If you’ve ever used Swagger Browser Editor for large OpenAPI documentation projects, you’ve probably experienced the annoying lag. The editor freezes, slows down, and makes API documentation a frustrating experience.
I recently faced this issue while working on a complex API documentation project. Instead of struggling with the lag, I found a better, optimized method to edit OpenAPI specs without performance issues.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to do the following.
Fix Swagger Editor lag when handling large documentation projects.
Use Visual Studio Code (VS Code) as a powerful alternative.
Install the right extensions to preview OpenAPI specs locally.
Why Does Swagger Editor Lag?
Swagger Editor is a browser-based tool. While it works well for small API specs, it struggles with large documentation files because of the following reasons.
The browser loads the entire spec into memory, causing slowdowns.
Real-time validation increases processing time for complex APIs.
Limited browser resources affect performance.
If you’ve tried to edit a large OpenAPI spec in Swagger Editor, you’ve probably experienced freezing, slow responses, or even browser crashes.
The Best Alternative is Visual Studio Code + Extensions
To avoid Swagger Editor lag, I switched to Visual Studio Code (VS Code) and installed two powerful extensions:
1. openapi-lint
Helps validate OpenAPI specs.
Highlights syntax errors and missing fields.
Ensures compliance with OpenAPI standards.
2. Swagger Viewer
Lets you preview a live version of your OpenAPI spec.
Works offline without depending on a browser.
Renders a Swagger UI-like interface directly in VS Code.
With these tools, I can edit my OpenAPI spec file locally, validate it instantly, and preview changes without the frustrating lag.
How to Set Up VS Code for OpenAPI Editing
Follow these simple steps to optimize your API documentation workflow:
Step 1: Install Visual Studio Code
If you don’t have VS Code installed, download it from the official website.
Step 2: Install the Required Extensions
Open VS Code.
Go to the Extensions Marketplace (Ctrl + Shift + X on Windows or Cmd + Shift + X on Mac).
Search for openapi-lint and install it.
Search for Swagger Viewer and install it.
Step 3: Open Your OpenAPI Spec File
Load your openapi.yaml or openapi.json file in VS Code.
The openapi-lint extension will immediately start validating your spec.
Use Swagger Viewer to preview your API documentation.
Bonus Tip: Run Swagger Editor Locally
If you still prefer using Swagger Editor but want better performance, you can download and run it locally.
1. Install Node.js if you don’t have it already.
2. Run the following command in your terminal:
npx swagger-editor
3. Open localhost:3000 in your browser to use Swagger Editor offline.
This method eliminates network delays and speeds up API editing.
Final Thoughts
Switching to Visual Studio Code for OpenAPI documentation has significantly improved my workflow. No more freezing, lagging, or browser crashes—just smooth API editing with instant previews.
If you’re struggling with Swagger Editor’s performance issues, I highly recommend trying this method.
Have you experienced Swagger Editor lag? What tools do you use for OpenAPI documentation?
Let’s discuss in the comments!
#APIDocumentation #OpenAPI #Swagger #DeveloperTools #TechnicalWriting #VSCode