# Dragonfly

> Dragonfly is a free, open-source REST API client that runs inside Visual Studio
> Code. It sends HTTP requests, organizes them into collections, and can scan your
> Express and Next.js codebase to build a collection of requests automatically,
> foldered to match your project. Everything stays on the user's machine: no
> account, no server, no telemetry.

## What it does

Most API clients hand you an empty request and let you type the URL yourself.
Dragonfly reads your project first: run a scan and it picks up your Express and
Next.js routes (App Router and Pages Router), then turns them into a collection
foldered to match your codebase, so the endpoints you already wrote are ready to
send. The response opens next to your code with its status, size and timing.
Everything stays on your machine. No account, no sign-in, no paid tier.

## Features

- Request builder: method, URL, params, headers, body and auth, docked in the Activity Bar.
- Route discovery: scan a workspace for Express and Next.js routes (App Router and Pages Router) and build a collection from them.
- Collections foldered to match your codebase structure.
- Collection import: Postman (v1 and v2), Thunder Client, Insomnia and HAR, with folders, headers, query params and bodies intact.
- OpenAPI and Swagger import: one request per operation, grouped into folders by tag.
- cURL import: paste a command and the form fills itself in.
- Environments with {{variable}} substitution, one click to switch.
- Auth: Bearer Token, API Key and Basic Auth, secrets kept in VS Code secure storage.
- Copy any request as cURL, Node.js, Python, Go, PHP, Java or Rust.
- Request history: every request you send is saved to Activity.

## Auth and code export

Auth types are Bearer Token, API Key and Basic Auth. The secret half of each is
stored in VS Code secure storage, never written into a collection file. Any
request can be copied out as cURL, Node.js, Python, Go, PHP, Java or Rust.

## How it compares

Dragonfly runs in the VS Code sidebar, builds requests by scanning your Express
and Next.js code, keeps auth secrets in VS Code secure storage, and is free and
MIT licensed. Postman is a separate app with sign-in and paid plans; Thunder
Client and Insomnia do not read your code to build requests.

## FAQ

### How do I test an API endpoint inside VS Code?
Install Dragonfly and open it from the Activity Bar. Build the request in the sidebar (method, URL, headers, body, auth) and press Send. The response shows up next to your code.

### Can it find the API routes in my project automatically?
Yes. Run Scan Workspace for Routes and it parses your source for Express and Next.js routes, then builds a collection from what it finds, foldered to match your codebase.

### Which frameworks does route discovery support?
Express and Next.js, covering both the App Router and the Pages Router. For anything else, import OpenAPI, a Postman/Thunder Client/Insomnia collection, HAR, or cURL.

### Where does my data go?
Everything stays on your machine. Collections, environments and history live in VS Code storage, and tokens go into VS Code secure storage. No account, no server, no telemetry.

### Is it free?
Yes. No account, no paid tier, no telemetry. MIT licensed.

## Install

- VS Code Marketplace: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=saurabhwankhade.dragonfly
- Quick Open: ext install saurabhwankhade.dragonfly

## Pages

- [Overview](https://usedragonfly.xyz/welcome.md): what Dragonfly does, features, comparison, FAQ.
- [Try a request](https://usedragonfly.xyz/dragonfly.md): the in-editor request builder and how to test an API.
- [Changelog](https://usedragonfly.xyz/changelog.md): release notes (also available as RSS at https://usedragonfly.xyz/rss.xml).

## Key facts

- Category: developer tool, VS Code extension, REST API client, Postman alternative.
- Differentiators: builds requests by scanning Express and Next.js code; collection folders mirror your codebase; auth secrets in VS Code secure storage; free and MIT licensed.
- Imports: Postman, Thunder Client, Insomnia, HAR, OpenAPI/Swagger, cURL.
- Pricing: free, no paid tier, no telemetry, MIT licensed.
- Platform: Visual Studio Code (Marketplace ID saurabhwankhade.dragonfly).
- Contact: saurowankhade@gmail.com