Stéphane Wirtel: Automating TLS Certificate Monitoring with GitHub Actions, certificate_watcher, and Slack

The author, a consultant, lacked a system to monitor SSL/TLS certificate expirations across their diverse online presence. They needed a solution that was quick to set up, easy to maintain, transparent, and required no dedicated infrastructure. The author aimed for a system that wouldn't require a lot of their time for management. They had many domains to keep track of, including personal and client projects. They desired a solution offering clarity and control, preferably using a simple text file in Git. The author discovered certificate_watcher, a Python tool for checking SSL certificate expirations. They envisioned combining this tool with GitHub Actions for automation and Slack notifications for alerts. This combination promised a serverless approach, eliminating infrastructure management overhead. The author's goal was a system that could automatically check and notify them of expiring certificates. This approach would streamline their certificate management and ensure continuous service.