Is Anyone Here Familiar with Postman Repositories?

If you’re someone who works with APIs, you’ve likely heard of Postman — the go-to tool for testing, documenting, and managing APIs. But did you know that Postman now offers a feature called Postman Repositories?

As an API developer, I’ve always used GitHub for sharing and publishing my APIs, but recently I came across Postman Repositories, and it opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities. Postman Repositories offer a convenient and intuitive way to share and collaborate on APIs directly within the Postman platform.

If you’re looking for an easy way to share and manage your APIs in a centralized location, or if you’re tired of juggling GitHub and Postman collections separately, Postman Repositories might just be the tool you’ve been looking for.

I’ve even created my own repository on Postman to manage my API collections, and you can check it out here: ForexRatesAPI Repository on Postman. In this post, I’ll walk you through what Postman Repositories are, why they can be a great alternative to GitHub for publishing APIs, and how you can set them up for your own projects.

What Are Postman Repositories?

Postman Repositories are essentially a space within the Postman platform where you can store and share your Postman collections, environments, and even API definitions. Unlike GitHub, which is a general-purpose version control system, Postman repositories are specifically tailored to APIs, making them an excellent choice for API development and sharing.

You can think of Postman Repositories as a private or public space to house your API collections, documentation, and other resources. The feature supports versioning, collaboration, and easy integration with Postman’s powerful tools.

Why Use Postman Repositories?

While GitHub is the go-to platform for code and version control, Postman Repositories offer a more specialized approach for those who work specifically with APIs. Here are a few reasons why you might consider using Postman Repositories:

• Centralized API Management: Keep all your API collections, environments, and documentation in one place.
• Versioning: Just like GitHub, Postman allows you to track versions of your API collections, making it easier to manage changes over time.
• Collaborative Features: Share your API collections and work together with your team in real-time.
• Integration with Postman Tools: Easily integrate your collections with other Postman features, such as monitors and automated testing, directly from the repository.

GitHub vs. Postman Repositories: Which is Better?

While GitHub has been the industry standard for version control and collaboration, Postman Repositories offer some advantages for those working specifically with APIs.

GitHub:

• A more generalized platform for all types of projects, including code, documentation, and other assets.
• Requires manual setup to manage Postman collections (e.g., you’ll need to export/import collections, create separate markdown files, etc.).

Postman Repositories:

• A platform built specifically for APIs, making it easier to manage and share collections.
• Seamless integration with Postman’s testing and documentation tools.
• Version control and collaboration focused on API development.

For example, if you have an API project like my Forex Rates API repository, Postman Repositories streamline the process by offering a dedicated space to manage collections, environments, and even API documentation.

How to Set Up a Postman Repository

Setting up a Postman Repository is simple. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can create your own repository and start sharing your API collections.

Step 1: Create a Postman Account

If you don’t already have a Postman account, head over to Postman’s website and sign up. It’s free to get started, and you’ll get access to most of Postman’s core features.

Step 2: Navigate to the “Workspaces” Section

Once you’re logged in, head to the Workspaces section. A workspace is where all your collections, environments, and other Postman resources are stored. This is essentially where you’ll organize your APIs and repositories.

Step 3: Create a New Workspace

1. Click on the New Workspace button.
2. Give your workspace a name (e.g., “Forex Rates API Repository”).
3. Choose whether it will be a Personal or Team workspace based on your needs.
4. Click Create Workspace.

Step 4: Create a Repository

1. Once your workspace is created, navigate to the API section in the left sidebar.
2. Click on New Repository.
3. Enter a name and description for your repository.
4. Choose whether you want it to be Private or Public.
5. Click Create Repository.

Step 5: Add Collections to Your Repository

1. With your repository set up, you can now start adding Postman collections.
2. Click on Add Collection and select the collections you want to include in the repository.
3. You can also add environments and documentation to provide a comprehensive overview of your API.

Step 6: Share and Collaborate

Postman Repositories support collaboration, so you can invite team members to your repository for joint development. Here’s how:

• Share the repository link with collaborators.
• Use the “Invite Members” feature to grant team members access to the repository.
• Collaborators can now make changes to collections, run tests, and help you manage the API.

Benefits of Using Postman Repositories for API Development

Here are a few additional reasons why Postman Repositories might be the right tool for you:

• Easy API Documentation: Postman automatically generates API documentation for collections, making it easy to share API specifications with your team or the public.
• Version Control: Postman Repositories allow you to manage multiple versions of your API collections, helping you keep track of changes over time.
• Seamless Integration: If you’re already using Postman for API testing, creating a repository is a natural extension of your workflow. You can integrate your repositories with monitors, test scripts, and environments all in one place.

Conclusion

Postman Repositories are an excellent alternative to GitHub for publishing, sharing, and managing APIs. They provide a streamlined and specialized platform for API development that integrates perfectly with Postman’s suite of tools, including testing, monitoring, and documentation.

If you work with APIs regularly, I highly recommend checking out my Postman repository for the Forex Rates API and exploring how you can use Postman Repositories to manage your own API collections.