DOCSEARCHbyAlgolia
Submit Docs

Istek Documentation

website·Indexed 30 days ago

https://docs.istek.app

A multi-protocol API client supporting HTTP, gRPC, GraphQL, WebSocket, MQTT, and Unix sockets. Features include a test runner with assertions, mock server generation from OpenAPI specs, environment and variable management, Git sync for collection versioning, and integrations with secret managers including AWS, Azure Key Vault, Google Cloud, Bitwarden, and HashiCorp Vault. Includes a CLI for CI/CD pipelines and a built-in REST API for automation.

Tokens
32.9K
Snippets
120
Records
270
Agent score
49%

What's inside Istek

  1. Overview of istek gRPC client capabilities

    istek is a native gRPC client built with Swift and AppKit for Apple Silicon Macs (macOS 14.0+). It supports native gRPC over HTTP/2 (not gRPC-Web or Connect). Key features include:

    • Method Discovery: Supports both server reflection and local .proto file imports (via drag-and-drop or Finder).
    • Call Types: Supports unary, server streaming, client streaming, and bidirectional streaming.
    • Security: Mutual TLS (mTLS) support with custom CA bundles, client certificates, and keys.
    • Privacy: No account required, no telemetry, and no license server. Secrets are stored in the macOS Keychain rather than workspace files.
    • Developer Tools: Includes environment variables, request history, a command palette, and the ability to export calls as grpcurl commands.

  2. Overview of Istek Playground services

    The Istek playground is a local server that provides demo endpoints for testing and learning across multiple protocols. It includes a REST API, WebSocket echo server, Server-Sent Events (SSE) for streaming, a GraphQL endpoint (queries/mutations), a gRPC service with reflection, an MQTT broker for pub/sub, and a Unix Socket server (available on macOS/Linux).

  3. Overview of Model Context Protocol (MCP)

    MCP is a protocol that allows AI models to interact with external tools (functions), resources (files, data), and prompts (templates). It supports two primary transport types: stdio for local CLI tools and SSE (Server-Sent Events) for remote servers.

  4. Istek Technology Stack

    Istek is built using a hybrid architecture with a web-based frontend and a native Rust backend via Tauri.

    Frontend

    • Nuxt 3 (Vue meta-framework)
    • Vue 3 (UI framework)
    • TypeScript (Type safety)
    • Tailwind CSS (Styling)
    • CodeMirror 6 (Code editor)
    • Pinia (State management)

    Backend

    • Tauri 2 (Desktop framework)
    • Rust (Backend language)
    • SQLite (Data persistence)
    • reqwest (HTTP client)
    • tonic (gRPC client)
    • rumqttc (MQTT client)
    • tokio (Async runtime)

  5. Use browser-based gRPC and Protobuf utility tools

    The following free, client-side tools are available for gRPC development. Because they run entirely in the browser, data pasted into these tools is not sent to a server:

    • grpcurl command builder: Generates a complete grpcurl command based on host, method, JSON body, metadata, TLS/mTLS settings, deadlines, and .proto files.
    • .proto to JSON request template: Converts a .proto message or service definition into a JSON request skeleton following the proto3 JSON mapping, suitable for use with grpcurl, Postman, or istek.
    • Protobuf decoder: Decodes protobuf bytes (provided as base64 or hex) without requiring the original .proto file, revealing field numbers, wire types, strings, and nested messages.

  6. Connect to the Istek REST API

    Istek includes a built-in REST API server that launches automatically on port 47835. The API is designed for local use only and does not require authentication, but it only accepts connections from localhost.
    Base URL: http://localhost:47835/api
Swagger UI: http://localhost:47835/api/docs
OpenAPI Spec: http://localhost:47835/api/openapi.json

  7. Understand istek billing and cancellation

    istek is sold as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription. Consequently, there are no recurring charges to cancel.

  8. Istek technical architecture

    Istek is built for performance and privacy, storing all data locally via SQLite. Its technology stack consists of:

    • Frontend: Nuxt 3, Vue 3, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS.
    • Backend: Tauri 2 and Rust.

  9. Use istek as a GUI alternative to grpcurl

    istek is a native macOS GUI (macOS 14.0+, Apple Silicon) designed for gRPC debugging. It supports gRPC reflection, .proto imports, plaintext/TLS connections, and all four gRPC call types. It is intended to be used for interactive debugging, while grpcurl remains the tool for scripts and CI.

  10. Istek Interface Overview

    The Istek interface consists of several key functional areas:

    • Protocol Selector: Switch between HTTP, WebSocket, GraphQL, gRPC, MQTT, Unix Socket, and MCP.
    • Request Tabs: Manage multiple simultaneous requests.
    • Environment Selector: Toggle between environments like Dev, Staging, and Prod.
    • Sidebar: Access request history and saved collections.
    • Request Panel: Configure URL, headers, and request body.
    • Response Panel: View responses with syntax highlighting.

  11. Core features of the Istek API client

    Istek includes several built-in tools for API development and testing:

    • Variables & Environments: Manage configuration settings across different environments.
    • Collections: Organize and share API requests.
    • Test Runner: Perform automated testing using assertions.
    • Mock Server: Generate mock responses based on OpenAPI specifications.
    • Built-in Playground: Local practice environment with demo endpoints.

  12. Compare gRPC clients for macOS

    Depending on your workflow, different gRPC clients offer different trade-offs for macOS users:

    • istek: A native macOS app specifically for gRPC. Best for developers who want a fast, local tool for services they own. Requires macOS 14+ and Apple Silicon.
    • Kreya: A cross-platform client supporting gRPC, REST, and GraphQL. Best for those working across different operating systems or protocols.
    • Postman: A general API platform. Best for teams already utilizing Postman workspaces for collaboration.
    • grpcurl: A free, open-source CLI tool. Best for scripting, CI/CD pipelines, and copy-pasteable commands.
    • grpcui: A companion to grpcurl that provides a web-based UI served on localhost.