Postman Newman Automation

When to Use

Use this skill when you need generate Newman CLI commands, configuration files, Jenkins pipeline scripts, and shell automation for running Postman collections in CI/CD or local environments. Use this skill whenever the user wants to run Postman collections from the command line, automate API tests, integrate...

Generates Newman CLI commands, shell scripts, and Jenkins pipeline configs for running Postman collections in automated environments.

Newman Basics

Newman is Postman's CLI runner. Install with:

bash
npm install -g newman
# Optional HTML reporter:
npm install -g newman-reporter-htmlextra

Core Command Structure

bash
newman run <collection> \
  --environment <env-file> \
  --globals <globals-file> \
  --iteration-count <n> \
  --iteration-data <csv-or-json> \
  --reporters <reporter-list> \
  --reporter-htmlextra-export <output.html> \
  --reporter-junit-export <results.xml> \
  --timeout-request <ms> \
  --delay-request <ms> \
  --bail \
  --color on

Step 1 — Gather Requirements

Ask or infer from context:

| Parameter | Question | |---|---| | Collection source | File path, URL, or Postman API UID? | | Environment | File path or inline variables? | | Reporter(s) | CLI only, HTML report, JUnit XML? | | Fail behavior | Stop on first failure (--bail) or run all? | | Iterations | Single run or data-driven (CSV/JSON)? | | Target | Local shell, Jenkins, or both? |

Step 2 — Generate Newman Command

Basic run (local)

bash
newman run collection.json \
  --environment environment.json \
  --reporters cli,htmlextra \
  --reporter-htmlextra-export reports/report.html \
  --bail

Run from Postman API (by UID)

bash
newman run "https://api.getpostman.com/collections/<UID>?apikey={{POSTMAN_API_KEY}}" \
  --environment environment.json \
  --reporters cli,junit \
  --reporter-junit-export results/junit.xml

Data-driven run (CSV)

bash
newman run collection.json \
  --iteration-data test-data.csv \
  --iteration-count 5 \
  --reporters cli,htmlextra \
  --reporter-htmlextra-export reports/data-driven-report.html

With environment variable overrides (no file needed)

bash
newman run collection.json \
  --env-var "base_url=https://staging.api.example.com" \
  --env-var "token=abc123" \
  --reporters cli

Step 3 — Shell Script

Generate a reusable shell script:

bash
#!/bin/bash
set -e

# Configuration
COLLECTION="./collection.json"
ENVIRONMENT="./environment.json"
REPORT_DIR="./reports"
TIMESTAMP=$(date +"%Y%m%d_%H%M%S")

# Ensure report directory exists
mkdir -p "$REPORT_DIR"

echo "Running Newman collection: $COLLECTION"

newman run "$COLLECTION" \
  --environment "$ENVIRONMENT" \
  --reporters cli,htmlextra,junit \
  --reporter-htmlextra-export "$REPORT_DIR/report_$TIMESTAMP.html" \
  --reporter-junit-export "$REPORT_DIR/junit_$TIMESTAMP.xml" \
  --timeout-request 10000 \
  --bail

EXIT_CODE=$?

if [ $EXIT_CODE -eq 0 ]; then
  echo "✅ All tests passed."
else
  echo "❌ Tests failed. Check report: $REPORT_DIR/report_$TIMESTAMP.html"
  exit $EXIT_CODE
fi

Step 4 — Jenkins Pipeline

Declarative Jenkinsfile (preferred)

groovy
pipeline {
  agent any

  environment {
    POSTMAN_ENV = credentials('postman-environment-file') // Jenkins credential ID
  }

  stages {
    stage('Install Newman') {
      steps {
        sh 'npm install -g newman newman-reporter-htmlextra'
      }
    }

    stage('Run API Tests') {
      steps {
        sh """
          newman run collection.json \\
            --environment ${POSTMAN_ENV} \\
            --reporters cli,htmlextra,junit \\
            --reporter-htmlextra-export reports/report.html \\
            --reporter-junit-export reports/junit.xml \\
            --timeout-request 10000 \\
            --bail
        """
      }
    }
  }

  post {
    always {
      // Archive HTML report
      publishHTML(target: [
        allowMissing: false,
        alwaysLinkToLastBuild: true,
        keepAll: true,
        reportDir: 'reports',
        reportFiles: 'report.html',
        reportName: 'Newman API Test Report'
      ])
      // Archive JUnit results
      junit 'reports/junit.xml'
    }
    failure {
      echo 'API tests failed! Check the Newman report.'
    }
  }
}

Scripted Jenkinsfile (if declarative not available)

groovy
node {
  stage('Install Newman') {
    sh 'npm install -g newman newman-reporter-htmlextra'
  }

  stage('Run API Tests') {
    try {
      sh """
        newman run collection.json \\
          --environment environment.json \\
          --reporters cli,junit \\
          --reporter-junit-export reports/junit.xml \\
          --bail
      """
    } catch (err) {
      currentBuild.result = 'FAILURE'
      throw err
    } finally {
      junit 'reports/junit.xml'
    }
  }
}

Jenkins with environment variables (no credentials file)

groovy
environment {
  BASE_URL = 'https://api.example.com'
  API_TOKEN = credentials('api-token-secret')
}

steps {
  sh """
    newman run collection.json \\
      --env-var "base_url=${BASE_URL}" \\
      --env-var "token=${API_TOKEN}" \\
      --reporters cli,junit \\
      --reporter-junit-export results/junit.xml
  """
}

Step 5 — Reporter Reference

| Reporter | Install | Flag | Output | |---|---|---|---| | cli | built-in | --reporters cli | Terminal output | | junit | built-in | --reporters junit | JUnit XML (for Jenkins) | | htmlextra | npm i -g newman-reporter-htmlextra | --reporters htmlextra | Rich HTML report | | json | built-in | --reporters json | Raw JSON results |

Multiple reporters: --reporters cli,htmlextra,junit

Step 6 — Output

Provide based on what the user needs:

1. Newman command — ready to paste in terminal
2. Shell script (run-tests.sh) — with exit code handling
3. Jenkinsfile — declarative or scripted based on context
4. Setup notes — Node.js version requirement (≥14), npm install commands
5. Report locations — where output files will be written

Common Flags Quick Reference

| Flag | Purpose | |---|---| | --bail | Stop run on first test failure | | --timeout-request 5000 | Per-request timeout in ms | | --delay-request 200 | Delay between requests in ms | | --iteration-count 3 | Run collection N times | | --folder "Folder Name" | Run only a specific folder | | --env-var "k=v" | Inline environment variable | | --suppress-exit-code | Always exit 0 (don't fail CI) | | --verbose | Show full request/response details | | --color off | Disable color (useful for logs) |

After Completing the Newman Commands

Once the CLI command output is delivered, ask the user:

"Would you like me to generate API documentation for this design? (yes/no)"

If the user says yes:

• Check if the API Documentation skill is available in the installed skills list
• If the skill is available:
• Read and follow the instructions in the API Documentation skill
• Use the API design output above as the input
• Deliver the documentation as plain text output
• If the skill is NOT available:
• Inform the user: "It looks like the API Documentation skill isn't installed.

You can install it and re-run.

If the user says no:

• End the task here

Limitations

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches its upstream source and local project context.
• Verify commands, generated code, dependencies, credentials, and external service behavior before applying changes.
• Do not treat examples as a substitute for environment-specific tests, security review, or user approval for destructive or costly actions.