[danpalmer]

Auxl looks good in that respect but maybe I wasn't clear enough in my question.

What's the typical use-case of apps that let you make requests to APIs via a GUI?

I've used them _briefly_ as part of a development process before, but never enough to justify buying one (I'd just spend a couple of minutes longer to write a Python script). Is that what most people are using them for? Am I missing a use-case?

[vbsteven]

It’s a tool in a developers toolbox. Some use it, some don’t. Similar to the debugger vs printf debate.

These apps can be useful for testing, developing and exploring APIs and they can function as GUI for services that don’t have one.

For example a former client used Postman as a client to perform administrative tasks for which there was no UI yet. Most of these tools have feature to save common request flows and share them with your team.

[kodah]

I think the market here is people that can't or won't crank out a script or CLI to do the same thing. That audience has become relatively fair in size as programming has grown.

[grantc]

Paw's great for figuring out someone else's poorly documented API. Sure I could code up the equivalent, but not going to waste cycles reinventing a tool that pays for itself in less than an hour of saved time

[smoldesu]

I think it's a creature-comfort for webdevs who don't like getting their hands dirty.