September 2013 Summaries

An update for the legacy branch of Postman (v0.8.3) on the Chrome Web Store introduces a bulk export feature, allowing users to combine all Postman data into one file for easier importation into newer versions. The update addresses challenges posed by Chrome's sandboxed environment, which affects cookie-based authentication in API testing due to restrictions on accessing browser-stored cookies and sending custom cookie headers. Although a workaround using the Postman Proxy is possible, it's considered cumbersome, and users are advised to keep using v0.8.x if their APIs rely on cookies. Additionally, some users have reported the absence of the Network Inspector, a problem that can be resolved by enabling debugging for packed apps in Chrome's flags settings. Users are encouraged to report any issues on GitHub or Twitter as responses to reviews are not supported in the Web Store.

Postman's latest release introduces a host of new features aimed at enhancing productivity in API testing, leveraging the evolving Chrome apps platform. The update includes the ability to organize requests within sub-collections, binary file uploads without size restrictions, and the option to save responses directly to disk, which is particularly useful for handling PDFs, images, or other binary files. Users can now set environment and global values via a right-click menu, utilize markdown support for request descriptions, and benefit from improved search functionality within history and collections. Additional enhancements include autocomplete support for the Content-Type header and other tweaks, with future updates promising Google Drive syncing and socket connection support. Existing users can export their collections and environments for easy transition to the new version, while the legacy version will soon offer a bulk export option. The Postman homepage is also receiving a redesign, and users are encouraged to report any bugs they encounter.