mock-server
Create and manage mock API servers for development and testing.
Best use case
mock-server is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt. It is especially useful for teams working in multi. Create and manage mock API servers for development and testing.
Create and manage mock API servers for development and testing.
Users should expect a more consistent workflow output, faster repeated execution, and less time spent rewriting prompts from scratch.
Practical example
Example input
Use the "mock-server" skill to help with this workflow task. Context: Create and manage mock API servers for development and testing.
Example output
A structured workflow result with clearer steps, more consistent formatting, and an output that is easier to reuse in the next run.
When to use this skill
- Use this skill when you want a reusable workflow rather than writing the same prompt again and again.
When not to use this skill
- Do not use this when you only need a one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- Do not use it if you cannot install or maintain the related files, repository context, or supporting tools.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/mock-server/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How mock-server Compares
| Feature / Agent | mock-server | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Create and manage mock API servers for development and testing.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Mock Server Skill
Create and manage mock API servers for development and testing.
## Instructions
You are a mock API server expert. When invoked:
1. **Create Mock Servers**:
- Generate mock API endpoints from OpenAPI specs
- Create custom mock responses
- Simulate different response scenarios
- Mock REST and GraphQL APIs
- Handle various HTTP methods
2. **Configure Behavior**:
- Set response delays/latency
- Simulate error conditions
- Return different responses based on input
- Implement state management
- Mock authentication
3. **Advanced Scenarios**:
- Simulate network failures
- Random error injection
- Rate limiting simulation
- Conditional responses
- CORS configuration
4. **Integration**:
- Proxy to real APIs
- Record and replay requests
- Generate mock data
- Integration with testing frameworks
## Usage Examples
```
@mock-server
@mock-server --from-openapi
@mock-server --port 3000
@mock-server --with-delays
@mock-server --graphql
```
## JSON Server (Simple Mock)
### Quick Setup
```bash
# Install
npm install -g json-server
# Create db.json
cat > db.json << EOF
{
"users": [
{ "id": 1, "name": "John Doe", "email": "john@example.com" },
{ "id": 2, "name": "Jane Smith", "email": "jane@example.com" }
],
"posts": [
{ "id": 1, "title": "Hello World", "userId": 1 },
{ "id": 2, "title": "Mock APIs", "userId": 2 }
]
}
EOF
# Start server
json-server --watch db.json --port 3000
```
### Available Endpoints (Auto-generated)
```bash
# GET all users
curl http://localhost:3000/users
# GET user by ID
curl http://localhost:3000/users/1
# POST new user
curl -X POST http://localhost:3000/users \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"name": "Bob", "email": "bob@example.com"}'
# PUT update user
curl -X PUT http://localhost:3000/users/1 \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"id": 1, "name": "John Updated", "email": "john.new@example.com"}'
# PATCH partial update
curl -X PATCH http://localhost:3000/users/1 \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"name": "John Patched"}'
# DELETE user
curl -X DELETE http://localhost:3000/users/1
# Query parameters
curl "http://localhost:3000/users?_page=1&_limit=10"
curl "http://localhost:3000/users?_sort=name&_order=asc"
curl "http://localhost:3000/posts?userId=1"
```
### Custom Routes
```javascript
// routes.json
{
"/api/*": "/$1",
"/users/:id/posts": "/posts?userId=:id",
"/auth/login": "/login"
}
// Start with custom routes
json-server db.json --routes routes.json
```
## Mock Service Worker (MSW)
### Setup
```bash
npm install --save-dev msw
```
### REST API Mocking
```javascript
// src/mocks/handlers.js
import { http, HttpResponse } from 'msw';
export const handlers = [
// GET users
http.get('/api/users', () => {
return HttpResponse.json([
{ id: '1', name: 'John Doe', email: 'john@example.com' },
{ id: '2', name: 'Jane Smith', email: 'jane@example.com' }
]);
}),
// GET user by ID
http.get('/api/users/:userId', ({ params }) => {
const { userId } = params;
// Simulate not found
if (userId === '999') {
return new HttpResponse(null, { status: 404 });
}
return HttpResponse.json({
id: userId,
name: 'John Doe',
email: 'john@example.com'
});
}),
// POST create user
http.post('/api/users', async ({ request }) => {
const data = await request.json();
// Simulate validation error
if (!data.email) {
return HttpResponse.json(
{ error: 'Email is required' },
{ status: 400 }
);
}
return HttpResponse.json(
{
id: '123',
...data,
createdAt: new Date().toISOString()
},
{ status: 201 }
);
}),
// PUT update user
http.put('/api/users/:userId', async ({ params, request }) => {
const { userId } = params;
const data = await request.json();
return HttpResponse.json({
id: userId,
...data,
updatedAt: new Date().toISOString()
});
}),
// DELETE user
http.delete('/api/users/:userId', ({ params }) => {
return new HttpResponse(null, { status: 204 });
}),
// Simulate delay
http.get('/api/slow-endpoint', async () => {
await delay(2000); // 2 second delay
return HttpResponse.json({ message: 'Slow response' });
}),
// Simulate random errors
http.get('/api/unreliable', () => {
if (Math.random() > 0.5) {
return new HttpResponse(null, { status: 500 });
}
return HttpResponse.json({ status: 'ok' });
}),
// Authentication
http.post('/api/auth/login', async ({ request }) => {
const { email, password } = await request.json();
if (email === 'user@example.com' && password === 'password') {
return HttpResponse.json({
accessToken: 'mock-jwt-token',
refreshToken: 'mock-refresh-token',
expiresIn: 3600
});
}
return HttpResponse.json(
{ error: 'Invalid credentials' },
{ status: 401 }
);
})
];
function delay(ms) {
return new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
}
```
### Browser Setup
```javascript
// src/mocks/browser.js
import { setupWorker } from 'msw/browser';
import { handlers } from './handlers';
export const worker = setupWorker(...handlers);
// src/index.js
if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development') {
const { worker } = await import('./mocks/browser');
await worker.start();
}
```
### Node.js Setup (Testing)
```javascript
// src/mocks/server.js
import { setupServer } from 'msw/node';
import { handlers } from './handlers';
export const server = setupServer(...handlers);
// src/tests/setup.js
import { server } from '../mocks/server';
beforeAll(() => server.listen());
afterEach(() => server.resetHandlers());
afterAll(() => server.close());
```
## Prism (OpenAPI-based)
### From OpenAPI Spec
```bash
# Install
npm install -g @stoplight/prism-cli
# Start mock server from OpenAPI spec
prism mock openapi.yaml
# Specify port
prism mock openapi.yaml --port 4010
# Enable validation
prism mock openapi.yaml --errors
# Dynamic responses based on examples
prism mock openapi.yaml --dynamic
```
### Example OpenAPI for Prism
```yaml
openapi: 3.0.0
info:
title: Mock API
version: 1.0.0
paths:
/api/users:
get:
responses:
'200':
description: Success
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: array
items:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/User'
examples:
success:
value:
- id: "1"
name: "John Doe"
email: "john@example.com"
/api/users/{userId}:
get:
parameters:
- name: userId
in: path
required: true
schema:
type: string
responses:
'200':
description: Success
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/User'
examples:
user:
value:
id: "1"
name: "John Doe"
email: "john@example.com"
'404':
description: Not found
content:
application/json:
examples:
notFound:
value:
error: "User not found"
components:
schemas:
User:
type: object
properties:
id:
type: string
name:
type: string
email:
type: string
```
## Express Mock Server
### Custom Implementation
```javascript
const express = require('express');
const cors = require('cors');
const app = express();
app.use(cors());
app.use(express.json());
// Middleware for random delays
app.use((req, res, next) => {
const delay = Math.random() * 1000; // 0-1 second
setTimeout(next, delay);
});
// Middleware for authentication
app.use('/api/*', (req, res, next) => {
const token = req.headers.authorization;
if (!token || !token.startsWith('Bearer ')) {
return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Unauthorized' });
}
next();
});
// In-memory database
let users = [
{ id: '1', name: 'John Doe', email: 'john@example.com' },
{ id: '2', name: 'Jane Smith', email: 'jane@example.com' }
];
// GET all users
app.get('/api/users', (req, res) => {
const { page = 1, limit = 10 } = req.query;
const start = (page - 1) * limit;
const end = start + parseInt(limit);
const paginatedUsers = users.slice(start, end);
res.json({
data: paginatedUsers,
meta: {
page: parseInt(page),
limit: parseInt(limit),
total: users.length,
totalPages: Math.ceil(users.length / limit)
}
});
});
// GET user by ID
app.get('/api/users/:id', (req, res) => {
const user = users.find(u => u.id === req.params.id);
if (!user) {
return res.status(404).json({ error: 'User not found' });
}
res.json(user);
});
// POST create user
app.post('/api/users', (req, res) => {
const { name, email } = req.body;
// Validation
if (!name || !email) {
return res.status(400).json({
error: 'Validation failed',
details: {
name: !name ? 'Name is required' : undefined,
email: !email ? 'Email is required' : undefined
}
});
}
// Check duplicate email
if (users.some(u => u.email === email)) {
return res.status(409).json({ error: 'Email already exists' });
}
const newUser = {
id: String(Date.now()),
name,
email,
createdAt: new Date().toISOString()
};
users.push(newUser);
res.status(201).json(newUser);
});
// PUT update user
app.put('/api/users/:id', (req, res) => {
const index = users.findIndex(u => u.id === req.params.id);
if (index === -1) {
return res.status(404).json({ error: 'User not found' });
}
users[index] = {
...users[index],
...req.body,
updatedAt: new Date().toISOString()
};
res.json(users[index]);
});
// PATCH partial update
app.patch('/api/users/:id', (req, res) => {
const index = users.findIndex(u => u.id === req.params.id);
if (index === -1) {
return res.status(404).json({ error: 'User not found' });
}
users[index] = {
...users[index],
...req.body,
updatedAt: new Date().toISOString()
};
res.json(users[index]);
});
// DELETE user
app.delete('/api/users/:id', (req, res) => {
const index = users.findIndex(u => u.id === req.params.id);
if (index === -1) {
return res.status(404).json({ error: 'User not found' });
}
users.splice(index, 1);
res.status(204).send();
});
// Error simulation endpoint
app.get('/api/simulate-error', (req, res) => {
const errorType = req.query.type || 'random';
if (errorType === 'timeout') {
// Never respond (timeout)
return;
}
if (errorType === 'random' && Math.random() > 0.5) {
return res.status(500).json({ error: 'Internal server error' });
}
res.json({ status: 'ok' });
});
// Health check
app.get('/health', (req, res) => {
res.json({ status: 'ok', timestamp: new Date().toISOString() });
});
const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3000;
app.listen(PORT, () => {
console.log(`Mock server running on http://localhost:${PORT}`);
});
```
## GraphQL Mock Server
### Using Apollo Server
```javascript
const { ApolloServer, gql } = require('apollo-server');
const { MockList } = require('@graphql-tools/mock');
// Schema
const typeDefs = gql`
type User {
id: ID!
name: String!
email: String!
posts: [Post!]!
}
type Post {
id: ID!
title: String!
content: String!
author: User!
}
type Query {
users: [User!]!
user(id: ID!): User
posts: [Post!]!
}
type Mutation {
createUser(name: String!, email: String!): User!
createPost(title: String!, content: String!, authorId: ID!): Post!
}
`;
// Mocks
const mocks = {
User: () => ({
id: () => Math.random().toString(36).substring(7),
name: () => 'John Doe',
email: () => 'john@example.com',
posts: () => new MockList([2, 6])
}),
Post: () => ({
id: () => Math.random().toString(36).substring(7),
title: () => 'Sample Post',
content: () => 'This is mock content'
}),
Query: () => ({
users: () => new MockList([10, 20]),
posts: () => new MockList([20, 40])
})
};
const server = new ApolloServer({
typeDefs,
mocks,
mockEntireSchema: false
});
server.listen().then(({ url }) => {
console.log(`GraphQL mock server ready at ${url}`);
});
```
### Custom Resolvers
```javascript
const resolvers = {
Query: {
users: () => [
{ id: '1', name: 'John Doe', email: 'john@example.com' },
{ id: '2', name: 'Jane Smith', email: 'jane@example.com' }
],
user: (_, { id }) => {
const users = [
{ id: '1', name: 'John Doe', email: 'john@example.com' },
{ id: '2', name: 'Jane Smith', email: 'jane@example.com' }
];
return users.find(u => u.id === id);
}
},
Mutation: {
createUser: (_, { name, email }) => ({
id: Math.random().toString(36).substring(7),
name,
email
})
}
};
const server = new ApolloServer({
typeDefs,
resolvers
});
```
## WireMock (Java-based)
### Docker Setup
```bash
# Run WireMock in Docker
docker run -d \
--name wiremock \
-p 8080:8080 \
-v $(pwd)/wiremock:/home/wiremock \
wiremock/wiremock:latest
# Create mapping
mkdir -p wiremock/mappings
cat > wiremock/mappings/users.json << EOF
{
"request": {
"method": "GET",
"url": "/api/users"
},
"response": {
"status": 200,
"headers": {
"Content-Type": "application/json"
},
"jsonBody": [
{ "id": "1", "name": "John Doe", "email": "john@example.com" }
]
}
}
EOF
```
## Mock Data Generation
### Using Faker.js
```javascript
const { faker } = require('@faker-js/faker');
// Generate mock user
function generateUser() {
return {
id: faker.string.uuid(),
name: faker.person.fullName(),
email: faker.internet.email(),
avatar: faker.image.avatar(),
address: {
street: faker.location.streetAddress(),
city: faker.location.city(),
country: faker.location.country()
},
createdAt: faker.date.past().toISOString()
};
}
// Generate multiple users
function generateUsers(count = 10) {
return Array.from({ length: count }, generateUser);
}
// Generate posts
function generatePost() {
return {
id: faker.string.uuid(),
title: faker.lorem.sentence(),
content: faker.lorem.paragraphs(3),
author: generateUser(),
createdAt: faker.date.past().toISOString()
};
}
```
## Advanced Scenarios
### Conditional Responses
```javascript
// Return different responses based on headers
http.get('/api/users', ({ request }) => {
const acceptLanguage = request.headers.get('Accept-Language');
if (acceptLanguage?.includes('es')) {
return HttpResponse.json({
mensaje: 'Hola Mundo'
});
}
return HttpResponse.json({
message: 'Hello World'
});
});
// Based on query parameters
http.get('/api/users', ({ request }) => {
const url = new URL(request.url);
const format = url.searchParams.get('format');
if (format === 'xml') {
return new HttpResponse(
'<users><user>John</user></users>',
{ headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/xml' } }
);
}
return HttpResponse.json([{ name: 'John' }]);
});
```
### Stateful Mocking
```javascript
let requestCount = 0;
http.get('/api/rate-limit', () => {
requestCount++;
if (requestCount > 10) {
return HttpResponse.json(
{ error: 'Rate limit exceeded' },
{ status: 429 }
);
}
return HttpResponse.json({ count: requestCount });
});
```
### Network Error Simulation
```javascript
http.get('/api/network-error', () => {
return HttpResponse.error();
});
// Timeout simulation
http.get('/api/timeout', async () => {
await delay(30000); // 30 second timeout
return HttpResponse.json({});
});
```
## Best Practices
### Mock Server Design
- Mirror production API structure
- Use realistic data
- Implement proper error responses
- Support pagination
- Include rate limiting simulation
### Data Management
- Use data generators for realistic mock data
- Maintain consistent data across requests
- Reset state between test runs
- Support CRUD operations
- Implement proper relationships
### Response Scenarios
- Success responses (200, 201, 204)
- Client errors (400, 401, 403, 404, 409)
- Server errors (500, 502, 503)
- Network errors
- Timeouts
### Development Workflow
- Start mock server before frontend development
- Use environment variables for API URLs
- Switch between mock and real API easily
- Document available endpoints
- Keep mock data synchronized with API
### Testing
- Use mocks for isolated unit tests
- Test error handling
- Verify request validation
- Test authentication flows
- Simulate edge cases
## Tools Comparison
| Tool | Best For | Complexity | Features |
|------|----------|------------|----------|
| JSON Server | Quick prototypes | Low | Auto-CRUD, simple setup |
| MSW | Browser/Node testing | Medium | Request interception, powerful |
| Prism | OpenAPI specs | Low | Spec-based, validation |
| WireMock | Enterprise, Java | High | Recording, matching |
| Custom Express | Full control | Medium | Complete customization |
## Notes
- Use mock servers during frontend development
- Keep mock responses synchronized with API contracts
- Test both success and failure scenarios
- Implement realistic delays for better testing
- Use environment variables to switch between mock/real APIs
- Document mock endpoints and behaviors
- Reset mock state between tests
- Use data generators for realistic data
- Implement proper CORS for browser testing
- Version mock data alongside API versionsRelated Skills
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