Apidog
All-in-one API platform to design, debug, mock, and test with CI/CD
Scalar
Instant, offline‑first OpenAPI client with modern interactive docs
A minimal, powerful API client that renders OpenAPI specs as a modern, interactive reference, syncs with your server, and works across major frameworks.
Overview
Overview
Scalar provides a fast, offline‑first way to turn any OpenAPI/Swagger document into a sleek, interactive reference. Developers can drop a single HTML file into their project, or embed the CDN script, and instantly get a modern UI that stays up‑to‑date with code changes. The tool is framework‑agnostic, working with FastAPI, Express, Hono, Django, Laravel, and dozens of others, making it suitable for both small utilities and large microservice ecosystems.
Capabilities
With Watch Mode, Scalar watches your OpenAPI source and refreshes the UI whenever the spec changes, eliminating manual rebuilds. Built‑in support for environment variables, request collections, and an integrated playground lets teams experiment with API calls directly from the docs. For teams that prefer a hosted solution, Scalar offers free edge‑hosted documentation with SSL and a custom subdomain, while paid plans add collaboration, custom domains, and rich text documentation. The platform is extensible via plugins and integrates seamlessly into CI pipelines through the Scalar CLI.
Highlights
Offline‑first rendering of OpenAPI/Swagger specifications
Watch mode automatically syncs UI with spec changes
Native integrations for dozens of popular frameworks
Collections, environment variables, and built‑in request playground
Pros
- Fast, single‑file setup works anywhere
- Modern UI stays current without legacy look
- Extensible via plugins and framework integrations
- Free managed hosting with SSL and custom subdomain
Considerations
- Requires a valid OpenAPI/Swagger document
- Deep UI customization may need code changes
- Collaboration and custom domains are paid features
- Self‑hosting requires manual static deployment
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Fit guide
Great for
- Teams needing quick, interactive API docs without heavy tooling
- Developers who want an offline reference that updates automatically
- Projects using frameworks like FastAPI, Express, or Hono
- Organizations looking for free hosted documentation with SSL
Not ideal when
- APIs not described with OpenAPI/Swagger
- Teams requiring extensive UI theming without coding
- Enterprises needing on‑premise documentation behind strict firewalls
- Users seeking a full‑featured API testing suite beyond basic requests
How teams use it
Generate live API docs from a FastAPI project
Developers push changes; Scalar’s watch mode updates the reference instantly, keeping docs in sync with code.
Create a shared, hosted API portal for external partners
Publish the reference on scalar.com, get a secure subdomain with SSL, and grant partner access without managing infrastructure.
Build a collection of reusable request snippets
Save, organize, and export requests across environments, streamlining testing and onboarding for new developers.
Integrate API playground into a React app
Embed the Scalar component via CDN, providing interactive request execution directly within the application UI.
Tech snapshot
Vue49%
TypeScript44%
C#2%
Java1%
Python1%
CSS1%
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an OpenAPI document to use Scalar?
Yes, Scalar renders documentation from a valid OpenAPI/Swagger JSON or YAML file.
Can I host the reference on my own server?
Yes, the client is a single HTML/JS bundle that can be served from any static host.
What frameworks are supported out of the box?
Scalar includes integrations for dozens of frameworks such as FastAPI, Express, Hono, Django, Laravel, NestJS, and more.
Is there a free hosted option?
Scalar offers free managed hosting with SSL and a *.apidocumentation.com subdomain; paid plans add collaboration and custom domain features.
How does Watch Mode work?
Watch Mode monitors your OpenAPI file or server endpoint and automatically refreshes the UI whenever changes are detected.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 13,553
- Watchers
- 13,553
- Forks
- 712
LicenseMIT
Repo age2 years old
Last commit2 hours ago
Primary languageTypeScript
Last synced 51 minutes ago