Using JIRA REST API via Restclient.

While implementing JIRA plugins, I recently had to use JIRA REST API to create and modify issues.

As I did not want to install any desktop application, I decided to use the RESTclient plug-in for Firefox.

It provides a very convenient way to deal with REST requests, and makes it possible to try out your own REST functions fast.

I however faced some problems during setting up the client, so I list here, how to do it properly, in order to avoid wasting my time at the next ocassion.

• Install the RESTclient add-on for Firefox, from the Firefox application store
• Start the plugin
• Set up the request:
• Method: POST
• URL: http://localhost:2990/jira/rest/api/2/issue
• Define authentication by adding a new authentication element to the request. Select basic authentication, and set username and password
• Define content type by adding a new header element: Content-Type:application/json
• Define user agent: User-Agent:adminIt is necessary, for avoid JIRA error message: "403 Forbidden". If it is not defined, you get error from the REST API, and following log entry is shown in JIRA log:
  "XSRF checks failed for request"

• Define message body

{
    "fields": {
       "project":
       { 
          "key": "TEST"
       },
       "summary": "REST ye merry gentleme.",
       "description": "Creating of an issue using project keys and issue type names using the REST API",
       "issuetype": {
          "name": "Bug"
       }
   }
}

• Send the REST command.

For REST commands visit the JIRA documentation.