This project is a command-line tool that automates the entire lifecycle of security certificates using standard domain validation protocols. It functions as a background service to manage the issuance, renewal, and installation of certificates, ensuring that encrypted web traffic remains active without requiring manual intervention.
The tool distinguishes itself through extensive support for automated domain ownership verification, including the ability to issue wildcard certificates by programmatically interacting with external domain name system providers. It provides flexible validation options, such as using a temporary, ephemeral web server to handle challenges in isolated environments, which allows for certificate generation without needing an existing web server or active website.
Beyond issuance, the system includes robust deployment capabilities that integrate directly with server environments. Through customizable hooks, it can automatically update server configuration files and reload services to apply new cryptographic assets immediately upon renewal. The software is built as a modular collection of POSIX-compliant scripts that leverage standard system utilities and support various cryptographic key types to meet diverse security requirements.