httpstat is a command-line tool that visualizes HTTP request timing and response details with colored output.
The tool addresses the need to understand the breakdown of time spent during HTTP requests. Rather than the minimal output of curl -v, httpstat displays detailed timing information for each phase of the request lifecycle in a human-readable, color-coded format. It works by making HTTP requests and measuring the duration of each stage, from DNS resolution through TLS handshake to content download, presenting these metrics clearly to the user.
The tool suits developers and operators who need to diagnose HTTP performance issues or understand where time is being spent in requests. It works across Windows, BSD, and Linux. The project supports standard HTTP operations including custom methods, request bodies, headers, and certificate handling. It can follow redirects, skip response body timing, save responses to files, and work through HTTP proxies. For developers already familiar with curl, httpstat provides a more visual alternative focused specifically on timing analysis rather than general HTTP debugging.
The project is closed to most contributions beyond bug reports, with pull requests requiring discussion on an accompanying issue before code is submitted. The maintainer explicitly requests that contributors open an issue to discuss features before implementing them.
