Data QA Developer with Postman Salary in 2024

Where is Postman used?

Postman Alternatives

Insomnia

Open-source alternative for HTTP and GraphQL requests. Features workspace organization, data chaining, and environment variables.

• Free and open-source

• Plugin support for extended functionality

• Less intuitive UI compared to Postman

• No collaboration in the free version

• Excellent for individual developers

• More focused on API testing than full API lifecycle management

// Example Insomnia GET request
GET /api/puppies
Host: puppy-api.example.com
Authorization: Bearer YourTokenHere

SoapUI

A tool mainly for SOAP APIs but also supports REST and GraphQL. Tailored for testing with extensive automation scripting capabilities.

• Purpose-built for SOAP with REST support

• Test automation through Groovy scripting

• Steep learning curve for beginners

• Outdated interface

• Powerful data-driven testing features

• Can be overkill for simple API exploration

// Example SoapUI request to a SOAP service
<soapenv:Envelope xmlns:soapenv="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/" xmlns:web="http://example.com/webservices/service">
   <soapenv:Header/>
   <soapenv:Body>
      <web:GetPuppyDetailsRequest>
         <web:puppyId>1</web:puppyId>
      </web:GetPuppyDetailsRequest>
   </soapenv:Body>
</soapenv:Envelope>

Curl

Command-line tool for transferring data with URL syntax. Favoured for its ubiquity on UNIX/Linux systems.

• Pre-installed on most Unix-based systems

• Useful for simple API tests from the command line

• Not a GUI, less accessible for non-technicals

• No built-in feature for organizing requests

• Versatile and can handle numerous protocols

• Lacks the collaborative features of Postman

// Curl command to fetch data from an API
curl -X GET "http://puppy-api.example.com/api/puppies" -H "accept: application/json" -H "Authorization: Bearer YourTokenHere"

Quick Facts about Postman

The Birth of Postman from a Side Project

Way back in 2012, a clever chap named Abhinav Asthana was toying around with the idea of API testing for the mere fun of it. Little did he know, his side hustle would morph into the colossal giant we fondly dub as Postman. Imagine fiddling with code over a weekend and accidentally giving birth to a software unicorn!

API Testing Turned Up to Eleven

Breaking away from the boring old regimen of purely code-based API interaction, Postman strutted in with a graphical interface so slick it made developers worldwide drop their command lines like hot potatoes. Not just that, with a shared workspace, now teams can chit-chat and collaborate over APIs without leaving their desks—leaving more time for coffee breaks and less for email tag.

Versions Galore - The Postman Chronicles

Remember when you had to update software manually, and it was about as much fun as watching paint dry? Postman laughed in the face of such outdated shenanigans. Starting from a Chrome extension, this tool transformed so often, undergoing several iterations, and now sits pretty as a standalone entity, version numbers blooming with every update, like flowers in an eternal spring of software development.

What is the difference between Junior, Middle, Senior and Expert Postman developer?

Top 10 Postman Related Tech

1. 
   

   JavaScript and Node.js

   
   

   Now, whisper this softly; wherever APIs are involved, JavaScript lurks nearby, stewing in its cauldron of callbacks and promises. Node.js strides in, swinging its event-driven architecture like a club, conquering scalability like it's level one of a video game. With these two in your arsenal, custom scripts and Postman test automation turn into a cakewalk — except it's more like a code-walk. Here's a snippet of glory:

   
   

   
   pm.test("Status code is 200", function () {
       pm.response.to.have.status(200);
   });

1. 
   

   JSON/XML

   
   

   JSON and XML are the bread and butter of API responses, akin to the 'swipe right' or 'swipe left' in dating apps — they let you know if you've got a match with the data structure you desire. Mastering their syntax is a no-brainer; it's like learning the ABCs before diving into War and Peace. Dive into the object notation like this:

   
   

   
   {
       "id": "chuck-norris",
       "joke": "When Chuck Norris throws exceptions, it's across the room."
   }

1. 
   

   REST and GraphQL

   
   

   REST, the granddaddy of network-based architectures, makes resources play nice with HTTP methods. Then, there's GraphQL—the cool, younger sibling that asks for specific data and gets exactly that, nothing more, like a finicky eater picking out onions from their salad. Postman toys with both, ensuring APIs behave and play fetch with the data you ask for.

1. 
   

   HTTP/HTTPS Protocols

   
   

   HTTP and HTTPS are the foundation to API's castles in the cloud – as important as knowing which end of the sword to hold in a duel. HTTPS throws in some armor with SSL/TLS, making everything as secure as a dragon's treasure horde.

1. 
   

   Git

   
   

   Ah, Git, the time machine for developers, allowing them to leap between versions of their code faster than a caffeinated kangaroo. A lifesaver when you accidentally start an apocalypse in your codebase. Keep your API tests and collections version-controlled, and collaborate with your teammates without the drama of overwriting each other's work.

1. 
   

   CICD Tools (Jenkins, GitLab CI, etc.)

   
   

   Have you ever dreamed of an assembly line for your code that magically spits out ready-to-deploy software? Behold, CICD tools make that dream a reality – you push code changes, and they handle the drudgery of testing and deployment. It's like having a robot butler for your software. Integrate Postman with these, and voilà, your APIs are tested in the blink of an eye.

1. 
   

   API Specification Formats (OpenAPI/Swagger, RAML)

   
   

   API specifications are the hot sauce to your API burrito, giving it that extra kick. They outline everything one needs to know to communicate with your API, like a guidebook for your digital Everest. Formats like OpenAPI/Swagger and RAML lay down the law for your API structure, making everything as predictable as a Marvel movie plot.

1. 
   

   Postman API Testing Features

   
   

   Do you fancy setting up tests for APIs faster than a dog chasing a squirrel? Postman's testing features are your Harry Potter-style spells. Write tests, set up monitors, and perform test runs directly within Postman's magical environment. Once you've tasted this power, manually testing APIs feels like churning butter by hand in the 21st century.

   
   

   
   pm.test("Body matches string", function () {
       pm.expect(pm.response.text()).to.include("string_you_want_to_test");
   });

1. 
   

   OAuth and Authentication Mechanisms

   
   

   Just as a bouncer checks your ID before letting you into a club, OAuth and other authentication mechanisms protect APIs from uninvited guests. Get cozy with OAuth 2.0, bearer tokens, and the gang to ensure your clients are who they say they are, shaking hands like civilized folk before proceeding to the data party.

1. 
   

   Environment and Variable Management

   
   

   Consider environments and variables in Postman as your recipe book for cooking up API requests with different flavors — no mess, no fuss. Seamlessly switch between development, testing, and production environments like a DJ swapping beats. Here's how you might retrieve an environment variable:

   
   

   
   let apiUrl = pm.environment.get("base_url");