I think that’s a terrible excuse. Why should the user have to reconstruct the Twitch API and keep it up to date with the existing API?
Also, what happens if a user has local or automated github tests that will pass with their test cases, but because the API had an update, it fails in production? It’s maybe fine if you’re doing a quick test locally, but it doesn’t work in faster or more long-term environments.
There’s no excuse for Twitch to not have a sandbox for their API. They are one of the largest companies on earth and hundreds of smaller companies can do it, so why can’t they?
I created a User Voice since there wasn’t one that directly talked about a sandbox for the API as a whole: https://twitch.uservoice.com/forums/310213-developers/suggestions/42070417-create-sandbox-testing-environment-for-api
Edit: Also, sorry I guess for reviving an old thread, but this was one of few talking about it, and I thought your idea was ridiculous.