mkcert

Mkcert is a command line tool used for generating locally-trusted development certificates. It simplifies the process of setting up a local development environment with secure HTTPS connections. It is built to be developer-friendly and works on all major operating systems.

One of the key features of mkcert is that it automatically installs the necessary root certificate in your operating system's trust store, bypassing the need to manually configure certificate authorities. This makes it convenient and hassle-free for developers.

Mkcert uses the ACME protocol to automatically generate and manage certificates. It can generate both RSA and ECDSA certificates for increased flexibility. These certificates are specifically designed for local development and are not suitable for production use.

The tool also allows you to easily generate wildcard certificates, which can be useful when dealing with subdomains. It provides the ability to specify expiration dates for the certificates and supports a customizable certificate storage location.

Mkcert integrates well with various development tools such as Docker, Kubernetes, and popular web servers like Apache and Nginx. It can generate certificates with custom Common Names and Subject Alternative Names (SANs).

Additionally, mkcert offers a simple API that can be used programmatically if you prefer to automate certificate management. It supports the renewal and revocation of certificates when needed.

Overall, mkcert is a powerful and user-friendly command line tool that simplifies the process of setting up secure HTTPS connections for local development environments, making it an essential tool for developers.