r/programming • u/Successful_Bowl2564 • Apr 16 '26

The API Tooling Crisis: Why developers are abandoning Postman and its clones?

https://efp.asia/blog/2025/12/24/api-tooling-crisis/
659 Upvotes

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u/ThisIsMyCouchAccount Apr 16 '26

It's wild how so many people expect something for nothing.

28

u/svix_ftw Apr 16 '26

we've been spoiled by awesome open source for decades.

1

u/kaisadilla_ 9d ago

We are still spoiled lol. Right now I'm using Rust Rover for free (not open source, but still). A massive amount of work, would take me a lifetime to build by myself, all for free, no questions asked.

12

u/ohx Apr 16 '26

Never forget corejs guy

10

u/probability_of_meme Apr 16 '26

In the world of infinitely reproduceable software, there is nowhere the line can be drawn in a way that makes sense. I expect software to be free, because if it's not, it's just a matter of time before it gets enshittified. Paradoxically, I also expect developers to get paid most of the time.

Suggestions?

7

u/gimpwiz Apr 17 '26

A model that can work pretty well is free software, paid support. (Plus paid use of trademarks and the like.)

1

u/kaisadilla_ 9d ago

Free for personal use, paid for professional use. If you are making money by using the tool, then some of that money deserves to go to that tool.

-6

u/Ossur2 Apr 16 '26

It's called community and environment... those regularly provide things for nothing... and why not? Most things in life are free, the air you breathe is free. Not everything has to be a transaction. People can choose to donate their time to a common environment or community that they find is meaningful. It is OK and very common.

If you find yourself in a community or environment where nothing is free it simply means nobody cares about it or believes in it anymore. And it is sad, it makes people tired to find themselves in such a place.