January 2014 Summaries

Launching Chrome apps has been streamlined with the introduction of the new Chrome apps launcher, which allows users to bypass the browser and keep a persistent icon in the taskbar or dock for easier access. Previously, users had to navigate through the default app launcher on the new tab page, which was cumbersome. This change is particularly beneficial for accessing apps like Postman, as users can now open it directly from the taskbar or dock across different operating systems. On OS X and Windows, users can open Postman through the launcher and keep it permanently accessible by right-clicking and selecting options to pin it, while on Ubuntu, the application can be locked to the launcher after being accessed from Dash.

The text discusses the process of handling self-signed SSL certificates in the Postman Chrome app and provides solutions to avoid SSL errors when accessing API endpoints. It highlights that self-signed certificates are commonly used in testing and development environments but are not verified by trusted authorities, leading to errors like a 500 error in Chrome. The text outlines different procedures for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux systems to manage and trust these certificates by importing them into the respective system's certificate management tools. This process involves exporting the certificate from the browser, saving it to the disk, and importing it into the system's Trusted Root Certification Authorities, which allows users to bypass SSL warnings in Chrome. The text advises ensuring the certificate's origin is from a verified IP and notes that this method is suitable for localhost certificates as well.

Chrome's Developer Tools are crucial for modern web development, and while they are accessible in the Postman packaged app, enabling them requires a few steps. Users need to navigate to chrome://flags, search for "packed," enable the "Enable debugging for packed apps" setting, and restart Chrome. Developer Tools can then be accessed by right-clicking within Postman and selecting "inspect element," or via chrome://inspect/#apps, clicking "inspect" under the Postman header. With Developer Tools enabled, users can leverage the Network Tools tab and console for detailed request information and test script debugging, enhancing Postman's capabilities for debugging and logging.

Postman allows users to enhance their API testing and development workflows by writing scripts that execute before or after receiving a server response, enabling tasks such as extracting values from responses and storing them in environment or global variables. This capability simplifies managing API state by automating the process of setting variables like session tokens and user IDs, which would otherwise be manual and cumbersome. By using test scripts, users can automate the extraction and application of these variables, facilitating a seamless flow of chained API requests that closely align with specific use cases. The process is exemplified by creating an environment, sending a GET request to retrieve a session token from a JSON response, and using that token in a subsequent POST request, demonstrating how Postman's scripting capabilities can efficiently manage request variables and streamline complex API interactions. Users are encouraged to explore further through sample collections, documentation, and upcoming tutorials.

Fred Brooks' insights on software project time allocation highlight the significant portion dedicated to testing, yet practical constraints often lead to its neglect, posing hidden costs and challenges, particularly for startups and small teams. Addressing these issues, Postman has introduced the Jetpacks upgrade, simplifying API testing with features like easy test addition, unlimited test iterations, request chaining, and mock data testing without setup hassles. Jetpacks enhances API workflow and reduces the need for extensive coding, offering a user-friendly interface with a snippets sidebar for common scenarios. Available for $9.99, with free upgrades for contributors, Jetpacks aims to streamline development, boost productivity, and ensure robust API performance.