A powerful, free REST client

If you worked with HTTP APIs before, then you know how difficult it is to build new commands for every test case. Not to mention that it’s time-consuming since you’ll need to change API keys and work with scripts. However, there are development kits available nowadays that get rid of the nuisances behind testing, organizing, and running HTTP requests and APIs. Insomnia is one of those tools. It is a free and open-sourced development hub that provides you the necessary tools and a suitable environment for your HTTP requests and APIs. It is a cross-platform program that can be installed with a minimal amount of hassle, so you can get on with your work immediately.

Modern app with specialized features

One of the main reasons that Insomnia is preferred by many is its modern interface. Upon launching, you will be greeted by a black-themed and well-organized UI. On its left side, you can create your workspace and folders. You can also manage environments, add requests, and import and export data. After creating requests, you can specify URL, payloads, and headers, and get detailed behavior information.

Additionally, the app provides specialized features that make API testing a more enjoyable process. It comes with a configurable timeout, support for query parameters, and nunjucks templating. With this, you can get accurate responses and even view the code, body, headers, and cookies status.

Furthermore, Insomnia globally defines API key variables. It even instantly switches between environments and sub-environments with a few mouse clicks. Thanks to this, you can boost your productivity while testing APIs and requests.

And since Insomnia features cookies management environment, you can use the app to view and manage cookie-based APIs. Moreover, you can generate boilerplate code snippets for multiple language libraries, including Python, Swift, Java, and NodeJS. 

In a nutshell, Insomnia is a handy tool that can help you deal with HTTP APIs. Its well-structured interface and set of specialized features can improve your workflow.