⚡ Wish I Knew This Sooner – $200 | 24 Hours Only

API Pulse
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21

Honestly, I wish I’d started using Postman’s Mock Server feature earlier. If you’ve ever waited on the backend devs or struggled to test front-end code without a live API, you know the pain.

Mock Servers let you create fake endpoints that return custom responses, so you and your teammates can run tests and connect things up even when the actual API is still under construction.

It’s a huge time saver and has saved plenty of headaches, especially on tight deadlines.

Why I swear by it: I stopped holding up my whole project just because the API wasn’t live. Now, as soon as we agree on the contract, I spin up a mock endpoint, share the URL, and everybody can get moving right away. Integrations happen way earlier, bugs show up faster, and it’s so much easier to collaborate across teams.

Shortcut: The setup is super quick. Just click the three dots next to your collection, hit “Mock Collection,” name the server, and click “Create Mock Server.” Copy the mock URL that Postman gives you, now you’ve got a ready-to-use endpoint for prototyping and teamwork, all set in seconds. :innocent:

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22

I wish I had known earlier that you don’t need to create dozens of environments just for dev/staging/prod. Instead, you can:

  1. Create a single collection variable like {{baseURL}}.

  2. In the Pre-request Script, auto-switch its value based on a dropdown input or even the collection folder name. Example:

if (pm.collectionVariables.get("env") === "prod") {
  pm.collectionVariables.set("baseURL", "https://api.prod.com");
} else if (pm.collectionVariables.get("env") === "staging") {
  pm.collectionVariables.set("baseURL", "https://api.staging.com");
} else {
  pm.collectionVariables.set("baseURL", "http://localhost:3000");
}
  1. Now every request just calls {{baseURL}}/endpoint, and Postman handles the switching automatically.

:sparkles: Result:

  • No more juggling 10+ environments.

  • Onboarding new teammates takes minutes, not hours.

  • CI/CD runs smoother since the environment is controlled in one place.

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24

Tip I wish I’d known sooner – Data-Driven Runs in Postman

For the longest time I was copy-pasting different values into the same request and hitting Send over and over to test edge cases. Total time sink.

Then I realised you can give Postman a CSV or JSON file with your test data and run the whole thing through the Collection Runner. Each row in the file fills your variables automatically, and Postman fires off every request in one go.

Now I can hammer through dozens (or hundreds) of scenarios in minutes, get a clean run report at the end, and hand the same collection + data file to teammates so they can reproduce the tests instantly. It’s been the quickest way for me to regression-test new APIs without bringing in any extra tools.

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25

One Postman tip I wish I knew earlier: using collection variables with pre-request scripts to auto-generate auth tokens.

Instead of manually copying tokens every time they expire, I now have a pre-request script that fetches a fresh token and saves it to a collection variable. Every request in the collection just references {{authToken}}.

:key: Why it’s a game-changer:

  • Cuts setup time in half when onboarding new teammates (they don’t need to hunt for tokens).

  • Makes scheduled runs or monitors fully automated.

  • No more “401 Unauthorized” errors just because you forgot to update a header.

Now, anytime I set up a new workspace, this is the first trick I teach teammates , it’s like flipping Postman into autopilot mode for auth.

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26

Postman Tip I Wish I Knew Earlier - Using Postman as MCP Client and API Testing Tool.

Here’s why Postman is very important for me while working with MCP Servers:

  1. You have access to a wealth of resources to learn about Postman.
  2. You can turn existing APIs into local MCP Servers.
  3. LLMs are getting popular day by day for their human-like capabilities. So, MCPs are very important in this scenario, and Postman is getting Popular in the MCP world as well.
  4. High-quality data is crucial in the AI world, and that is gated behind applications. LLMs can access those through API endpoints, but building and maintaining integrations for third-party services can be a nightmare. That’s why MCP was introduced as a standard protocol.
  5. Making APIs work for LLM agents takes heavy lifting like context management and custom integrations.
  6. APIs are not optimized for LLMs, and lack a standard system for building AI apps.
  7. MCP was built to fix this by offering context/state handling and tool discovery.
  8. You’d still have to write integration logic for APIs, but only once. API actions/tools can be exposed as discoverable primitives.
  9. MCPs are less flexible. Use APIs when you need flexibility, control, or legacy integration.
  10. Use MCP when building new agent-native products, fast onboarding, and efficient stateful workflows matter.

In today’s AI-powered applications, both APIs and MCPs play crucial roles, each with distinct strengths and limitations.

Rather than picking one or the other, choose the proper protocol for the problem / combine both protocols, and let your AI agents do what they do best.

The benefits are here today, the potential is there tomorrow, and the investment is being made by all the right players. What an awesome time to be developing software!

:rocket: The future is likely to be hybrid: APIs for raw power and flexibility, MCPs for agent-native efficiency and simplicity. And you know what you can use Postman for both APIs and MCPs.

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27

That’s a wrap! This week’s challenge is officially closed. Thanks to everyone who jumped in.

We’re reviewing entries now. While you wait, drop a :heart: on your favorite responses to help us choose a winner. Winner announced on Friday.

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29

:trophy: Challenge Winner

Thanks to everyone who joined this week’s challenge. There were many interesting submissions this week, but we can only have one winner. This week’s winner is @suraif16 for their submission on data-driven collection runs. Importing external data is an excellent way to automate collection runs in a dynamic environment.

The next challenge drops on Wednesday!

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