When HTTP gets complicated...

v0.3.0 Try out the new curl import/exporting: saul myapi set --raw and saul myapi get --raw

Better Curl Saul is a way to simplify and organize api re-callability (if that's a word)

In a nutshell, this is... not my favorite UX:

curl -X POST "https://company.atlassian.net/rest/api/3/issue" \
  -H "Authorization: Basic $(echo -n 'user@company.com:api-token-here' | base64)" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Accept: application/json" \
  -H "X-Atlassian-Token: no-check" \
  -d '{
    "fields": {
      "project": {"key": "PROJ"},
      "summary": "API Bug: Users can'\''t login after deployment",
      "description": "Steps:\n1. Deploy v2.1.0\n2. Try login\n3. Gets 500 error\n\nExpected: Login works\nActual: Server error",
      "issuetype": {"name": "Bug"},
      "priority": {"name": "High"},
      "assignee": {"accountId": "123456:abcd-efgh-ijkl"},
      "labels": ["api", "login", "production"],
      "customfield_10001": "2024-01-15",
      "customfield_10002": {"value": "Backend Team"}
    }
  }'

Try this instead

Better-Curl Demo

The nice features you've never seen before

Workspace-based - Each API gets its own organized folder (reusable)
Inline editor - the edit command for any given field also supports $EDITOR
Smart variables - {@token} persists,{?name} prompts every time
Response filtering - Show only the fields you care about
Git-friendly - Store the preset workspaces on git
Unix composable - Script it, pipe it, shell it
TOML converter - JSON gets reorganized into TOML for readability
Saul Goodman - It has Saul Goodman on it.

Installation

Universal

curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/DeprecatedLuar/better-curl-saul/main/install.sh | bash

Homebrew

brew install deprecatedluar/tap/better-curl-saul

NixOS

nix profile install github:DeprecatedLuar/better-curl-saul?dir=nix-saul

Other Install Methods

Manual Install

Download binary for your OS from releases
Make executable: chmod +x saul-*
Move to PATH: sudo mv saul-* /usr/local/bin/saul

From Source (for try-harders)

git clone https://github.com/DeprecatedLuar/better-curl-saul.git
cd better-curl-saul
./other/install-local.sh  # Local development build

In case you already have Saul (basically gambling at this point)

saul temp set url https://raw.githubusercontent.com/DeprecatedLuar/better-curl-saul/main/install.sh && saul temp call --raw | bash

[!NOTE] Quick install auto-detects your system and downloads binaries or builds from source as fallback. Windows users: I don't know powershell I expect you to have bash 👍

Commands

Action	Targets	Description	Example
set	`url`, `method`, `timeout`, `body`, `header`, `query`, `variables`	Configure request settings and data	`saul api set url https://...`
edit	`body`, `header`, `query`	Edit inline or open in $EDITOR	`saul edit body user.name` / `saul edit body`
rm	`body`, `header`, `query`	Remove specific fields	`saul rm body user.email`
call	-	Execute the configured request	`saul call --dry-run`
get	`url`, `body`, `header`, `query`, `request`, `response`, `history`	View configuration or response data	`saul get body --raw`

Flags

Flag	Description	Example
--raw	Input/output raw format (curl/JSON)	`saul set --raw`
--body-only	Show only response body	`saul get response --body-only`
--header-only	Show only response headers	`saul get response --header-only`
--status-only	Show only response status	`saul get response --status-only`
--dry-run	Preview request without executing	`saul call --dry-run`
--call	Execute request immediately after set	`saul set body user=john --call`
-v	Prompt for specific variables on call	`saul call -v token name email`

Quick Start

# Create a test workspace
saul demo set url https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/1
saul demo set method GET
saul demo call

# Try with variables
saul api set url https://httpbin.org/post
saul api set method POST
saul api set body name={@your_name} message="{?message}" --call

# Change workspace on the fly:
saul myapi set url https://api.example.com
saul set method POST
saul set header Authorization="Bearer {@token}"
saul set body user.name={?username} user.email=john@test.com
saul my_other_api call # Execute some other random request

# View your configuration
saul get body --raw
saul get history # View response history

[!NOTE] Variable types:

soft-variables {?} prompt you at EVERY call

hard-variables {@} require manual update via -v flag or saul set variables name value

For nesting: use dot notation like obj.field=value

🗺️ Roadmap

Start watching Better Call Saul
Think of a bad joke
Workspace-based configuration
Smart variable system ({@} / {?})
In line terminal field editing
Response filtering
Response history
Terminal session memory
Bulk operations
Fix history response parsing and filtering
Flags (--raw, --body-only, --header-only, --status-only, --dry-run, --call)
GET specific response stuff from history (aka Headers/Body...)
'Proper' Windows support
curl command exportation/generation feature
Support pasting raw JSON template
Stateless command support with HttPie syntax
Homebrew and Scoop releases
User config system using github.com/DeprecatedLuar/toml-vars-letsgooo library
Add the eastereggs
Forward responses to another workspace
Polish code
Actual Documentation
Touch Grass (not a priority)
Think of more features
Think of even more features

Little Note

v1.0.0 Comming Soon - Production ready, minor QOL improvements otw.

Bug or feedback? I will be very happy if you let me know your thoughts.

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README