If you're deep into APIs and data crawlers like I am, you know the right tools are crucial. I used Postman for years, but its slow load times and cluttered UI drove me nuts as my projects grew. I tried Thunder Client, but many features were behind a paywall. Frustrated, I created EchoAPI—a lean, free API client. Here’s why I built it and how it stacks up against Thunder Client.

The Path to EchoAPI

As full-stack developers, I deal with a never-ending stream of APIs every day. Postman used to be my go-to for this, but it started to feel like a chore. Each update made the interface more confusing and slow, turning simple requests into multi-step processes.

I looked for alternatives but found them either too complicated or requiring too many clicks for what should be simple tasks. Then, I checked out Visual Studio Code’s extension gallery and found the Thunder Client extension. Though it was popular, but I find that many useful features were locked behind a paywall, which meant it wasn’t quite what I was looking for.

This is when I decided to build something that fit my needs perfectly, leveraging my familiarity with Visual Studio Code.

The Birth of EchoAPI

Given that I use Visual Studio Code every day, creating an extension instead of standalone software just made sense. Millions of devs use VS Code, so the user base is already there. With this in mind, I aimed for:

• Lightweight and Fast: No extra bloat.
• User-Friendly Interface: Easy-to-use UI that minimizes clicks and shows API responses clearly.
• Robust Response Handling: Able to handle large API responses and view them in full screen.
• Integration with VS Code Themes: Blends seamlessly with the coding environment.
• Collection Management and Environment Variables: Essential features without the scripting hassle.
• Scriptless Testing: GUI-based testing for standard cases to save time and effort.
• 100% compatible with Postman script syntax:I've got tons of data in Postman, so compatibility is a must for me.

After some thorough research and development, EchoAPI was born, knocking off all these targets.

Thunder Client vs. EchoAPI

Thunder Client is another VS Code extension with similar goals, offering a clean UI and scriptless testing. But EchoAPI takes it a step further:

1. Completely Free: EchoAPI offers all its features without any hidden costs or paywalls.
2. Enhanced Variable Management: EchoAPI supports visual variable extraction, adding more functionality to dynamic API testing.
3. 100% Postman Syntax Compatibility: Transitioning from Postman is seamless with EchoAPI, no need to learn new syntax.

This Postman test script runs perfectly in EchoAPI too.

// Status code test
pm.test("Status code is 200", function () {
  pm.response.to.have.status(200);
});
// Property check
pm.test("Property message contains EchoAPI", function () {
   var jsonData = pm.response.json();
   pm.expect(jsonData.message).to.contains("EchoAPI");
});
// Response content-type check
pm.test("Content-Type contains application/json", function () {
   pm.response.to.be.header("Content-Type", "application/json");
});

Scriptless Testing Simplified

One of the biggest pain points with many API clients, including Postman, is the need to write scripts for basic tests. Thunder Client addresses this with GUI-based test setups, and EchoAPI simplifies it even more. You can easily create tests for status codes, property validations, and content-type checks using simple drop-down menus.

Here's a sample of what GUI-based testing looks like in EchoAPI:

• Status Code Check: Configure this easily to ensure the response status is as expected.

Compare this to the script-based approach in Postman:

// Status code test
pm.test("Status code is 200", function () {
  pm.response.to.have.status(200);
});

While scripting is still useful for complex cases, EchoAPI’s GUI-based testing handles standard cases quickly, freeing you up to focus on more important tasks.

Getting Started with EchoAPI

Getting started with EchoAPI is super easy. Just download the extension from the Visual Studio Code Marketplace, and you’re good to go. We also have detailed documentation and community support available on our website.

Stay Connected

We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences with EchoAPI. Connect with us:

• Twitter: @EchoApiTeam

EchoAPI is more than just an alternative to Postman; it’s a streamlined, efficient upgrade designed to enhance your API testing workflow. Give it a try and see the difference for yourself!