Postman Cookbook: Hand-picked Solutions and Techniques across API Design, Testing, Performance, Networking, Kubernetes and Integration
By Oliver James
()
About this ebook
For developers, programmers, and DevOps engineers venturing into the hard world of API development, the "Postman Cookbook" becomes a must-read. This short solutions book offers recipes and troubleshooting approaches to address typical API lifecycle management challenges. Using Postman's rich features, readers of all skill levels wil
Related to Postman Cookbook
Related ebooks
Postman Cookbook Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMastering Postman: A Comprehensive Guide to Building End-to-End APIs with Testing, Integration and Automation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPython Networking Solutions Guide: Leverage the Power of Python to Automate and Maintain your Network Environment (English Edition) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsASP.NET Web API Security Essentials Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPHP 7 Programming Blueprints Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLearning Phalcon PHP Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBuilding REST APIs with Flask: Create Python Web Services with MySQL Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJavaScript Concurrency Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJavaScript Unlocked Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mastering Backbone.js Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBuilding a RESTful Web Service with Spring Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Python Web Scraping - Second Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5WebSocket Essentials – Building Apps with HTML5 WebSockets Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCloud Native Integration with Apache Camel: Building Agile and Scalable Integrations for Kubernetes Platforms Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNginx Troubleshooting Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLearning SaltStack Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5C++ Networking 101: Unlocking Sockets, Protocols, VPNs, and Asynchronous I/O with 75+ sample programs Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsC++ Networking 101 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEffective Python Penetration Testing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPractical OneOps Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAPI Design for C++ Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Instant Apache Camel Messaging System Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHands-On Microservices with Kubernetes: Build, deploy, and manage scalable microservices on Kubernetes Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mastering Go Network Automation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMastering Go Network Automation: Automating Networks, Container Orchestration, Kubernetes with Puppet, Vegeta and Apache JMeter Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIT Inventory and Resource Management with OCS Inventory NG 1.02 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsInstant Apache Camel Message Routing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPractical ASP.NET Web API Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Internet & Web For You
Cybersecurity For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5More Porn - Faster!: 50 Tips & Tools for Faster and More Efficient Porn Browsing Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Coding For Dummies Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Mega Box: The Ultimate Guide to the Best Free Resources on the Internet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The $1,000,000 Web Designer Guide: A Practical Guide for Wealth and Freedom as an Online Freelancer Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Coding All-in-One For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Grokking Algorithms: An illustrated guide for programmers and other curious people Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beginner's Guide To Starting An Etsy Print-On-Demand Shop Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings200+ Ways to Protect Your Privacy: Simple Ways to Prevent Hacks and Protect Your Privacy--On and Offline Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Logo Brainstorm Book: A Comprehensive Guide for Exploring Design Directions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hacking : The Ultimate Comprehensive Step-By-Step Guide to the Basics of Ethical Hacking Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How To Start A Podcast Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Digital Marketing Handbook: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Websites That Sell Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Learn JavaScript in 24 Hours Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Designer's Web Handbook: What You Need to Know to Create for the Web Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRemote/WebCam Notarization : Basic Understanding Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Six Figure Blogging Blueprint Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Beginner's Affiliate Marketing Blueprint Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Disappear and Live Off the Grid: A CIA Insider's Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Internet Is Not What You Think It Is: A History, a Philosophy, a Warning Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wireless Hacking 101 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How To Start A Profitable Authority Blog In Under One Hour Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How To Make Money Blogging: How I Replaced My Day-Job With My Blog and How You Can Start A Blog Today Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Postman Cookbook
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Postman Cookbook - Oliver James
Postman Cookbook
Hand-picked Solutions and Techniques across API Design, Testing, Performance, Networking, Kubernetes and Integration
Oliver James
Preface
For developers, programmers, and DevOps engineers venturing into the hard world of API development, the Postman Cookbook
becomes a must-read. This short solutions book offers recipes and troubleshooting approaches to address typical API lifecycle management challenges. Using Postman's rich features, readers of all skill levels will learn how to create APIs that will improve workflows, increase productivity, and lead to operational success.
The book covers a wide range of subjects, from the fundamentals of web-based communication to more complex topics including protocol stacks, secure communication protocols, and the dynamics of WebSocket interactions. The following sections cover advanced subjects such as custom protocol handling, network troubleshooting, and proxy management, allowing readers to confidently solve complex networking challenges.
This book covers more than simply the technical aspects of Kubernetes. It discusses the influence of security measures, maximizing performance, and successful scaling solutions. These features are critical for microservice architectures and cloud-native apps. This resource teaches early developers and programmers the foundations of API testing and development, including networking and protocols.
Upon completion of this book, readers will have a thorough understanding of API development with Postman. They will be able to confidently handle the problems of modern computing.
In this book you will learn to:
Enable real-time API connectivity for dynamic apps using WebSocket capability.
Protect API endpoints from security flaws by configuring SSL/TLS in Postman.
Define, implement, and debug bespoke protocols to connect proprietary systems to Postman.
Master the art of network optimisation and troubleshooting using Postman to ensure your API runs smoothly.
Use Postman's proxy management to safely access APIs in a variety of network settings.
Test APIs in Kubernetes and improve the deployment and development of microservices.
Exploit Postman's features for thorough API tracking, logging, and analysis of performance.
Secure API access with Postman's advanced authentication flows—OAuth, JWT, and more.
Streamline your workflows and elevate your API development using Postman's environment and variable management.
Become proficient in HTTP and HTTPS protocols to establish safe and efficient data transfers and API calls.
Prologue
Being the author of the Postman Cookbook,
my goal is to simplify the intricate realm of API development and share with you a collection of tactics, pointers, and methods that have played a significant role in my development experience. In this book, I aim to impart all the wisdom I've gained, with a particular emphasis on how to make Postman, a vital component of the API ecosystem, approachable and motivating for programmers of all stripes.
Actually, I was more driven by sheer necessity than genuine interest when I initially came across Postman. There was a clear need for a tool that could do more than simply submit queries as the difficulties of API development increased. What began as a hesitant exploration has now evolved into a profound admiration for Postman's capabilities. Postman was like a Swiss Army knife for API development; it helped me design API calls, write tests, and automate operations.
Troubles did arise along the way. There were a lot of obstacles that seemed insurmountable, such as understanding HTTP and HTTPS, protecting connections using SSL and TLS, and fixing network problems. But there was a chance to learn and develop from every difficulty. In order to help you overcome obstacles and reach milestones in your API development journey, this book condenses those learnings into practical recipes.
Covering everything from the basics of secure communication and the HTTP/HTTPS protocols to more complex subjects like WebSocket interactions and custom protocol handling, the Postman Cookbook
is designed to walk you through every aspect of API development. It's written from the heartfelt belief that grasping these ideas is critical to maximising Postman's potential.
There is a strong focus on security, which is essential when developing APIs. In this book, you will find out how to set up SSL/TLS in Postman for secure endpoints and how to build sophisticated authentication procedures to safeguard your APIs. The book also digs into network troubleshooting and optimisation, giving you the tools to diagnose and improve API performance.
As a developer working with APIs, one of the most satisfying things is seeing your work implemented in a cloud-native or microservices architecture. You will get the necessary skills to confidently deploy, manage, and scale APIs after reading the chapters on Kubernetes, logging, and monitoring.
All of the recipes in this book are meant to be a starting point that you can add to your existing body of knowledge and expertise. There are practical solutions that you can put into practice right now, whether you're dealing with network problems, managing proxies, or growing microservices.
Putting this book together has been an adventure in self-discovery, education, and communication. It is my sincere wish that the Postman Cookbook
becomes an integral part of your API development journey, rather than only a reference. My sincere wish is that this book provides you with the answers you're looking for and motivates you to keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the ever-changing world of API development.
I hope that by sharing these ideas, you will be better able to understand and handle the challenges of API development and will be motivated to explore Postman's capabilities to their fullest potential.
Copyright © 2024 by GitforGits
All rights reserved. This book is protected under copyright laws and no part of it may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or transmission of this work may result in civil and criminal penalties and will be dealt with in the respective jurisdiction at anywhere in India, in accordance with the applicable copyright laws.
Published by: GitforGits
Publisher: Sonal Dhandre
www.gitforgits.com
support@gitforgits.com
Printed in India
First Printing: February 2024
Cover Design by: Kitten Publishing
For permission to use material from this book, please contact GitforGits at support@gitforgits.com.
Content
Preface
Acknowledgement
Chapter 1: Up and Running with Postman
Introduction
Recipe 1: Installing and Setting Up Postman
Situation
Practical Solution
Download Postman for Linux
Extract the Postman Archive
Launching Postman
Initial Configuration
Verify the Setup
Recipe 2: Understanding the Postman Interface
Situation
Practical Solution
Workspace Overview
Building and Sending Requests
Collections and Environments
History and APIs
Using Console and Visualizer
Search and Settings
Recipe 3: Making Your First API Request
Situation
Practical Solution
Create a New Request
Setup the Request
Send the Request
Recipe 4: Managing Collections and Environments
Situation
Practical Solution
Recipe 5: Sharing and Importing Collections
Situation
Practical Solution
Recipe 6: Utilizing Global Variables and Initial Values
Situation
Practical Solution
Open the Manage Environments Window
Add Global Variables
Using Global Variables in Requests
Recipe 7: Basic Debugging with Postman Console
Situation
Practical Solution
Open Postman Console
Send API Request
Review Console Output
Adjust and Retry
Summary
Chapter 2: Designing Simple to Complex APIs
Introduction
Recipe 1: Creating and Documenting RESTful APIs
Situation
Practical Solution
Define API Endpoints
Create Requests in Postman
Document the API
Recipe 2: Mock Servers and Simulating API Responses
Situation
Practical Solution
Create Mock Server in Postman
Define Mock Responses
Utilize the Mock Server
Recipe 3: Version Control for APIs
Situation
Practical Solution
Utilize Postman's Version Tagging
Export and Store Collections in Version Control Systems
Integrate Changes and Collaborate
Leverage for Documentation
Recipe 4: Prototyping Backend APIs
Situation
Practical Solution
Setting up Mock Server Responses
Simulating Real-World Scenarios with Scripting
Iterating Based on Feedback
Documenting Prototyping Decisions
Recipe 5: Effective Use of Postman for API Design
Situation
Practical Solution
Organizing API Endpoints into Collections
Employing Environments for Flexible Configuration
Leverage Mock Servers for Rapid Prototyping
Integrate Tests for Design Validation
Recipe 6: Feedback Loops with Mock Servers
Situation
Practical Solution
Creating Mock Server
Setting up Mock Responses for User Creation and Verification
Sharing Mock Server for Feedback
Collecting and Implementing Feedback
Summary
Chapter 3: Advanced API Requests and Workflows
Introduction
Recipe 1: Advanced Request Chaining Techniques
Situation
Practical Solution
Creating New User Request
Extracting User ID
Fetching User Details with User ID
Chaining Requests
Recipe 2: Scripting Pre-request and Test Scripts
Situation
Practical Solution
Dynamically Set Request Data
Validating the Response with Test Scripts
Recipe 3: Dynamic Variables in API Testing
Situation
Practical Solution
Incorporating Dynamic Variables in Request Data
Testing with Dynamic Variables
Leveraging Dynamic Data for Comprehensive Testing
Recipe 4: Building Complex Workflows
Situation
Practical Solution
Define Workflow
Chain Requests using Variables
Configure Subsequent Requests
Automate the Workflow Execution
Verify and Iterate
Recipe 5: Performing Data-Driven Testing
Situation
Practical Solution
Prepare Data File
Setup Your Request for Data-Driven Testing
Utilize Collection Runner for Data-Driven Testing
Analyze Results
Recipe 6: Managing Workflows with Collection Runner
Situation
Practical Solution
Prepare Collection
Configuring Collection Runner
Running Tests
Analyzing Results
Recipe 7: Error Handling and Debugging Scripts
Situation
Practical Solution
Implementing Error Handling in Test Scripts
Using Postman Console for Debugging
Iterative Debugging with Postman’s Visualizer
Summary
Chapter 4. Testing and Securing APIs
Introduction
Recipe 1: Writing Effective API Tests
Situation
Practical Solution
Define Clear Test Objectives
Create Test Cases in Postman
Incorporate Negative Testing
Utilize Dynamic Data and Variables
Automate and Integrate Tests
Recipe 2: Performing Data-Driven Test
Situation
Practical Solution
Prepare Data File
Configure Request in Postman
Use Collection Runner for Data-Driven Testing
Recipe 3: Implementing OAuth 2.0 and API Keys
Situation
Practical Solution
Obtain OAuth 2.0 Credentials
Configuring OAuth 2.0 in Postman
Using the Token
Obtaining an API Key
Configuring API Key in Postman
Recipe 4: Setting up Automated REST API Test
Situation
Practical Solution
Organize Tests in Postman
Export Postman Collection
Install Newman
Run Collection Using Newman
Analyze Test Results
Recipe 5: Securing API Call Sequences
Situation
Practical Solution
Implement Strong Authentication and Authorization Mechanisms
Use HTTPS for API Calls
Validate and Sanitize Input Data
Implement Rate Limiting and Monitoring
Use Postman Tests for Security Assertions
Sequence Automation with Collection Runner
Recipe 6: Validate REST API Parameters
Situation
Practical Solution
Defining Parameter Validation Rules
Implementing Validation in API
Testing Parameter Validation with Postman
Automating Validation Tests
Continuous Integration for Ongoing Validation
Recipe 7: Continuous Integration (CI) Testing with Newman
Situation
Practical Solution
Export Postman Collection and Environment
Install Newman in CI Environment
Configure Newman to Run Collection
Handle Test Results
Integrate Newman into CI Services
Summary
Chapter 5. Managing GraphQL and gRPC with Postman
Introduction
Recipe 1: Executing GraphQL Queries and Mutations
Situation
Practical Solution
Setting up Postman Environment for GraphQL
Executing GraphQL Query
Executing GraphQL Mutation
Analyzing