Universal Client

The Universal Client mode lets you connect to any JSON-RPC 2.0 service and interactively call its methods. It’s perfect for testing and debugging services without writing client code.

Overview

Universal Client Empty State

The Universal Client provides:

Endpoint Management - Add and manage multiple JSON-RPC service endpoints
Interface Discovery - Automatically discovers interfaces and methods from your service’s IDL
Interactive Method Execution - Call methods with parameters and see responses in real-time
Request/Response Visualization - View formatted JSON for both requests and responses

Getting Started

1. Start the Web UI

./target/pulserpc -ui -ui-port 8080

Open your browser to http://localhost:8080 and click the Client button.

2. Add an Endpoint

Click the Add Endpoint button to connect to your JSON-RPC service.

Add Endpoint Button

Enter your service’s URL in the dialog:

Add Endpoint Dialog

The client will connect to your service and discover its interfaces via IDL introspection.

3. Browse Interfaces

Once connected, you’ll see the interface browser on the left sidebar:

Client with Endpoint

Expand the interface tree to see available methods:

Interface Tree

4. Execute Methods

Click on a method to see its parameters. Fill in the parameter form and click Execute:

Method Selected

Method Form

The client will display the response:

Method Response

Features

Endpoint Management

Add multiple endpoints and switch between them
Remove endpoints you no longer need
Endpoints persist across sessions

Interface Discovery

The client automatically discovers:

All interfaces defined in your IDL
All methods within each interface
Parameter types and return types
Required vs optional fields

Request/Response Visualization

Split-pane View - See both request and response side-by-side
Formatted JSON - Syntax-highlighted JSON for easy reading
Error Display - Clear error messages when calls fail

Persistent Layout

The client remembers your preferences:

Sidebar width and position
Splitter positions between panels
Last selected endpoint and method

Tips

Test Services Locally - Great for testing services running on localhost
Debug Production Services - Connect to remote endpoints (if CORS allows)
Explore New APIs - Quickly understand what methods a service provides
Validate Changes - Test API changes without writing test clients

Next Steps

Playground Mode - Learn about the IDL editor and code generation
IDL Syntax - IDL language reference