Cloud-Based vs Offline API Tooling : What is the best/optimal Dev Workflow?

Curious what folks here prefer when it comes to API development, especially builders, indie hackers, and early-stage dev teams.

When building or debugging an API. What is your go-to setup?

Cloud-Based Tools (Postman, Insomnia, Hoppscotch, etc.):

-Accessible from anywhere

-Team collaboration built-in

-Shiny UI and dashboard-y features

Offline-First Tools (local files + Git + editor):

-No internet dependency

-Specs and tests live with your codebase

-No vendor lock-in or per-seat pricing

Some things that keep coming up:

• Cloud tools can slow you down when servers lag

• Docs sometimes drift from reality

• Working offline (esp. with Git) keeps things more dev-native

On the other hand… cloud tools do make onboarding and sharing easier.

Would you trust your core API work to the cloud? Or would you rather keep it local, version-controlled, and editor-based?

Would love to hear from:

• Devs who have been burned by cloud downtime

• Startups weighing tooling decisions

• Solo builders trying to stay lean and fast

Drop your thoughts here. And if you are curious where this is coming from, we shared a few strong opinions in this post: https://voiden.md/blog/offline-vs-cloud-based-api-tools