Hey Dev.to community! I’m an indie developer working on a mock API generator to make frontend testing and prototyping easier. Ever struggled with JSONPlaceholder’s static endpoints or found Mockaroo’s paid plans too pricey? I’m building a tool to create custom, schema-driven REST APIs with realistic data—fast and free to start. It’s still in progress, and before I go further, I want to know: do developers like you need something like this? Share your thoughts, pain points, and dream features to help shape this project!

The Problem: Mock APIs Aren’t Always Enough

As a developer, I often need mock APIs to test frontends, run QA, or demo apps without a backend. But current tools have limits:

• JSONPlaceholder is free but rigid, with fixed endpoints like /users or /posts.
• MockAPI and Beeceptor allow custom endpoints but have restrictive free tiers or complex setups.
• Postman Mock Server requires Postman integration, which can feel clunky for quick mocks.
• Mockaroo generates great data but focuses on downloads, not dynamic REST APIs.

I’m building a tool to solve this, but I need your input to make sure it’s what developers want.

What I’m Building

My project (name TBD, suggestions welcome!) is a Node.js-based mock API generator. The idea is to let you:

• Create Custom APIs: Define schemas (e.g., { id: "uuid", name: "string", price: "number" }) and get endpoints like /api/your-token/products.
• Generate Realistic Data: 20+ data types (e.g., email, productName, price).
• Start Free: Up to 5 schemas, 1000 API hits/month, 30 requests/min for prototyping.
• Scale Up: Premium tier with unlimited schemas, 100k+ hits/month, 200 requests/min for teams.
• Stay Secure: API keys for user-specific, secure access.

Example:
Define a schema { id: "uuid", name: "name", email: "email" } for /users. Call GET /api/your-token/users/5 and get:

[
  {
    "id": "7e4ccf83-c22e-4ec3-930f-4971c5d14ce7",
    "name": "John Doe",
    "email": "john.doe@example.com"
  },
  ...
]

It’s built with Node.js, Express, and MongoDB, and I’m working toward an MVP.

Why I’m Building It

I want a tool that feels like a real backend without the hassle of coding one. Unlike JSONPlaceholder’s static data or Postman’s complex setup, my project aims to be:

• Dynamic: Create any endpoint and schema you need.
• Simple: Sign up, define a schema, and get an API—no heavy integrations.
• Accessible: Free tier for indie devs, premium for power users.
• Scalable: Multi-tenant with API keys and rate limiting.

Do You Need This?

I’m still developing this, and I don’t want to build in a vacuum. That’s where you come in! I need to know:

• Do you struggle with mock APIs in your workflow? What’s the biggest pain point?
• Would a tool like this save you time? For what use cases (e.g., frontend dev, QA, prototyping)?
• What features are must-haves? Swagger integration? Nested schemas? Data seeding?
• Any other tools you love or hate that I should learn from?

Your feedback will shape this into a tool you want to use. Comment below or DM me on Twitter/X (@AmanGup52727388). Bonus: got a catchy name idea for this project? 😄

What’s Next?

I’m working on:

• A simple UI for schema creation (dropdowns for types like uuid, price).
• Support for POST endpoints and complex schemas.
• A public MVP (not live yet, stay tuned!).

This is for developers like you—frontend devs, QA engineers, indie hackers, and startups. Let’s make mock APIs effortless. Share your thoughts, and let’s build something awesome together!