HTTPie vs cURL: What are the differences?

HTTPie vs cURL

Introduction

HTTPie and cURL are both popular command-line tools used for making HTTP requests. While they serve the same purpose, there are several key differences between the two tools.

1. Syntax: One of the main differences between HTTPie and cURL is their syntax. HTTPie uses a more user-friendly and intuitive syntax, making it easier to read and write requests. On the other hand, cURL uses a more complex and verbose syntax, which can be more difficult for beginners to grasp.

2. Output Formatting: HTTPie provides beautifully formatted and colorized output by default, making it easier to read and understand the response. In contrast, cURL's output is less user-friendly, typically displaying raw and unformatted data, requiring additional processing to make it more readable.

3. HTTPie is Python-based: HTTPie is implemented in Python and allows users to write plugins using Python. This makes it more flexible and extensible, allowing users to customize and extend its functionality to meet their specific needs. In contrast, cURL is written in C and lacks this level of flexibility and extensibility.

4. Authentication: HTTPie simplifies the process of authentication by providing built-in support for various authentication methods such as basic, digest, and OAuth. It automatically handles authentication headers and prompts the user for credentials if necessary. In contrast, cURL requires users to manually specify the authentication method and provide the necessary headers or credentials.

5. Request Body: In HTTPie, sending request bodies with POST, PUT, and PATCH requests is straightforward. Users can simply pass the body as a string or file to the respective command. On the other hand, cURL requires users to specify the request body using the -d or --data option, which can be more cumbersome, especially when dealing with complex or large request bodies.

6. Easier Installation: HTTPie is relatively easier to install since it is available as a Python package, allowing users to install it via pip or using their operating system's package manager. Conversely, cURL often requires users to install it separately as it is not typically bundled with the operating system, requiring additional steps to obtain and install the tool.

In Summary, HTTPie offers a simpler and more user-friendly syntax, provides better output formatting, is more extensible, simplifies authentication, provides an easier way to send request bodies, and has easier installation compared to cURL.