Show HN: YAML Studio – Visual OpenAPI Editor (no code, no $refs)
yamlstudio.comHi HN
I built YAML Studio, a visual editor that helps you design complex OpenAPI specs without hand-writing YAML or dealing with $ref headaches.
It's a drag-and-drop, form-based tool that generates clean OpenAPI 3.0/3.1 YAML — useful for devs, PMs, and tech writers who want to collaborate on API design without needing deep spec knowledge.
Why I built this: I’ve spent countless hours manually writing and debugging OpenAPI files — breaking things with a bad indent or misused $ref. Existing tools like Swagger Editor are great, but still very code-centric. I wanted something more intuitive, where people could build valid specs visually, and hand off ready-to-use YAML.
What it does: Add paths, methods (GET/POST/...), params, schemas, responses
Full support for OpenAPI 3.0 and 3.1
Define request/response bodies via forms
Supports OAuth2, bearerAuth, and x-* extensions
Exports a complete, valid YAML spec instantly
No signup required — just open and build
Try it here
Under the hood: Built with React, a JSON Schema-based config layer, and a YAML generator that flattens nested structures. All data stays in-browser — no telemetry, no backend (yet).
I'd love your feedback:
What’s missing?
What would make this part of your workflow?
Would you use this with your team or for solo API builds?
Thanks in advance for trying it out!
Not allowing arrays/objects to reference other schemas is a good way to avoid $refs. :)