your API testing environment. For teams dealing with sensitive data or operating under strict regulations, self-hosting ensures that all API requests and responses remain within your infrastructure, greatly reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

2. Full Customization

Unlike Postman’s cloud-based setup, Hoppscotch can be easily customized when self-hosted, enabling you to integrate it with your existing tools, implement your preferred authentication methods, or add features specific to your company’s workflow. This flexibility gives your team the ability to tailor Hoppscotch to meet unique development requirements.

3. Performance Tailored to Your Infrastructure

Optimizing Hoppscotch for your company’s network means faster response times and improved performance, particularly when handling large-scale or complex API testing scenarios. This is especially useful for teams working with high volumes of requests or intricate workflows.

4. Cost Efficiency at Scale

For organizations with extensive API testing needs, a self-hosted API tool like Hoppscotch offers significant cost savings over time. Without the high cost of cloud-based services, you can scale your API testing infrastructure in-house, avoiding vendor lock-in and unpredictable pricing.

5. Offline Access for High-Security Environments

A self-hosted version of Hoppscotch offers offline functionality, making it ideal for organizations with stringent security protocols or limited internet access. This flexibility is one of the key reasons teams in highly regulated industries choose Hoppscotch.

How to Self-Host Hoppscotch

Getting started with self-hosting Hoppscotch is straightforward. We provide two deployment options— Community Edition and Enterprise Edition—both of which can be installed using Docker. For step-by-step instructions, check out our self-hosting guide or follow our video tutorial

How Hoppscotch Compares to Postman and Other API Testing Tools

When comparing API testing tools, it's important to evaluate how Hoppscotch stands up to other popular options like Postman and Insomnia:

Hoppscotch vs Postman

Self-Hosting: Hoppscotch offers easy self-hosting, providing more security and control compared to Postman’s primarily cloud-based solution.
Performance: Hoppscotch is optimized for speed and efficiency, particularly for everyday API testing tasks, making it a lighter, faster alternative.
Check out our detailed blog on how Hoppscotch stands against Postman

Hoppscotch vs Insomnia

Collaboration: Hoppscotch supports robust collaboration, and self-hosting ensures that teams can work together within a company’s secure infrastructure.
Customization: Hoppscotch’s self-hosting options allow for extensive customization, giving you full control over the tool’s features and integrations.

Best Practices for API Testing with Hoppscotch

To maximize the potential of self-hosted Hoppscotch, follow these best practices:

Organize API requests into collections for streamlined management.
Use environment variables to switch between development, staging, and production environments seamlessly.
Automate testing by integrating Hoppscotch with your CI/CD pipeline.
Keep your team aligned by sharing collections and environments securely within your organization.
Regularly update your instance of Hoppscotch to benefit from new features and improvements.

Choosing to self-host Hoppscotch provides the control, security, and customization needed to elevate your API testing workflows. With Hoppscotch, you gain a powerful tool that rivals Postman in functionality but offers much more in terms of flexibility and cost efficiency. Whether you’re a small development team or a large enterprise, self-hosting Hoppscotch is the smart choice for improving your API testing and development processes.

Hoppscotch v2024.8.0: AWS Signature, Workspace Management APIs, and more..

Sanskriti Harmukh — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 04:43:10 +0000

Hoppscotch turned 5 this August 🎂!

When we first launched Hoppscotch, our plan was clear: make it easier for developers to test APIs directly from their browser without logging in (https://hoppscotch.io). Today, we've evolved far beyond that initial vision. Hoppscotch now features a Self-Hosted Edition, giving you greater control over your data, and a Desktop Application for a smoother, faster experience.

With our latest update, version 2024.8.0, we're excited to introduce cool new features that we think you'll love.

This update introduces new additions to the Hoppscotch Backend that require users to run a new migration (instructions can be found here for community and enterprise editions respectively), in addition to that, we're also adding a new environment variable DATA_ENCRYPTION_KEY whose value is a 32 character alphanumeric string. For more details on this please refer to the documentation.

AWS Signature Authorization Type 🔐

Support for AWS Signature authorization is now available. This HMAC (Hash-based Message Authentication Code) mechanism ensures that your requests are genuine and tamper-proof. Just enter your AWS Access Key and Secret Key to securely sign your API requests within Hoppscotch.

Description Field for Request Parameters and Headers 📝

To help you keep track of your API components, we've introduced description fields for request parameters and headers. Now, you can add notes about what each parameter or header does right inside Hoppscotch, making it easier to remember the purpose of each part of your request.

Import HAR Files to the Hoppscotch Collection 📥

You can now import HAR (HTTP Archive) files into Hoppscotch with just a couple of clicks. Whether you're pulling data from your browser or a network tool, you can quickly bring HAR files into Hoppscotch collections and get to work.

APIs for Workspace Management 🤝

Admins using the Self-Hosted Enterprise Edition can now manage workspaces more easily with simple API calls. Tasks such as creating new workspaces, updating existing workspace details, and deleting workspaces can be performed with just a single click.

We're beyond grateful for the support from our community. Your belief in Hoppscotch and recognition of its potential have been major to our growth. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this release or anything else you'd like to share. Feel free to reach out to us at hello@hoppscotch.io, join the conversation on our Discord server, or head over to our GitHub repository. We can't wait to hear from you!

Hoppscotch v2024.7.0: JUnit Reports, User management API & more..

Sanskriti Harmukh — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 06:01:34 +0000

Hoppscotch is a simple straightforward API testing client that helps developers around the world to work with their APIs. You can easily get started with Hoppscotch using our web client at hoppscotch.io or download our desktop app!

We’re excited to roll out new features and enhancements with out latest release v2024.7.0 on our cloud and self-hosted solutions.

Generate JUnit Reports for Collection Runs on CLI 📄

The hopp test command can now generate JUnit Reports in XML format for collection runs. Specify a path to store the reports in your desired location, else, the default path for saving the JUnit report will be the current working directory. To know more about the exported JUnit format, head over to our docuentation.

hopp test <file_path_or_id> --env <file_path_or_id> --reporter-junit [path.xml]

AI meets Hoppscotch 🤖

We are gradually introducing AI-powered features to provide quality of life features to help improve your API testing experience, and we’re starting with one small feature:

Automatically naming an API request

This feature assigns a relevant name to an API request without requiring manual input from the user. The system examines the Request components and extracts the parameters to develop a name for the API Request.

Duplicate a Collection 📂

You can now duplicate collections with a single click, enabling easier management of similar requests and configurations without having to recreate them from scratch.

Manage your users using APIs ⚙️

You can now perform user management on Hoppscotch self-host and perform actions such as inviting users and granting admin rights using APIs. Learn more about it by reading our documentation.

And that’s a wrap for this month’s release! Our team is dedicated to continuously improving Hoppscotch, and we appreciate your support in helping us get better each day. If you have any feedback or suggestions, please reach out to us at hello@hoppscotch.io or visit our GitHub repository.

Hoppscotch v2024.6.0: Collection Runner on CLI, Team Invite Links, Client Certificates, and more

Kiran Johns — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 04:44:50 +0000

Hoppscotch is a super simple API client. You can easily get started with Hoppscotch using our web application or desktop app, and collaborate with your team via our cloud! Now, if you prefer hosting on your own, check out Hoppscotch Self-Host Editions and deploy Hoppscotch on your servers.

With our latest release v2024.6.0, we’re taking a step forward in building out our Hoppscotch ecosystem of products as well as bringing some cool features across the cloud API client and our self-hosted products!

Connect your CLI with the API client

Hoppscotch CLI can now connect with your API client and run collections that are present in shared workspaces. To run the collections present in your API client, you need to create a personal access token! Once the personal access token is created, you can right-click any collection, select Run Collection, copy the command you see, and run it on the CLI!

To run a collection present in the Hoppscotch cloud, the command looks like the one below:

hopp test -e <environment id> -d <delay_i_ms> <hoppscotch collection id> --token <access_token>

You can also run a collection present on your self-hosted instance by passing your server URL as an argument

hopp test -e <environment id> -d <delay_i_ms> <hoppscotch collection id> --token <access_token> --server <server url>

Click here to read more about running a collection

Client Certificates on the Hoppscotch App

We’ve brought the ability to add client certificates to authenticate requests on the Hoppscotch desktop app! You can now use a .pem or .pfx/.pkcs12 certificate to authenticate your requests to a configured domain. Once set up, these certificates are applied whenever you request HTTP to your specified domains.

Custom Banners

Custom banners allow the self-host admin to share important announcements such as a scheduled maintenance or instance upgrade with the rest of your team! Banners are exclusive to Hoppscotch self-host enterprise.

Active users

Self-host admins can now see the last active time of the users in your organization via the user management page on the Hoppscotch Admin dashboard, making it easy for you to manage inactive users on the app

That’s it for the June release, a big thanks to all our contributors and supporters, and thank you so much for reading! If you’ve any feedback, contact us at hello@hoppscotch.io we’d love to hear from you!