YAAK to Postman: Bridging API Client Gaps with a Simple CLI Tool

In today's diverse development landscape, teams often face challenges when different team members prefer different API client tools. As a developer working in a large enterprise, I've encountered this firsthand. While I'm a devoted YAAK user, appreciating its clean interface and powerful features, I found myself in a position where I needed to share API collections with team members who use other tools like Postman or Insomnia.

The Challenge

YAAK, despite its excellent features, currently doesn't provide native support for exporting collections in Postman's format - the de facto standard that most API clients can import. This limitation created a workflow bottleneck, especially when managing and sharing API collections across large development teams.

Why a CLI Solution?

While developing a YAAK plugin might seem like an obvious solution, there are several reasons why I chose to create a CLI tool instead:

1. Immediate Accessibility: YAAK's plugin system currently lacks a central repository, making distribution and discovery challenging

2. Simplified Installation: Users can install the tool globally with a single npm command, avoiding the complexity of plugin configuration

3. Universal Usage: The CLI can be integrated into various workflows and automation scripts

4. Zero Configuration: No need to modify YAAK settings or manage plugin paths

The Solution: yaak2postman

yaak2postman is a straightforward CLI tool that converts YAAK exported files into Postman collections and environments. It preserves all your carefully crafted configurations, including:

• Folder structures

• Request details

• Environment variables

• Authentication settings

Getting Started

Installation is as simple as running:

npm install -g @bitecraft/yaak2postman

Converting your YAAK exports is just one command away:

yaak2postman path/to/yaak-file.json

You can also convert only collections or environments:

yaak2postman collection path/to/yaak-file.json
yaak2postman env path/to/yaak-file.json

Resources

• GitHub Repository: https://github.com/BiteCraft/yaak2postman

• NPM Package: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@bitecraft/yaak2postman

Final Thoughts

This tool embodies a practical solution to a real-world problem. It allows developers to use their preferred API client while maintaining seamless collaboration with team members. By bridging the gap between YAAK and other API clients, we've eliminated a significant friction point in our development workflow.