Form & JSON Input

Bowire provides two input modes for composing requests: a structured form view and a raw JSON editor.

Form Mode

When you select a method, Bowire auto-generates a form from the method's input schema. Each field appears as a labeled input with its type indicated (string, int32, bool, etc.). Nested messages render as collapsible groups.

Form mode is ideal for:

• Quick edits to individual fields
• Exploring unfamiliar schemas where field names and types guide you
• Avoiding JSON syntax errors

JSON Mode

Switch to JSON mode for full control over the request body. Bowire generates a JSON template from the schema with placeholder values, so you start with a valid structure.

JSON mode is ideal for:

• Pasting request bodies from other tools
• Complex nested structures with repeated fields
• Copying requests for documentation or sharing

Auto-Generated Templates

When you first select a method, Bowire creates a template based on the schema:

{
  "name": "string",
  "age": 0,
  "active": false,
  "tags": []
}

Placeholder values match the field type: "string" for strings, 0 for numbers, false for booleans, and [] for repeated fields. Nested messages include their own fields recursively.

Switching Between Modes

Toggle between form and JSON input using the mode switch above the request editor. Changes in one mode are preserved when switching to the other -- the underlying JSON is kept in sync.

Configuration

Input mode is a per-session preference stored in the browser's localStorage. There is no server-side configuration for input mode.