Overview
Public APIs is a searchable directory that helps developers discover free APIs for their projects. Instead of browsing through GitHub repositories or scattered lists, users can filter by category, authentication requirements, and HTTPS support.
The project gained significant traction on Product Hunt, receiving badges for Top Post of the Day and Golden Kitty nomination.
Why I Built This
I kept finding interesting APIs in GitHub’s public-apis repository but struggled to discover them efficiently. The markdown list became unwieldy, and I wanted:
- Category filtering: Quickly find all “Music” or “Finance” APIs
- Auth visibility: See at a glance which APIs require keys
- HTTPS indicator: Security-conscious selection
- Fast search: Instant results without page reloads
This was also an experiment in building a lightweight, content-focused app with Next.js static generation.
Key Features
Search & Filter
Real-time search across API names, descriptions, and categories. Filter by:
- Category (40+ categories from Animals to Weather)
- Authentication type (None, API Key, OAuth, etc.)
- HTTPS support
- CORS availability
Responsive Grid Layout
APIs displayed in a clean card grid that adapts from single column (mobile) to 3 columns (desktop). Each card shows essential info at a glance.
Dark Mode Support
Full dark mode with Tailwind’s dark variant. The UI automatically respects system preferences.
PWA Ready
Configured as a Progressive Web App with offline support, installable on mobile devices.
External Links
Direct links to API documentation and source repositories, making it easy to explore further.
Build Notes
Static Generation Strategy
The app fetches API data at build time using getStaticProps, creating a static site that loads instantly. Data updates trigger a new build via webhook — no database, no server runtime, just static files served from CDN.
Tech Evolution
Originally built with Chakra UI, the app was migrated to Tailwind CSS + Radix UI primitives. The motivation was bundle size reduction and more flexibility in styling — Chakra’s component abstractions weren’t needed for what’s essentially a filterable list with search.
Data Source
Powered by the public-apis project by Dave Machado. The site provides a searchable interface to this open dataset.
Recognition
- Product Hunt: #1 Product of the Day
- Product Hunt: Golden Kitty Award Nominee
- Featured in various developer newsletters
Current Status
Stable and in maintenance mode. The data updates automatically from the upstream source. Occasionally refreshed with UI improvements and dependency updates.