Chiko

What Chiko is

Chiko is a free, open source terminal interface for testing gRPC APIs. When a server supports reflection, it can discover and browse that server’s gRPC endpoints. Chiko generates formatted request templates and supports Bearer tokens for request authorization; users can also add custom headers and metadata. Requests can be saved as bookmarks and replayed. The project lists importing and exporting grpcurl commands as completed features, and a release changelog says SSL connection support was added.

Chiko is distributed as desktop software and is hosted on GitHub. The README provides installation options through Homebrew, Go install, source, and prebuilt releases. The repository identifies the MIT License and lists a Free plan priced at $0, with no paid plans or usage limits stated. OAuth and API keys are listed as work in progress, as is importing proto files; password protection for sensitive bookmarks is also on the roadmap. The project invites users to report issues, request features, improve documentation, and contribute code. Its maker, Felix Angga, identifies as a software engineer on his GitHub profile.

Who it suits

Chiko suits developers who want a terminal-based way to send and replay requests to gRPC services. It is especially relevant when the server supports reflection and Bearer token authorization is sufficient for requests.

Getting started

1. Open the Chiko GitHub repository.
2. Install it using Homebrew, Go install, source, or a prebuilt release.
3. Connect to a gRPC server that supports reflection to discover and browse endpoints.
4. Create a request, add any Bearer token or custom metadata, then save it as a bookmark if needed.

Verdict

Choose Chiko if you want a free terminal interface for gRPC requests and your server supports reflection. Look elsewhere if your workflow depends on OAuth, API keys, or proto file import, which are listed as work in progress.