ShellReq API Client

A native, blazing-fast API client — built right inside Visual Studio Code.

No context switching. No external apps. Just pure, focused API testing.

Overview

ShellReq is a lightweight, fully integrated API testing client for Visual Studio Code. It lives in your sidebar, speaks your workflow's language, and stays out of your way — giving you everything you need to test, inspect, and manage HTTP requests without ever leaving your editor.

Designed for developers who want speed, clarity, and zero clutter.

Features

• Sidebar API Client — Full REST client in the VS Code activity bar, always one click away.
• Draggable Splitter — Resize the request and response panels by dragging the divider bar.
• Full HTTP Support — GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD with headers, params, and body.
• Key-Value Editors — Structured editors for query params and request headers.
• JSON Body Editor — Write and send JSON payloads; Format JSON prettifies the body tab.
• Smart Collections — Save requests, reload instantly, remove individual items, or clear all.
• Auto History — Last 50 requests saved automatically; click any entry to replay.
• Response Tools — Copy response body to clipboard, clear the response panel, view headers tab.
• URL Helpers — Auto-prepends https:// when the scheme is omitted; query params are merged into the URL.
• Configurable Timeout — Set shellreq.requestTimeoutMs in VS Code settings (default 30s).
• Persistent State — Last request, headers, params, and panel layout survive restarts and tab switches.
• Zero Runtime Dependencies — Uses Node.js built-in http/https — no axios, no supply chain risk.
• Built by Mahesh Shinde — Shown in the bottom-right corner of the panel.

Getting Started

1. Open the Client

Click the ⚡ ShellReq lightning bolt icon in the VS Code Activity Bar (left sidebar).

2. Build Your Request

| Section | What to Do | |---|---| | Method | Select GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE | | URL | Enter your endpoint URL | | Params | Add query parameters using the key-value editor | | Headers | Add request headers using the key-value editor | | Body | Enter JSON payloads for POST/PUT/PATCH requests |

3. Send and Inspect

Click ▶ SEND. The response panel shows:

• Status badge (green for 2xx, amber for 3xx, red for 4xx/5xx)
• Response time in milliseconds
• Payload size
• Formatted JSON body (or raw text)
• Full response headers

4. Resize Panels

Drag the splitter bar between the request and response panels to adjust the layout.

5. Save to Collections

Click ★ Save to Collection to permanently save the current request.

Commands

Access these via the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P):

| Command | Description | |---|---| | ShellReq: Focus API Client | Jump to the ShellReq sidebar | | ShellReq: Open API Client | Open the API client panel | | ShellReq: Send Request | Send the current request from the sidebar | | ShellReq: Clear Request History | Remove all history entries |

Settings

| Setting | Default | Description | |---|---|---| | shellreq.requestTimeoutMs | 30000 | HTTP request timeout in milliseconds |

Keyboard Shortcuts

| Shortcut | Action | |---|---| | Enter in URL field | Send request immediately | | Ctrl+Shift+Enter / Cmd+Shift+Enter | Send request (when ShellReq view is focused) |

Requirements

• Visual Studio Code ^1.85.0 or later
• No external runtime dependencies required

Development

From vscode-extension/shellreq-api-client:

npm install
npm run compile      # dev build → dist/extension.js
npm run package      # production build (minified)

Press F5 in VS Code to launch an Extension Development Host with the sidebar client loaded.

Changelog

v0.4.1

Fixes

• Reliable draggable splitbar (mouse/touch/pointer) with persisted panel height
• 5 MB response body cap for stability

v0.4.0

Critical fix

• Fixed webview HTML generation broken by esbuild (sidebar UI and scripts did not load). HTML is now built with safe array joins.

New features

• HEAD method, Format JSON body, New Request reset, Copy/Clear response, delete/clear collections
• Auto https:// URL prefix, configurable request timeout, ShellReq: Send Request command
• Webview retains context when hidden; improved host-not-found error messages

v0.3.1

Bug Fixes & Stability

• Fixed draggable splitbar events.
• Made API methods robust for POST requests lacking content lengths.
• Fixed UI components loading and history persistence.
• Improved defensive state handling.

v0.3.0

Bug Fixes & Stability

• Fixed webview tab switching and draggable splitter (works with mouse and touch).
• Stabilized message passing between webview and extension host to avoid lost updates.
• Mirrored webview runtime bundle in dist/ so the published extension receives the fixes.

Security & Maintenance

• Continued removal of risky runtime dependencies; networking uses Node built-ins.
• Temporary TypeScript suppressions removed from distribution build to ensure runtime stability.

v0.2.0

New Features

• Draggable splitter bar between request and response panels
• Enter key in the URL field triggers send immediately
• "Built by Mahesh Shinde" footer branding
• Improved response viewer and placeholder states

Security Improvements

• Removed axios runtime dependency
• Replaced networking with Node.js built-in http/https
• Fixed shell injection vulnerability from unsafe exec() usage
• Removed vulnerable dependency chain from shellreq

UI Improvements

• Cleaner compact layout
• Better status badges
• Improved typography and spacing
• Scrollable response body and headers
• Smoother tab switching and state sync

Stability Fixes

• Fixed request/response panel rendering bugs
• Improved persistence and collection syncing
• Fixed multiple TypeScript/runtime issues

v0.1.2 — Production Stability Overhaul

• Fixed UI and state synchronization bugs
• Improved bi-directional sync between extension host and Webview
• Added CSP for secure Webview execution
• Added loading spinner and disabled states during requests

v0.1.1

• Minor stability improvements and internal refactoring

v0.1.0 — Official Release

• Native Sidebar API Client
• Full HTTP method support
• Collections and request history

v0.0.3 — Sidebar Experience

• Introduced sidebar-first layout
• Added persistent storage for collections and history

Contributing

Contributions, bug reports, and feature requests are welcome!

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch:

git checkout -b feature/your-feature

3. Commit your changes and open a Pull Request

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

Built by Mahesh Shinde

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