Which HTTP library should I use for my project?

Choosing the right HTTP library depends on your language, performance requirements, and application architecture.

Python:

• requests - Most popular choice for simplicity and extensive documentation. Ideal for scripts and synchronous applications
• httpx - For async applications or when you need HTTP/2 support. Provides a requests-compatible API with modern async/await syntax
• urllib - Standard library, dependency-free but verbose. Best for lightweight scripts where you cannot install packages

TypeScript/JavaScript:

• fetch - Native API available in Node.js and browsers. Standard interface with promise-based syntax. Use for maximum compatibility and minimal dependencies
• axios - Cleaner API with automatic JSON parsing and better error handling. Popular for frontend and Node.js applications
• got - Advanced features like retries, timeouts, and streaming. Robust choice for Node.js

Go:

• net/http - Standard library, production-ready and widely used. Requires some boilerplate for common tasks
• resty - Provides a fluent interface for simpler code
• req - Excellent debugging and middleware capabilities

Decision factors:

When converting from cURL, choose a library that:

1. Matches your existing codebase and team's expertise
2. Handles the specific features your API requires:
   • Multipart uploads
   • Custom authentication schemes
   • HTTP/2 support
   • Streaming responses
3. Fits your application architecture (sync vs async, browser vs server)

Most projects benefit from sticking with the most popular library for their ecosystem (requests for Python, axios or fetch for JavaScript, net/http for Go) unless you have specific requirements.