16 - FAQ
What is API Freeman best for?
Fast, local API testing with Git-friendly request storage and import support from common API definition formats.
Does API Freeman require a cloud account?
No. Current implementation is local-first and stores artifacts on your machine.
Where are requests saved?
In your selected library root folder as YAML request files plus optional body sidecar files.
Can I version control saved requests?
Yes. The file-per-request structure is intentionally Git-friendly.
Why does the app use Electron main process for fetch?
To avoid renderer CORS constraints and centralize request execution.
What is the difference between dev and start?
npm run dev: development mode with Vite dev server.npm run start: build then run Electron using built assets.
Can I import both OpenAPI and Postman?
Yes. Import supports OpenAPI 3.x, Swagger 2.0, and Postman collections.
What do import preview statuses mean?
new: safe new file path and no source matchmatch: existing request with same import identityconflict: desired path collides with different existing request
Can I use folder-level environment values?
Yes, via folder variable files and {{variable}} placeholders in URLs.
Why are script tabs not visible?
Script support is currently feature-flagged off (SCRIPTS_ENABLED = false).
Are Postman scripts lost during import?
No. Script fields can still be imported and persisted. They are currently not executed while scripting is disabled.
Does API Freeman support external $ref imports?
Not at the moment. External $ref references are explicitly rejected in current import implementation.
Is there startup protection for missing build files?
Yes. Startup load failures show an explicit error page with guidance instead of silent blank screen.
Is my data private?
Data is local unless you explicitly send requests to external endpoints or import from external URLs.