This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by pr0biex
Whether you’re building RESTful APIs or testing integrations with third-party services, API testing is a daily task for developers. Tools like Postman, Insomnia, and Thunder Client have their place, but they can feel heavy, bloated, or just too much for what should be a simple HTTP request.
Why RESTerX?
While popular tools are powerful, many are closed-source, come with telemetry, or eventually push users towards paid tiers. RESTerX is:
Completely Open Source
Lightweight and clean UI
Cross-platform CLI & Web UI
Privacy-first (no data sent externally)
It’s everything you need to test APIs without the bloat.
A Postman-like Web UI — Without the Bloat
The web interface is fast, responsive, and mirrors the familiar layout of Postman — with some major perks:
Dark/Light Mode Toggle
Request History saved in localStorage
Custom Headers, Auth, and Body Tabs
JSON/Raw/Form support with syntax highlighting
Real-time status, response time, and headers display
And yes, it looks awesome on both desktop and mobile.
To get started:
./restcli web
Open your browser at http://localhost:8080 (or your custom port).
Press enter or click to view image in full size
CLI Interface — For Terminal Lovers
Sometimes, you just want to stay in the terminal. RESTerX brings a menu-driven CLI that supports all HTTP methods and runs seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Launch it with:
./restcli
Choose your method, input your URL, and you’re ready to go. Fast, minimal, and distraction-free.
Built with Go for Performance
Go (Golang) is known for its speed, portability, and concurrency. RESTerX leverages these strengths to give you a tool that:
Starts instantly
Has a tiny memory footprint
Compiles to a single binary
No Electron. No memory hogs. Just solid performance.
Installation is Simple
If you have Go installed, just clone the repo and build:
git clone https://github.com/AkshatNaruka/RESTerX
cd RESTerX
go build -o restcli ./cmd
That’s it. No dependencies, no Docker, no drama.
Testing APIs Made Easy
RESTerX supports:
All standard HTTP methods: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, HEAD, DELETE
Bearer and Basic authentication
Custom headers
Request body in JSON, form data, or raw text
Formatted responses with copy-to-clipboard support
Want to test a local microservice or a public API? RESTerX handles both seamlessly.
Privacy by Design
No login. No telemetry. No cloud sync.
All your data stays in your browser (via localStorage) or on your machine.
In a time where even developer tools track usage and send data, RESTerX is a breath of fresh air.
Why Developers Love RESTerX
Zero learning curve — Designed to feel instantly familiar
Fast and responsive — Built with performance-first mindset
Hackable and extensible — Open-source with clear structure
Works offline — No network needed for local API testing
Whether you’re working on backend services, testing microservices, or just poking at REST APIs, RESTerX deserves a place in your toolkit.
Join the Community
RESTerX is open-source and lives on GitHub:
github.com/AkshatNaruka/RESTerX
We welcome contributors! Whether you want to add a feature, squash a bug, or improve documentation — your input is valuable.
Submit a pull request and be part of the RESTerX journey!
Final Thoughts
RESTerX brings the joy back to API testing. With a clean interface, powerful CLI, and zero clutter, it’s a must-have tool for developers who value performance, simplicity, and privacy.
Try it out. Star it. Contribute. And spread the word.
GitHub — github.com/AkshatNaruka/RESTerX
Feedback?
If you’ve used RESTerX or want to suggest a feature, open an issue on GitHub. Let’s make API testing better, together.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by pr0biex