Show HN: Kvile – Lightweight Postman alternative that uses .http files (opens in new tab)

Hi everyone, I'm Torstein!

I've been building Kvile, an HTTP debugging app built with Tauri 2 (Rust + React).

Some backstory: I've spent too much time fighting with OpenAPI specs that drift out of sync with reality. Generated clients break, docs lie, and you end up curling the endpoint anyway to see what it actually returns.

I wanted something simpler - HTTP requests that live right next to the service I'm working on. Edit a file, send a request, commit it with my code. No spec generation, no sync issues, no "the docs say X but the API does Y."

That's why Kvile is built around .http files as the source of truth.

Why .http files?

  - Version control: Plain text that diffs cleanly in git
  - No lock-in: Standard format supported by JetBrains, VS Code, and others
  - Docs as code: Requests live in your repo alongside the code they test
  - Share easily: Send a file, not an exported JSON blob
  - Editor freedom: Edit in any text editor, use the GUI when you want it
  - No account required: Your data stays on your machine

I got tired of API clients that store requests in proprietary formats, require accounts, or try to upsell me on cloud sync. I just wanted to open a folder of .http files and send requests.

Supports JetBrains HTTP syntax ({{variables}}, ### separators), VS Code REST Client format, environment files, and dynamic variables.

Built with Tauri 2 - small bundle (~15MB), runs natively on Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Early development (v0.2.1) - feedback welcome.

GitHub: https://github.com/tskulbru/kvile

Personal blog/portfolio: https://tskulbru.dev