How do I handle authentication like OAuth in ScanAPI?

ScanAPI supports authentication through headers defined in the YAML/JSON specification, such as tokens or basic auth. For dynamic tokens like OAuth, you may need to pre-process the spec or use environment variables, but it's not built-in.

Can ScanAPI test GraphQL APIs?

No, ScanAPI is designed specifically for REST APIs. For GraphQL, you'd need to use other tools like GraphQL-specific testing frameworks, as ScanAPI's request structure doesn't accommodate GraphQL queries naturally.

ScanAPI vs Postman: which is better for automated testing?

ScanAPI excels in fully automated, code-based testing and documentation generation for CI/CD pipelines, while Postman offers a GUI for interactive testing but requires more setup for automation via Newman or scripts.

How to integrate ScanAPI with pytest or other Python test frameworks?

ScanAPI can be run as a command-line tool from pytest scripts or CI/CD steps, but deep integration with pytest's fixtures or assertion system isn't native; you might need to wrap it in subprocess calls.

Does ScanAPI support performance or load testing?

No, ScanAPI focuses on functional testing and documentation. It doesn't include performance metrics like response times or concurrency testing; for that, use tools like Locust or JMeter.

How to customize the HTML report in ScanAPI?

The HTML report uses a default template with limited customization options. The README doesn't provide details on modifying the template, so you might need to edit the source code or use external tools for advanced styling.

Open-Awesome

scanapi

MITPythonv2.13.2

Automated integration testing and live documentation generation for REST APIs from YAML/JSON specifications.

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1.6k stars127 forks0 contributors

What is scanapi?

ScanAPI is a Python library that automates integration testing and generates live documentation for REST APIs. It reads API specifications written in YAML or JSON format, executes HTTP requests to defined endpoints, runs test assertions, and produces detailed HTML reports. It solves the problem of maintaining separate, often outdated, API documentation and test suites by combining both into a single automated workflow.

Target Audience

API developers, QA engineers, and DevOps teams who need to automate testing and documentation for RESTful APIs. It's particularly useful for teams managing multiple endpoints or microservices who want to ensure API reliability and up-to-date documentation.

Value Proposition

Developers choose ScanAPI because it provides a simple, declarative way to define both tests and documentation in one specification, eliminating the maintenance burden of separate tools. Its automated report generation creates living documentation that always reflects current API behavior, and it requires minimal Python knowledge to get started.

Overview

Automated Integration Testing and Live Documentation for your API

Use Cases

Best For

Automating integration tests for REST APIs with custom assertions
Generating always-up-to-date API documentation from test executions
Testing microservices architectures with multiple endpoints
Validating API responses, status codes, and headers automatically
Creating shareable HTML reports for API test results and documentation
Setting up continuous API testing in CI/CD pipelines

Not Ideal For

Teams requiring interactive API testing with GUI tools like Postman or Insomnia
Projects using non-REST API protocols such as GraphQL, gRPC, or SOAP
Developers needing complex, programmatic test logic beyond simple YAML/JSON assertions

Pros & Cons

Pros

Automated Testing and Documentation

Combines API testing and live documentation generation in one workflow, as running tests automatically produces an HTML report that serves as up-to-date API documentation.

Declarative Configuration

Uses YAML or JSON files to define endpoints and tests, requiring minimal Python knowledge, making it accessible for non-developers or quick setups.

Detailed Execution Reports

Generates comprehensive HTML reports with request/response details, status codes, headers, and test results, providing full diagnostics for API behavior.

Easy CI/CD Integration

Command-line tool that can be seamlessly added to continuous integration pipelines for automated API testing, as shown in the README with badge integrations.

Cons

Limited to REST APIs

Specifically designed for RESTful APIs, so it cannot natively test other protocols like GraphQL or SOAP without significant workarounds or custom code.

Assertion Complexity Constraints

Assertions are based on simple Python expressions in YAML/JSON, which may become cumbersome for complex validation logic, such as nested JSON responses or dynamic data chains.

Minimal Report Customization

HTML reports are generated with a fixed template; the README doesn't mention extensive styling or templating options, limiting flexibility for branding or advanced diagnostics.

Frequently Asked Questions

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