api-mock-server

name	api-mock-server
description	Generate a mock API server from OpenAPI specs, TypeScript interfaces, or endpoint descriptions for frontend development and testing. Use when the user asks to create a mock server, fake API, or stub endpoints.

Skill: API Mock Server

Generate a lightweight mock API server that returns realistic responses for frontend development and integration testing.

Trigger

When the user asks to mock an API, create a fake backend, stub endpoints, or generate a dev server from a spec.

Prerequisites

• API endpoints to mock identified
• Response shapes known (from OpenAPI spec, TypeScript types, or examples)

Steps

Step 1: Choose Approach

Approach	Tool	Best For
JSON Server	json-server	Quick REST mock from a JSON file
MSW (Mock Service Worker)	msw	Browser/Node request interception for tests
Express mock	express	Custom logic, delays, error simulation
Prism	@stoplight/prism-cli	Auto-mock from OpenAPI spec

Step 2: Generate Mock Data

• Use the test-data-factory skill to create realistic data
• Generate 10–50 records per resource
• Include relationships (foreign keys reference valid IDs)

Step 3a: JSON Server (Simplest)

// mock-db.json
{
  "users": [
    { "id": "usr_001", "name": "Alice Johnson", "email": "[e-mail]", "role": "admin" },
    { "id": "usr_002", "name": "Bob Smith", "email": "[e-mail]", "role": "user" }
  ],
  "orders": [
    { "id": "ord_001", "userId": "usr_001", "status": "CONFIRMED", "total": 99.99 }
  ]
}

npx json-server mock-db.json --port 3001 --delay 200

Step 3b: MSW Handlers (for Tests)

// mocks/handlers.ts
import { http, HttpResponse } from 'msw';

export const handlers = [
  http.get('/api/v1/users', () => {
    return HttpResponse.json({
      data: [
        { id: 'usr_001', name: 'Alice Johnson', email: '[e-mail]' },
      ],
      meta: { correlationId: 'mock-123', timestamp: new Date().toISOString() },
    });
  }),

  http.post('/api/v1/users', async ({ request }) => {
    const body = await request.json();
    return HttpResponse.json(
      { data: { id: 'usr_new', ...body }, meta: { correlationId: 'mock-456' } },
      { status: 201 }
    );
  }),

  http.get('/api/v1/users/:id', ({ params }) => {
    if (params.id === 'not-found') {
      return HttpResponse.json(
        { error: { code: 'NOT_FOUND', message: 'User not found' } },
        { status: 404 }
      );
    }
    return HttpResponse.json({
      data: { id: params.id, name: 'Alice Johnson' },
    });
  }),
];

// mocks/server.ts (Node.js)
import { setupServer } from 'msw/node';
import { handlers } from './handlers';
export const server = setupServer(...handlers);

// mocks/browser.ts (Browser)
import { setupWorker } from 'msw/browser';
import { handlers } from './handlers';
export const worker = setupWorker(...handlers);

Step 3c: Express Mock (Custom Logic)

// mock-server.ts
import express from 'express';

const app = express();
app.use(express.json());

// Simulate latency
app.use((req, res, next) => {
  setTimeout(next, 100 + Math.random() * 200);
});

app.get('/api/v1/resources', (req, res) => {
  const page = parseInt(req.query.cursor as string) || 0;
  res.json({
    data: generateResources(20),
    meta: {
      cursor: page + 20,
      hasMore: page < 100,
      correlationId: req.headers['x-correlation-id'] || 'mock',
    },
  });
});

// Error simulation
app.get('/api/v1/error', (req, res) => {
  res.status(500).json({ error: { code: 'INTERNAL_ERROR', message: 'Simulated error' } });
});

app.listen(3001, () => console.log('Mock server on http://localhost:3001'));

Step 4: Add Error Scenarios

• 400 — validation error (missing required field)
• 401 — unauthorized (expired/missing token)
• 404 — resource not found
• 429 — rate limited
• 500 — internal server error
• Timeout simulation (delayed response)

Step 5: Add to package.json Scripts

{
  "scripts": {
    "mock": "npx json-server mock-db.json --port 3001",
    "mock:msw": "ts-node mocks/server.ts"
  }
}

Step 6: Document

• List all mocked endpoints
• Document special behaviors (error triggers, delays)
• Note any differences from real API

Rules

• NEVER include real credentials or PII in mock data
• ALWAYS match the real API's response envelope format
• ALWAYS include realistic latency simulation (100–300ms)
• ALWAYS include error scenarios alongside happy paths
• Mock data should use @example.com emails, fake names, and UUID-style IDs
• Response shapes must match the real API contract exactly

Completion

Working mock server with realistic data, error scenarios, and run instructions.

If a Step Fails

• No API spec: Build from TypeScript interfaces or example responses
• Complex auth flow: Bypass auth in mock, add header check for token presence only
• GraphQL API: Use MSW's graphql handlers instead of http
• WebSocket endpoints: Use ws library for mock WebSocket server