vscode-rest-client-generator

VS Code REST Client Generator

Generate .http files for inline API testing in VS Code without leaving the editor.

Core Workflow

1. Scan routes: Find all API route definitions
2. Extract metadata: Methods, paths, params, bodies
3. Create .http files: Organize by resource or single file
4. Add variables: Environment-specific values
5. Configure auth: Bearer, Basic, API Key
6. Include examples: Request bodies with sample data

File Structure Options

# Option 1: Single file
api-requests.http

# Option 2: By resource
http/
├── users.http
├── products.http
├── orders.http
└── auth.http

# Option 3: By environment
http/
├── local.http
├── staging.http
└── production.http

Basic .http File Syntax

### Get all users
GET {{baseUrl}}/users
Authorization: Bearer {{authToken}}

### Get user by ID
GET {{baseUrl}}/users/{{userId}}
Authorization: Bearer {{authToken}}

### Create user
POST {{baseUrl}}/users
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {{authToken}}

{
  "name": "John Doe",
  "email": "[email protected]"
}

### Update user
PUT {{baseUrl}}/users/{{userId}}
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {{authToken}}

{
  "name": "John Updated"
}

### Delete user
DELETE {{baseUrl}}/users/{{userId}}
Authorization: Bearer {{authToken}}

Environment Variables

# settings.json or .vscode/settings.json
# {
#   "rest-client.environmentVariables": {
#     "$shared": {
#       "version": "v1"
#     },
#     "local": {
#       "baseUrl": "http://localhost:3000/api",
#       "authToken": "local-dev-token"
#     },
#     "staging": {
#       "baseUrl": "https://staging-api.example.com",
#       "authToken": ""
#     },
#     "production": {
#       "baseUrl": "https://api.example.com",
#       "authToken": ""
#     }
#   }
# }

### Variables Reference
# Use Ctrl+Alt+E (Cmd+Alt+E on Mac) to switch environments
# {{$shared.version}} - shared across all environments
# {{baseUrl}} - from current environment
# {{$timestamp}} - current timestamp
# {{$randomInt min max}} - random integer
# {{$guid}} - random UUID