# Getting Started with Requestly Local Workspace for Local Development

This document provides a clear and platform-independent guide to understanding and using the Local Workspace feature in the Requestly Desktop App. It is designed to be reusable across documentation portals, blogs, and knowledge bases.

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## 1. Introduction

Local Workspace is a workspace mode in Requestly that allows users to store and manage all API development data directly on their local machine.
Unlike team or cloud workspaces, Local Workspace keeps all collections, requests, and environment files offline and private.

This makes it particularly useful for:

* Local API development
* Private or secure environments
* Offline workflows
* Testing internal or non-public APIs
* Developers who prefer full data control

Local Workspace is currently available in the **Requestly Desktop App** and supports the **API Client**.

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## 2. Key Capabilities

### 2.1 Local Storage

All data—including API collections, requests, responses, and environments—is stored in a folder chosen by the user.

### 2.2 Offline Operation

Local Workspace supports complete offline usage. Internet connectivity is not required.

### 2.3 API Client Support

Supports all HTTP methods, including:

* GET
* POST
* PUT
* DELETE
* PATCH

Includes headers, params, body, and response viewer.

### 2.4 Local Collections

Users can organize APIs into collections, which map directly to folders in the chosen storage directory.

### 2.5 Local Environments

Environment variables such as base URLs, tokens, and keys are stored offline and isolated from cloud syncing.

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## 3. How to Create a Local Workspace

The following steps describe how to create a Local Workspace in Requestly Desktop App.

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### Step 1: Open Workspace Menu

In the Desktop App, click the workspace name in the top-left corner to open the workspace dropdown.

![Workspace Menu](https://via.placeholder.com/12....00x350.png?text=Work

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### Step 2: Select “Join or Create Workspace”

From the dropdown, choose **Join or Create Workspace**, then click **Create Workspace**.

![Join or Create](https://via.placeholder.com/12....00x350.png?text=Join

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### Step 3: Choose “Local Workspace”

Select **Local Workspace** as the workspace type.
Provide the following:

* Workspace Name
* A folder path where data will be stored locally

Recommended folder example:

```
/Users/yourname/Requestly_Local_Workspace/
```

![Select Local Workspace](https://via.placeholder.com/12....00x350.png?text=Sele

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### Step 4: Click “Create”

Your Local Workspace is now ready to use. All API files and settings will be stored exclusively on your device.

![Workspace Created](https://via.placeholder.com/12....00x350.png?text=Work

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## 4. Using Local Workspace

### 4.1 Creating API Requests

Users can create HTTP requests using supported methods and preview JSON or raw responses instantly.

### 4.2 Organizing Collections

Collections created in Local Workspace correspond directly to folders in the local filesystem.

### 4.3 Environment Variables

Create local environment files for managing tokens, URLs, and other reusable data.

Example variables:

```
{{api_url}}
{{auth_token}}
```

### 4.4 Running Completely Offline

All operations—including sending requests—can be performed without network access (if API server is local).

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## 5. Limitations (Beta)

Local Workspace is still evolving and currently has the following limitations:

| Limitation | Description |
| -------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| Only API Client supported | Other Requestly features are not yet included |
| Cannot delete a workspace via UI | Manual folder deletion required |
| Desktop App only | Not supported in web version |
| Early beta | Features may change in upcoming versions |

For issues and early access: **[contact@requestly.io](mailto:contact@requestly.io)**

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## 6. Placeholder Images

These images can be replaced by actual screenshots when available.

| Section | Link |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Workspace Menu | [https://via.placeholder.com/1200x350.png?text=Workspace+Menu](https://via.placeholder.com/12....00x350.png?text=Work |
| Join or Create Workspace | [https://via.placeholder.com/1200x350.png?text=Join+or+Create+Workspace](https://via.placeholder.com/12....00x350.png?text=Join |
| Select Local Workspace | [https://via.placeholder.com/1200x350.png?text=Select+Local+Workspace](https://via.placeholder.com/12....00x350.png?text=Sele |
| Workspace Created | [https://via.placeholder.com/1200x350.png?text=Workspace+Created](https://via.placeholder.com/12....00x350.png?text=Work |

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## 7. Summary

Local Workspace provides an offline-first, privacy-focused setup for API development within the Requestly Desktop App.
It is ideal for developers, secure environments, and internal API projects. As the feature progresses beyond beta, additional functionality and workspace management options will be introduced.