I Built a Mock API Platform in 2.5 Months (Django + React + Redis + PostgreSQL)
Source: Dev.to
What It Does
MockMyData lets developers generate mock REST API endpoints. After signing up you receive a subdomain and an API key, then define your data schema (field names and types) to create endpoints.
You can either:
- Enter custom JSON – full control over your mock data
- Auto‑generate records – realistic data generated from your field types
Want to try it? Head to MockMyData.io – you can generate a demo mock API right from the landing page and start making requests immediately (no sign‑up required).
Perfect for
- Front‑end development without waiting for back‑end teams
- Testing and prototyping
- Demo applications
- Learning API integration
The Journey: 2.5 Months Solo
I went from concept to launch in about 10 weeks, building everything myself.
Tech Stack
- Backend: Django REST Framework
- Frontend: React with Material‑UI
- Database: PostgreSQL
- Caching: Redis
- Payments: Stripe
Technical Challenges I Solved
1. Multi‑tier Rate Limiting
Implemented two types of rate limiting:
- Daily quotas – Free tier: limited requests per day; Pro tier: unlimited
- Request throttling – Prevents API spam regardless of tier
Used Redis to track request counts and Django middleware for enforcement, ensuring performance and accuracy across distributed requests.
2. Custom Subdomain Provisioning
Each project receives its own subdomain (e.g., yourproject.api.mockmydata.io). Free users get randomly assigned subdomains, while Pro users can choose and change their custom subdomain anytime. This required:
- Dynamic DNS configuration
- SSL certificate management
- Scalable routing architecture
3. AI‑Powered Subdomain Validation
Built a system that checks subdomain requests against known brands and trademarks to prevent brand impersonation.
4. Handling Large Daily Requests
Implemented comprehensive caching strategies and optimized database queries to handle growing traffic without exploding infrastructure costs.
What’s Next
- Project Generator: Export mock APIs as production‑ready code for Django REST Framework, Express, and other popular back‑end frameworks, turning MockMyData into a full development accelerator.
- Launch on Product Hunt (January 14) with special promotional pricing.
Lessons Learned
- Ship fast, iterate faster – 2.5 months was aggressive but kept me focused.
- Rate limiting is harder than you think, especially across multiple tiers.
- Caching everything – Redis saved my infrastructure costs.
- Stripe webhooks are your friend – once you understand them.
Try It Out
Check out MockMyData.io – there’s a free tier to get started.
I’d love feedback from the DEV community, especially around:
- Features that would make this more useful for your workflow
- Pricing thoughts on the back‑end code export feature and which back‑ends you’d like to see
- Any technical questions about the implementation
Happy to answer questions about Django, React, or building a SaaS solo!