mkcert is a command-line utility designed to simplify local development by generating and managing locally-trusted development certificates. It creates a unique, self-signed root certificate authority on the local machine, which serves as a trusted source for issuing development credentials. By automating the generation of these certificates, the tool enables secure encrypted connections that browsers and operating systems accept without security warnings.
The utility distinguishes itself by automatically configuring local trust stores, programmatically injecting the generated root certificate into system and browser databases. It supports complex development workflows through environment-variable-based configuration, allowing users to manage multiple certificate authorities across different projects and specify custom storage paths. This infrastructure ensures consistent security across diverse environments, including support for mobile device trust and remote machine installation.
Beyond standard HTTPS testing, the tool provides capabilities for generating secure email certificates and integrating with specific application runtimes. It handles the underlying cryptographic key material generation and cross-platform path resolution required to maintain trust across various operating systems and development environments.
