Developer Guides
JSON, APIs, and everyday coding problems — explained with real examples and the tool to try each one.
JSON formatting, API testing, hashing, JWT decoding, regex debugging, URL analysis — the developer guides cover the tools and techniques that come up daily in real projects. Each guide explains the concept, walks through a worked example, and links to the ForgePlug tool that does the work.
Whether you're debugging an API response, validating data shapes with JSON Schema, or spinning up a mock backend to prototype a frontend, these guides pair practical explanations with the free tools you need. Everything runs in your browser, so your code and data never leave your device.
Developer Guides — Guides & Tutorials
3 guides covering practical workflows, examples, and best practices.
How to Test a REST API Without Building a Backend
You don't need a server to design, test, and document an API. Here's how mock APIs work and how to prototype requests, errors, and auth before any backend code exists.
What Is JSON Schema and When Should Developers Use It?
JSON Schema is a way to describe the shape of JSON data — required fields, types, ranges — in a machine-checkable form. Here's when it's worth using and when it isn't.
How to Format JSON When Debugging API Responses
Raw API responses arrive as one long unreadable line. Here's how to format them, what the common errors mean, and when formatting alone won't save you.
Developer Tools
Free tools that run entirely in your browser — no sign-up, no uploads, no limits.
JSON Formatter & Validator
Format, validate, and beautify JSON data instantly.
JSON Validator
Validate JSON with human-friendly error messages and instant feedback.
JSON Diff
Compare JSON files visually. Highlight additions, removals and modifications with side-by-side and inline comparison.
JWT Decoder
Decode and inspect JSON Web Tokens securely in your browser. View headers, payloads, claims, and expiration status.
Base64 Encoder & Decoder
Encode and decode Base64 instantly with Unicode, file, and live mode support.
Hash Generator
Generate secure hashes instantly using MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512. Hash text and files locally with zero uploads.
Regex Tester & Builder
Test, debug, explain and build regular expressions visually with live highlighting, token explanations, and a built-in debugger.
Mock API Studio
Create, test and consume realistic fake REST APIs instantly — prebuilt datasets, full CRUD, filtering, sorting, pagination, mock auth, error & latency simulation, GraphQL, OpenAPI and 15-language code generation. Free, private, browser-first.
Developer Guides — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about developer guide on ForgePlug.