Bruno - The Git-Friendly API Client

Tired of your API collections living in the cloud, locked behind a subscription, and impossible to version control? Bruno is a revolutionary open-source API client that stores everything as plain text files - right in your git repository.

📂

Git-Native API Collections

Your API tests live alongside your code. Version control, branch, merge, and collaborate - just like your source code. No cloud sync, no vendor lock-in.

Bruno in Action

Bruno stores each request as a .bru file using a simple, readable format that plays perfectly with git:

Bruno collections are just files in your git repo - branch, merge, and review API changes like code

Key Features

📁

File-Based Storage

Collections stored as plain text .bru files. Human-readable, diff-friendly, no proprietary formats

🔀

Git-Friendly

Version control your API tests. Branch, merge, PR review - works with any git workflow

🔒

No Cloud Required

Everything runs locally. No accounts, no sync, no subscriptions. Your data stays yours

📜

Scripting Support

Pre/post request scripts in JavaScript. Set variables, validate responses, chain requests

Practical Examples

Here's what a Bruno .bru file looks like - simple, readable, and git-friendly:

meta {
  name: Login User
  type: http
  seq: 1
}

post {
  url: {{baseUrl}}/api/auth/login
  body: json
  auth: none
}

headers {
  Content-Type: application/json
}

body:json {
  {
    "email": "{{email}}",
    "password": "{{password}}"
  }
}

script:post-response {
  // Save token for subsequent requests
  if (res.status === 200) {
    bru.setEnvVar("authToken", res.body.token);
  }
}

Environment files keep your secrets separate and environment-specific:

environments/dev.bru

vars {
  baseUrl: http://localhost:3000
  email: dev@example.com
  password: devpassword123
}

vars:secret [
  authToken
]

Pre-request scripts let you set up dynamic values:

create-user.bru

meta {
  name: Create User
  type: http
}

post {
  url: {{baseUrl}}/api/users
  body: json
  auth: bearer
}

auth:bearer {
  token: {{authToken}}
}

body:json {
  {
    "name": "{{$randomFullName}}",
    "email": "{{$timestamp}}@test.com"
  }
}

script:pre-request {
  // Generate unique test data
  const timestamp = Date.now();
  bru.setVar("uniqueId", timestamp);
}

assert {
  res.status: eq 201
  res.body.id: isDefined
}

Why Developers Love It

✓ True Version Control - API changes show up in git diffs and code reviews, not hidden in cloud sync
✓ No Subscription Needed - 100% free and open source. No paid tiers, no feature limits
✓ Team Collaboration via Git - Use your existing git workflow. No inviting teammates to yet another platform
✓ Postman Import - Migrate existing collections with one click. No rewriting from scratch
✓ Offline First - Works without internet. No cloud dependency means no cloud outages
✓ CLI for CI/CD - Run collections in your pipeline with bru run

Bruno vs Postman Comparison

Feature	Bruno	Postman
Storage	Local files in git	Cloud-synced
Version Control	Native git support	Workspace history (limited)
Pricing	Free forever	Free tier + paid plans
Offline Mode	Full functionality	Limited without sync
Data Privacy	100% local	Cloud-stored
Team Collaboration	Git branches/PRs	Paid team workspaces
CI/CD Integration	CLI included free	Newman (separate tool)

Cheatsheet

Quick reference for the .bru file format and common patterns:

Block	Purpose	Example
`meta { }`	Request metadata	`name: Get Users`
`get/post/put { }`	HTTP method & URL	`url: {{baseUrl}}/api`
`headers { }`	Request headers	`Authorization: Bearer {{token}}`
`body:json { }`	JSON request body	`{ "key": "value" }`
`auth:bearer { }`	Bearer token auth	`token: {{authToken}}`
`script:pre-request { }`	Run before request	`bru.setVar("ts", Date.now())`
`script:post-response { }`	Run after response	`bru.setEnvVar("id", res.body.id)`
`assert { }`	Response assertions	`res.status: eq 200`

Pro Tips

🔗

Chain Requests with Variables

Use bru.setVar() in post-response scripts to pass data between requests. Perfect for auth flows where login returns a token needed for subsequent calls.

🏃

Run in CI/CD with bru CLI

Install the CLI with npm i -g @usebruno/cli and run collections in your pipeline: bru run --env dev. Get test results in JUnit format for CI integration.

📥

Migrate from Postman

Export your Postman collection as JSON, then use Bruno's import feature. Your requests, environments, and even scripts will be converted to .bru files automatically.

🔐

Secure Secrets with vars:secret

Mark sensitive variables with vars:secret block. These won't be stored in files - they're entered at runtime or via environment variables in CI.

📂

Organize with Folders

Create subfolders to group related requests (auth/, users/, products/). Each folder can have its own folder-level scripts and headers that apply to all requests inside.

Getting Started

1

Download Bruno

Visit usebruno.com and download for Windows, Mac, or Linux. Also available via brew, snap, and chocolatey.
2

Create or Import a Collection

Start fresh with "New Collection" or import existing Postman/Insomnia collections. Choose a folder inside your project repo.
3

Add to Git

Run git add . to track your collection. Now your API tests are part of your codebase.
4

Start Testing

Create requests, set up environments, and run your API tests. Changes auto-save to .bru files.

Get Bruno - Free Forever

Stop paying for cloud-synced API clients. Version control your API tests like code with Bruno.

Download Bruno

Launch Offer