Centralized Postman Workspace for API Management
Introduction:
To simplify the maintenance of API Collections in the MuleSoft development environment, we have adopted a centralized strategy that makes use of Postman collections. This process not only makes our workflow more efficient, but it also encourages smooth teamwork. One of the main tenets of our strategy is the use of the fork collection technique, which allows us to easily manage collections and facilitate updates and revisions.
Key Activities in Centralized Postman Collection Management:
1. Single Workspace:
All API collections are centralized within a single workspace, which facilitates easy access and organization.
2. Fork Collection Approach:
All the postman collections for different APIs have been stored in the “MuleSoft“ workspace. Using this approach, we will create a copy of the collection which we want to modify in the “MuleSoft Fork Collection” workspace. It allows users to make modifications to the copied collection without affecting the original, promoting collaboration and experimentation while maintaining the integrity of the original collection. Forking is particularly useful when multiple teams or individuals need to work on different versions of the same collection simultaneously.
To fork a collection in Postman, follow these steps:
1) Open Postman:
a. Launch the Postman application or navigate to the Postman web interface.
2) Select Collection:
a. Choose the collection you want to fork from the left sidebar. This should be the collection that you wish to make modifications to without affecting the original.
3) Fork Collection:
a. Click on the ellipsis (…) next to the collection name.
b. From the dropdown menu, select “Fork Collection.”
4) Choose Destination Workspace:
a. A dialog box will appear, asking you to choose the destination workspace for the forked collection.
b. Select the “MuleSoft Fork Collection” workspace to create the forked copy of the collection.
c. After selecting the destination workspace, click on the “Fork” button to proceed.
5) Access Forked Collection:
a. Once the forking process is complete, you’ll be redirected to the destination workspace.
b. Navigate to the collections section of the “MuleSoft Fork Collection” workspace to find the forked copy of the collection.
c. Open the forked collection and make the necessary modifications, such as adding new requests, updating request parameters, or refining documentation.
6) Merge Changes:
a. If you’re satisfied with the modifications and want to incorporate them back into the original collection, click on Merge All Changes or raise a PR for merge.
b. Contact the owner of the original collection or follow your team’s collaboration process to discuss and merge the changes.
c. After merging the changes, you’ll notice that the modified updates will be reflected in the original Postman collection.
7) Repeat as Needed:
a. You can repeat this process as needed for other collections or for different modifications within the same collection.
b. By following these steps, you can effectively use the fork collection approach in Postman to create copies of existing collections, make modifications, and manage your APIs efficiently without affecting the original collections.
8) Environment Variables:
Variables for DEV and QA environments have been created within the collections. This ensures flexibility and ease of configuration across different environments.
10) Integration-Specific Collections:
Collections have been categorized according to integrations, with each collection containing endpoints specific to the integration. This enhances clarity and organization.
10. Collection-Level Authorization:
Authorization has been set up at the collection level to ensure secure access and usage of APIs.
4. Externalized URLs:
URLs have been externalized to streamline configuration and management. This allows for easy modification of URLs without altering the collection structure.
Benefits:
Promoting Collaboration:
Centralizing collections and implementing the fork collection approach promotes collaboration among team members. It encourages sharing of ideas and best practices while accommodating diverse project requirements.
Efficient Management:
Categorizing collections by integration and externalizing URLs streamline management tasks. This ensures clarity, organization, and ease of maintenance.
Enhanced Flexibility:
Environment variables and collection-level authorization enhance flexibility and adaptability across different environments and scenarios.
conclusion:
Finally, there are a number of benefits to using a centralized Postman workspace for MuleSoft API management. Through the utilization of the fork collection technique and the implementation of crucial tasks such as management of a single workspace, collections tailored to specific integrations, and management of environment variable consumption, teams may optimize productivity, improve cooperation, and guarantee security. Centralization encourages collaboration and creativity, but externalization and organization make managerial duties easier. All things considered, in the MuleSoft ecosystem, this strategy promotes business success, streamlines API management, and quickens development cycles.
