When my laptop was damaged, I had to switch back to my old Windows 8 machine. Installing development tools like Rust, Linux, and IDEs was quite a hassle, especially since I relied on Postman to test my server endpoints. To avoid installing Postman, I discovered that it offers a web application. However, for security reasons, the web version doesn’t support localhost which was very disappointing. After some research, I found a solution: using a tunnelling tool. This tool lets you expose your local server to the web, providing a generated URL that you can use to interact with and test your endpoints.

And the best part is that it is free.

So this service I mentioned was:

1. ssh srv.us
2. ngrok

SSH SRV.US

ssh srv.us is a versatile tool that allows you to expose local services online securely over TLS without the need for additional installations outside of Windows. It offers a range of features, including exposing HTTP servers to the internet through stable, public HTTPS URLs, sharing files, finding your IP, and even hosting static websites. With a focus on simplicity and privacy, ssh srv.us provides a free and open-source solution for developers who need to expose services or test endpoints without the hassle of setting up complex tunneling configurations. Whether you need to expose a server running on your local machine or share a simple file, ssh srv.us makes the process seamless and accessible.

Ngrok

Ngrok is a powerful tool that enables you to securely expose your local development servers to the internet with minimal setup. By creating a secure tunnel, Ngrok provides you with a stable public URL that can be used to access your local applications from anywhere. It supports various protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, and TCP, making it a versatile solution for tasks like sharing your work in progress, testing webhooks, or accessing your local services remotely.

It also offers advanced features such as custom subdomains, request inspection, and traffic analysis, all while ensuring that your connections remain secure. Whether you're a developer needing to expose a local server for quick access or looking for a simple way to share files or test APIs, Ngrok simplifies the process and makes it easy to collaborate and troubleshoot in real-time.

These tools can be used both on clients and servers, and it doesn't matter what programming language you use, as long as a server or localhost is running it works.

So if you're trying to reduce your space, well you can use the above tools, without having to install them. If you have any question and want to find out anything drop a comment.

Happ coding. 💻👌