# danirod/cartero

The free, lightweight and multiplatform graphical HTTP client that respects your privacy.

Repository: https://github.com/danirod/cartero
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/cartero
Homepage: https://cartero.danirod.es
Language: Rust
License: GPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: curl, gnome, gtk-rs, gtk4, http-client, rust, adwaita, libadwaita
Last push: 2026-06-08T17:44:56+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 71/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 86, release rhythm 55, longevity 63
- inputs: {"age_days": 894, "days_push": 86, "days_rel": 220, "gap_med": 35.0, "n_releases_24m": 11}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1037, forks 61 (observed 2026-08-28T04:03:19.550975+00:00)

## What it is
Cartero is a free, native, multiplatform graphical HTTP client for testing web APIs, built in Rust with GTK4/libadwaita. It saves requests as Git-friendly TOML files, supports variable binding for secrets, and requires no accounts, cloud, or AI integration.

## Use cases
- test REST APIs with a graphical client
- send HTTP requests without an Electron app or account
- share API request collections with my team via Git
- free Postman alternative that respects privacy
- graphical alternative to curl for API testing
- store API keys as variables in request files

## When to choose
- you want a native, lightweight desktop HTTP client on Linux, Windows, or macOS
- you need fully free software with no cloud subscription or login
- you want requests stored in plain text files versioned with Git
- you prefer a GNOME/GTK-native tool

## When to avoid
- you need advanced features like automated test suites, mocking, or team cloud sync found in Postman/Insomnia
- you need a CLI-only or scriptable HTTP tool
- you require non-GTK native look on macOS/Windows or IDE integration

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: http-client, developer-tools, gui
- domain: developer-tools, apis, web-development, cross-platform
- platform: windows, rust
- tags: gtk4, libadwaita, rest-client, api-testing, privacy-respecting, toml-projects, curl-alternative, postman-alternative, gnome, linux, macos, desktop

## Member repositories
- danirod/cartero (main) score 71

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:19.550975+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T07:04:22.565420+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/danirod/cartero (fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:19.550975+00:00, sha 6a2e9f7ff059)
  - homepage: https://cartero.danirod.es (fetched 2026-08-29T13:05:13.898745+00:00, sha 38b4de87a207)
  - site_page: https://cartero.danirod.es/docs (fetched 2026-08-29T13:05:13.901131+00:00, sha b07e2846fa8f)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.