As API development becomes more integral to modern software, developers need efficient tools to test, manage, and document APIs without unnecessary barriers. The built-in HTTP client in IntelliJ IDEA is a great tool for testing APIs, but it’s only available in the paid version, leaving developers who rely on the free Community Edition searching for alternatives. That’s where Apidog Fast Request comes in—a powerful, free plugin that not only matches the features of IntelliJ HTTP Client but goes above and beyond, making API workflows smoother and more accessible.

Why Developers Need a Free Alternative to IntelliJ HTTP Client

While IntelliJ IDEA’s HTTP client is robust, the cost and feature limitations in the Community Edition can hinder many developers. Some of the primary reasons why developers are looking for alternatives include:

• Cost: The built-in HTTP client is unavailable in the free Community Edition of IntelliJ IDEA.
• Limited Features: Developers often require advanced testing, debugging, and customization capabilities that IntelliJ’s default tool lacks.
• Customization: Many alternative tools offer more flexibility to suit unique project requirements.
• Team Accessibility: Free tools make collaboration easier by eliminating licensing hurdles, especially in team environments.

Luckily, Apidog Fast Request is here to fill that gap.

What is Apidog Fast Request?

Apidog Fast Request is a feature-rich, free plugin for IntelliJ IDEA, designed to help developers test, manage, and document APIs—all within their IDE. Unlike the built-in HTTP client, which is limited to IntelliJ’s paid version, Apidog Fast Request is available for all users, including those using IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition. With Apidog Fast Request, you can do everything you need to test and manage APIs while eliminating the need for third-party tools.

Key Benefits of Apidog Fast Request

1. Free and Accessible: Unlike the IntelliJ HTTP client, Apidog Fast Request is completely free for all IntelliJ IDEA users, including those on the Community Edition. This ensures that developers can access advanced API features without having to pay for the Ultimate Edition or additional software.

2. Unified API Development Environment: With Apidog Fast Request, you can test, debug, and manage APIs all in one place. You don’t need to switch between different tools like Postman or Swagger—everything is integrated into your IntelliJ environment.

3. Seamless Endpoint Detection: Automatically detect API endpoints in Java and Kotlin projects, generate OpenAPI specifications, and populate request parameters without writing extra annotations. This reduces manual errors and speeds up your workflow.

4. Regular Updates: Apidog Fast Request is regularly updated, ensuring it meets the evolving needs of API developers and integrates smoothly with the latest frameworks.

5. Enhanced Collaboration: With its simple setup and free accessibility, Apidog Fast Request enables seamless collaboration across teams, making it easier to manage API documentation and testing.

Key Features of Apidog Fast Request

1. API Debugging Made Easy

• One-Click Endpoint Detection: Apidog Fast Request automatically detects endpoints in your code and allows you to send requests with a single click. This eliminates the need to juggle multiple tools like Postman, simplifying your workflow.

• Automatic Request Parameters: When working with Spring Framework or other popular stacks, the plugin auto-populates request parameters, ensuring that your requests are accurate and saving time in debugging.

• Comprehensive Response Parsing: Whether you’re dealing with JSON, XML, or even compressed responses like Gzip, Apidog Fast Request automatically parses and displays the response in an easy-to-read format.

• History and Cookies Management: With built-in request history tracking and cookie management, you can efficiently manage session data and revisit past requests without hassle.

2. Generate API Specifications Automatically

Apidog Fast Request takes the complexity out of generating API specifications. The tool automatically generates OpenAPI (Swagger) specifications, saving you the time and effort of manually writing out detailed API documentation. It also recognizes and processes annotations like @RestController and @RequestMapping, helping you stay in sync with your project’s framework.

3. Effortless API Documentation

Once you’ve created your API specifications, Apidog Fast Request allows you to publish your documentation with just one click. Whether you need public access or specific controls like password protection or IP whitelisting, Apidog provides flexible options to meet your team’s needs.

How to Get Started with Apidog Fast Request?

Here’s how you can start using Apidog Fast Request in IntelliJ IDEA:

Step 1: Install the Plugin

• Open IntelliJ IDEA and navigate to File > Settings > Plugins.

• Search for “Apidog Fast Request” and click “Install.”

• Alternatively, download it directly from the JetBrains Marketplace.

Step 2: Auto-Detect API Endpoints

• Apidog Fast Request will scan your project, listing endpoints in the right panel with a clear folder structure.

• You can test each endpoint and view the formatted API responses for quick debugging.

Step 3: Test Endpoints with One Click

• The plugin automatically populates request parameters. You can customize them, along with headers, paths, cookies, and more, and send requests with just one click.

• Configure different environments by configuring the base URL under "Base URL".

• Set up reusable global parameters like tokens under "Global Params" for faster API testing.

• Manage cookies and check your request history via the "Cookies" and "History" tabs.

Step 4: Upload the Generated API specification to Apidog（Optional）

Apidog is an all-in-one API development tool designed to streamline the processes of designing, documenting, testing, and managing APIs. It is a comprehensive platform that helps developers and teams collaborate more efficiently throughout the entire API lifecycle. You can easily upload your generated API specification from IDEA to Apidog using Apidog Fast Request. To do that, follow these steps:

• Download Apidog and sign up for an account (if you don't have an account yet).

• Login into your Apidog account, then go to the account settings.

• Find "APl Access Token" to create a new token. Copy the token.

• Go back to your IDEA. In project settings(Ctrl Alt S), find "Apidog Fast Request". Click on "Upload to Apidog“>"API Access Token". Paste the copied token and click "Apply".

• Navigate to your IDEA project, right click and you will see an option "Upload to Apidog".

• On the pop-out window, choose the upload destination.

• Back to the Apidog app, you will see the endpoint from your IDEA project has been documented with a well-organized structure, and you can publish it online easily. (Tip: You can debug or test the endpoints directly on Apidog, or set up test scenarios to run automatically.)

Step 5: Publish API Documentation（Optional）

• To make your API documentation available online, go to "Share Docs" within your Apidog dashboard and click "Publish Docs Sites".

• Customize your domain and any other settings, then hit "Publish right now*"*.

• When published, you’ll get a link that you can share with your team for easy collaboration or with anyone needing access to your API documentation.

Conclusion

Apidog Fast Request is the best free alternative to the IntelliJ HTTP client for developers who need a cost-effective, feature-packed tool to streamline their API development process. By offering automatic endpoint detection, OpenAPI specification generation, seamless debugging, and API documentation integration, Apidog Fast Request empowers developers to manage their APIs without leaving their IDE. Whether you’re using IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition or the Ultimate Edition, Apidog Fast Request provides everything you need to elevate your API testing and documentation workflow—at no cost.

Get started today and experience the power of Apidog Fast Request in your development environment!

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