How to Use the Command 'xh' (with examples)

The xh command is a tool written in Rust designed for sending HTTP requests quickly and efficiently. It stands as a user-friendly alternative to traditional tools like http and curl, making HTTP requests simpler for developers by providing clear, concise syntax and a range of versatile options. Extensively documented, easy to use, and with substantial functionalities, xh is an excellent utility for making API requests and interacting with online servers.

Use case 1: Sending a GET Request

Code:

xh httpbin.org/get

Motivation:

The GET request is the most basic and widely used HTTP request method, used to request data from a specified resource. Developers commonly use GET requests to retrieve information like web pages or API data. Using xh to perform a GET request allows users to swiftly and efficiently access the data they need from a server, streamlining the process of retrieving information during development or testing.

Explanation:

• xh: The command to execute the tool.
• httpbin.org/get: The endpoint to which the GET request is sent. In this case, httpbin.org is a simple HTTP request & response service that provides an easily accessible endpoint for testing HTTP requests. The /get path indicates a request to retrieve data.

Example Output:

{
  "args": {},
  "headers": {
    "Host": "httpbin.org",
    "User-Agent": "xh/0.9.0",
    "X-Amzn-Trace-Id": "Root=1-XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"
  },
  "origin": "XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX",
  "url": "http://httpbin.org/get"
}

Use case 2: Sending a POST Request with a JSON Body

Code:

xh post httpbin.org/post name=john age:=25

Motivation:

POST requests are crucial when it comes to sending data to a server to create/update a resource. In APIs, POST allows you to submit data which the server processes, often resulting in a new record. Using a JSON body in a POST request is common as it provides structured data that’s easy for a server to understand. Developers use POST requests frequently to underpin any scenario where they need to submit data, making this use case very versatile and practical.

Explanation:

• xh post: The command to perform a POST request.
• httpbin.org/post: The endpoint designed to receive POST data.
• name=john: A key-value pair in the JSON body, specifying name as “john”.
• age:=25: A key-value pair in the JSON body with integer value. The colon equals := indicates that 25 is a number, not a string.

Example Output:

{
  "args": {},
  "data": "",
  "files": {},
  "form": {},
  "json": {
    "age": 25,
    "name": "john"
  },
  "url": "http://httpbin.org/post"
}

Use case 3: Sending a GET Request with Query Parameters

Code:

xh get httpbin.org/get first_param==5 second_param==true

Motivation:

GET requests often involve query parameters that specify additional criteria affecting the request’s results. Query parameters are essential when retrieving specific data subsets from a server, such as accessing filtered lists or itemized records. For developers, efficiently handling query parameters is critical for working with APIs that require dynamic query strings.

Explanation:

• xh get: The command to execute a GET request.
• httpbin.org/get: The endpoint URL.
• first_param==5: Query parameter that sets first_param to 5.
• second_param==true: Query parameter that defines second_param as true, demonstrating passing boolean values.

Example Output:

{
  "args": {
    "first_param": "5",
    "second_param": "true"
  },
  "headers": {
    "Host": "httpbin.org",
    "User-Agent": "xh/0.9.0"
  },
  "origin": "XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX",
  "url": "http://httpbin.org/get?first_param=5&second_param=true"
}

Use case 4: Sending a GET Request with a Custom Header

Code:

xh get httpbin.org/get header-name:header-value

Motivation:

Custom headers are often essential when dealing with APIs where specific authentication tokens, content types, or other metadata need to be passed with a request. Custom headers accommodate scenarios such as API authentication, handling of different content types, and adherence to custom protocols or security measures.

Explanation:

• xh get: The command to execute a GET request.
• httpbin.org/get: The endpoint URL.
• header-name:header-value: A custom header with its value, allowing users to specify necessary HTTP headers for the request.

Example Output:

{
  "args": {},
  "headers": {
    "Header-Name": "header-value",
    "Host": "httpbin.org",
    "User-Agent": "xh/0.9.0"
  },
  "origin": "XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX",
  "url": "http://httpbin.org/get"
}

Use case 5: Making a GET Request and Saving the Response to a File

Code:

xh --download httpbin.org/json --output path/to/file

Motivation:

Saving HTTP response data to a file is crucial when the data needs to be persistently stored, analyzed later, or shared with others. Whether it’s retrieving a file from a URL or saving API response logs, this use case is frequent in data fetching operations, web scraping, or automated data archiving processes.

Explanation:

• xh --download: Command with a flag to download the request content.
• httpbin.org/json: The endpoint providing the JSON data.
• --output path/to/file: Directs xh to save the output to a specified file path, allowing easy organization and retrieval of saved data.

Example Output:

The content of httpbin.org/json, a JSON file, would be saved to the specified file path on your local machine.

Use case 6: Show Equivalent curl Command

Code:

xh --curl --follow --verbose get http://example.com user-agent:curl

Motivation:

Translating an xh command to its equivalent curl command helps users accustomed to curl understand the corresponding request details, see the behind-the-scenes of the tool, or utilize curl’s additional capabilities. This feature aids in learning and adapting HTTP request functionalities across different utilities.

Explanation:

• xh --curl: Option to show the equivalent curl command.
• --follow: Directive for curl to follow redirections.
• --verbose: Provides detailed information about the request and response.
• get http://example.com: Specifies a GET request to example.com.
• user-agent:curl: Sets a custom user-agent header typically used by curl.

Example Output:

No request is sent; instead, the command-line displays the equivalent curl command to run.

curl --location --verbose --header 'user-agent:curl' http://example.com

Conclusion:

The xh command offers a modern alternative to traditional HTTP tools by supporting ease-of-use, quick command execution, and provision for modern web interactions. From simple GET requests and JSON data submissions to saving HTTP response data and translating commands into curl, xh provides an expansive suite of functionalities indispensable for developers working with HTTP tasks. Its varied use cases illustrate the tool’s practicality for diverse HTTP request operations, facilitating effective web communication processes.