CLI API testing for developers & AI agents
API requests in one file you can read.
Make agents run cURLs better without the JSON mess. autocurl discovers routes in your backend code, writes them to a readable .autocurl file, and runs any request from the terminal.
From code to request.
Generate
Turn them into a portable, human-readable request file.
Execute
Pick a request and execute it directly from your terminal.
Built to stay out of your way.
Requests are stored as plain text in your project. Local discovery stays on your machine; when AI analysis is enabled, bounded source context is sent to Gemini using your key.
Version-controlled by default
The .autocurl file is plain text. Diffs and pull requests show exactly what changed — no JSON blobs, no binary formats.
Local by default
Deterministic discovery stays local. Optional Gemini analysis sends bounded source context to Google when enabled.
Open the file, read the file
Every .autocurl file is plain-text HTTP requests separated by comments. Inspect, edit, or share them in any text editor.
Readable without autocurl installed
Files are readable in any editor. Request execution and variable prompts are provided by the autocurl CLI.
One small CLI, instant startup
A single prebuilt Go binary with no background process, no runtime to install, and no dependency on the system curl executable.
Who is autocurl for?
Built for developers who prefer the speed, precision, and transparency of terminal workflows.
Backend Developers
Fast local API iteration
Generate requests straight from your Express, FastAPI, Gin, or other supported framework routes, without opening a heavy GUI tool or digging through shell history for long curl flags.
DevOps & Infrastructure
Headless & SSH environments
Run requests seamlessly over SSH on remote dev servers and staging boxes where no graphical browser or Electron app can exist.
API & Engineering Teams
Version-controlled collections
Keep requests inside the repo right alongside the API code. When endpoints update, your .autocurl files are updated and reviewed in the same PR.
Guides and comparisons
Let AI coding agents run your API requests
Give Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor a readable request file instead of hand-built curl commands.
GuideHow to test APIs from the terminal
curl, HTTPie, .http files, and autocurl: when each one fits a backend workflow.
GuideDiscover API routes from a codebase
How AST-first route discovery works, and where AI-assisted refinement helps.
ReferenceSupported frameworks
Express, NestJS, FastAPI, Flask, Django, Gin, Echo, Fiber, and net/http.
Compareautocurl vs Postman
A terminal-first, plain-text workflow compared with a full GUI API platform.
Compareautocurl vs curl
What autocurl adds on top of raw curl commands, and when plain curl is still the right call.
Frequently asked questions
What is autocurl and how does it relate to curl?
autocurl is a command-line API testing tool. It discovers routes in supported backend projects, writes them to a readable .autocurl request file, and executes the request you pick with its own built-in Go HTTP client. It does not shell out to the system curl binary; the name refers to the job it automates.
What is an .autocurl file?
An .autocurl file is a plain-text collection of HTTP requests separated by readable comments. It can be checked into git, reviewed in pull requests, and inspected in any text editor.
Can I run .autocurl requests without autocurl installed?
The .autocurl file is readable text, but executing requests and resolving variables requires autocurl's CLI.
How does autocurl compare to Postman or Insomnia?
Postman and Insomnia are full GUI API platforms with features such as test scripts, collection runners, and team workspaces. autocurl is narrower: a terminal tool with no account, whose requests live in your repository as plain text and are generated from your route code. See the autocurl vs Postman comparison in the docs for details.
Can AI coding agents use autocurl?
Yes. Agents can read and edit .autocurl files as plain text, and request selection and variable values are read from standard input, so an agent can run a request non-interactively, for example: printf '2\n42\n' | autocurl index.autocurl. autocurl is a CLI, not an MCP server.
Which backend frameworks are supported?
Route extraction currently supports Express and NestJS (JavaScript/TypeScript), FastAPI, Flask, and Django (Python), and Gin, Echo, Fiber, and net/http (Go). Discovery is AST-first and works offline; optional Gemini analysis with your own API key can help with routes the AST pass cannot resolve.
How do I install autocurl?
On macOS and Linux, run curl -fsSL https://autocurl.lol/install.sh | sh to install the latest stable GitHub Release. Set AUTOCURL_VERSION=vX.Y.Z to pin a version. Windows users can download autocurl.exe from GitHub Releases.
Try it on your next API.
Install autocurl, point it at your backend, and run your first request in a couple of minutes.