Getting Started

Installation

From VS Code Marketplace (Recommended)

1. Open VS Code
2. Go to the Extensions view by pressing Cmd+Shift+X (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+X (Windows/Linux)
3. Search for "SSLens"
4. Click the Install button
5. Reload VS Code if prompted

From VSIX File

If you have a VSIX package file, you can install it directly:

code --install-extension sslens-1.0.1.vsix

Or install via VS Code:

1. Open VS Code
2. Go to Extensions view (Cmd+Shift+X)
3. Click the ⋯ menu at the top of the Extensions panel
4. Select "Install from VSIX..."
5. Select your VSIX file

Requirements

Quick Start

After installation, you can start using SSLens immediately. Here's the fastest way to inspect a certificate:

1. Open the Command Palette with Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux)
2. Type "SSLens: Fetch Certificate from URL" and press Enter
3. Enter a domain name (e.g., github.com or api.stripe.com:443)
4. View the certificate details in the panel that appears

github.com
api.github.com
google.com
stripe.com:443
example.com:8443

Your First Certificate

Let's walk through fetching and inspecting your first certificate:

Step 1: Fetch a Certificate

1. Press Cmd+Shift+P to open the Command Palette
2. Type SSLens: Fetch and select "SSLens: Fetch Certificate from URL"
3. Enter github.com and press Enter

Step 2: Explore the Certificate Panel

The certificate panel shows comprehensive information:

• Certificate Info - Subject, issuer, serial number
• Validity - Valid from/to dates and expiry status
• Fingerprints - SHA-256, SHA-1 hashes
• Certificate Chain - Complete chain of trust
• Public Key Info - Algorithm, key size, and public key hash

Step 3: Generate Pinning Code

If you're developing a mobile app, you can generate SSL pinning code:

1. In the certificate panel, click "Generate Pinning Code"
2. Select your platform (Android, iOS, Flutter, React Native)
3. Copy the generated code into your project

Step 4: Save the Domain

Save frequently accessed domains for quick access:

1. Run "SSLens: Save Domain to Favorites" from the Command Palette
2. Or click the ⭐ icon in the SSLens sidebar

Using the Sidebar

SSLens adds a dedicated view in the VS Code Activity Bar:

1. Click the 🛡️ shield icon in the Activity Bar (left side of VS Code)
2. You'll see two sections:
   • Saved Domains - Your favorite domains for quick access
   • Recent Certificates - Recently fetched certificates

Sidebar Actions

• Click a domain - Fetch and display its certificate
• Right-click a domain - Access context menu (remove, edit alias, etc.)
• Click the + icon - Add a new domain to favorites
• Click the refresh icon - Refresh all saved domains

Next Steps

Now that you have SSLens installed and working, explore these topics: