http-mock

Local HTTP mock server from a mocks.json definition. Define your API routes once, mock responses with status codes, delays, headers, and path param interpolation. Zero dependencies.

Like json-server but with no dependencies and full control over responses.

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Install

npm install -g http-mock

Or without installing:

npx http-mock

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Quick Start

http-mock init    # Create a starter mocks.json
http-mock         # Start the server

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Example Output

http-mock  mocks.json
  Server running at http://localhost:3000
  7 route(s) loaded · CORS enabled

  GET     /health           → 200
  GET     /users            → 200
  GET     /users/:id        → 200
  POST    /users            → 201 +200ms
  DELETE  /users/:id        → 204
  GET     /error            → 500
  GET     /slow             → 200 +1500ms

  6:20:13 pm  GET     /users        200  4ms
  6:20:14 pm  GET     /users/42     200  2ms
  6:20:15 pm  POST    /users        201  203ms +200ms delay
  6:20:16 pm  GET     /missing      404  1ms

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mocks.json Format

{
  "port": 3000,
  "delay": 0,
  "routes": [
    {
      "method": "GET",
      "path": "/health",
      "status": 200,
      "body": { "status": "ok", "time": "{{now}}" }
    },
    {
      "method": "GET",
      "path": "/users/:id",
      "status": 200,
      "body": { "id": "{{params.id}}", "name": "User {{params.id}}" }
    },
    {
      "method": "POST",
      "path": "/users",
      "status": 201,
      "body": { "id": "123", "created": true },
      "delay": 500
    },
    {
      "method": "DELETE",
      "path": "/users/:id",
      "status": 204,
      "body": null
    }
  ]
}

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Route Fields

Field	Type	Description
method	string	HTTP method: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, *
path	string	URL path. :param captures path segments
status	number	Response status code (default: 200)
body	any	Response body. null = no body
headers	object	Extra response headers
delay	number	Delay in milliseconds before responding

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Template Variables

Use {{...}} in body strings:

Variable	Value
{{params.id}}	Path param :id
{{query.name}}	Query string ?name=...
{{now}}	Current ISO timestamp
{{body.email}}	Field from the request body

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Options

http-mock                  # Use ./mocks.json
http-mock api.json         # Use a specific file
http-mock --port 4000      # Override port
http-mock --watch          # Reload on config file change
http-mock --cors           # Enable CORS headers

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License

MIT

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Keywords

mock server · mock api · json-server alternative · mockoon alternative · fake api · rest mock · stub server · local api · zero dependencies · cli

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Built to solve, shared to help — Rushabh Shah 🛠️✨

_{One of 40+ zero-dependency developer CLI tools — no node_modules, ever.}