VS Code vs Desktop
Nouto runs on two platforms with a shared UI and core feature set. Both support HTTP requests, GraphQL over HTTP, GraphQL subscriptions, WebSockets, SSE, gRPC, collections, environments, authentication, scripts, assertions, the mock server, benchmarks, and code generation. The differences are in storage and operating system integration.
VS Code Extension
Section titled “VS Code Extension”Runs as a webview panel inside your editor. You access it from the activity bar without leaving VS Code.
HTTP client: Node.js via axios
Storage location: VS Code global extension storage by default
Storage modes: Global and workspace .nouto/collections/. See Storage Modes.
File watching: In workspace mode, Nouto watches collection files for external changes and reloads automatically.
Best for developers who want API testing integrated into their editor workflow, with collection files stored alongside their code.
Desktop App
Section titled “Desktop App”A standalone application built with Tauri 2.0 and a Rust backend.
HTTP client: Rust via reqwest, with native gzip, brotli, deflate, and zstd decompression
Storage location: App data directory by default, or .nouto/ in an opened project folder
Projects: Desktop projects use the same per request .nouto/collections/ layout as VS Code workspace storage.
Deep links: Supports the nouto:// URL scheme for OAuth callbacks and external launches. See Deep Links.
Auto-update: Built-in update checker. See Auto-Update.
Best for developers who want a dedicated, lightweight API client that works outside of VS Code, or who need the desktop app’s native HTTP capabilities.
JSON Explorer Extension
Section titled “JSON Explorer Extension”The JSON Explorer also ships on its own as the Nouto JSON Explorer VS Code extension. It runs the same viewer engine as the two clients above (tree and table views, search, query and JSONPath filtering, compare, type generation) but has no request, collection, or environment features.
Best for developers who want a fast JSON viewer in VS Code without installing the full REST client.
Feature Differences
Section titled “Feature Differences”| Feature | VS Code | Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Global storage | Yes | Yes |
Project .nouto/ storage |
Yes | Yes |
| File watching for project files | Yes | Yes |
Deep links (nouto://) |
No | Yes |
| Auto-update | No | Yes |
| Native compression (brotli, zstd) | No | Yes |
This table compares the two full REST clients. The standalone JSON Explorer extension is not a REST client and shares only the JSON viewing engine.