Reqwest - Designing an Efficient API Testing Platform
Rishi Bajpai
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Posted Jan 19, 2026
Designed a fast, collaborative, affordable API testing platform for Reqwest.
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Reqwest
Designing an API testing platform that stays fast, collaborative, and affordable
The problem I started with
API testing tools have become heavier over time.
Small teams pay enterprise prices.
Desktop apps feel slow and bloated.
Collaboration is locked behind expensive plans.
New developers face a steep learning curve before sending their first request.
Most tools optimize for power users at scale, not for teams trying to move quickly without friction.
The goal with Reqwest was simple.
Build an API testing platform that feels light, fast, and collaborative by default.
My role
I worked as the website designer and platform UX designer.
My responsibility was not visual polish alone:
Designing the entire request and response experience
Reducing cognitive load for everyday API work
Making collaboration feel natural, not bolted on
Ensuring advanced features do not overwhelm first time users
This was a UX problem disguised as a developer tool.
Design philosophy
I followed three principles while designing Reqwest.
1. Speed is a user experience feature
Developers feel latency immediately.
I designed the platform to:
Run entirely in the browser
Keep interactions instant
Remove unnecessary steps between idea and request
Testing an API should feel as fast as typing it.
2. Collaboration should not be a premium add on
APIs are built by teams, not individuals.
I designed real time collaboration as a core experience so:
Teams can work together without friction
Changes are visible immediately
Sharing does not require exports or paid upgrades
Collaboration is part of the workflow, not a feature flag.
3. Power should reveal itself gradually
Advanced tools scare new users when exposed too early.
I designed the interface so:
Basic requests are easy to send
Advanced features appear when needed
Complexity grows with the user, not ahead of them
This keeps the tool approachable without limiting capability.
Key modules I designed
HTTP request builder
The heart of the platform.
I designed a request interface that:
Supports all common HTTP methods
Makes headers, params, and body editing intuitive
Feels familiar without copying existing tools
The goal was confidence, not novelty.
Response viewer
Responses are only useful if they are readable.
I designed multiple viewing modes so:
Developers can inspect raw responses
Structured data stays easy to scan
Debugging does not require switching tools
Clarity reduces mistakes.
History, environments, and collections
API testing is iterative.
I designed systems for:
Request and response history with search
Environment and global variables
Organized collections for teams
Everything stays reusable and traceable.
Collaboration and automation tools
Reqwest goes beyond manual testing.
I designed UX flows for:
Automated test suites
Mock server generation
Load testing
CI and CD integration
Auto generated API documentation
These features stay out of the way until they are needed.
Integrations
The platform was designed to fit into existing workflows through:
GitHub integration for versioning
CI and CD pipeline compatibility
Cloud storage for shared collections
The tool adapts to teams, not the other way around.
Tools and stack
I designed Reqwest using:
Figma for interface and interaction design
React and TypeScript for platform structure
Monaco Editor for code level interactions
Cursor for rapid iteration and refinement
The focus stayed on responsiveness and developer ergonomics.
The impact
The platform delivered what it set out to solve:
An affordable alternative to expensive API tools
A fast, browser based experience
Built in real time collaboration
A smoother learning curve for developers and small teams
Testing APIs stopped feeling heavy.