Ethical Dev Tools - Essential VS Code Developer Utilities

The ultimate VS Code extension for developers - 7 essential tools in one package: Diff Checker, Base64 Encoder/Decoder, YAML Validator, JWT Tools, Epoch Converter, JSON Formatter & YAML-JSON Converter. Boost productivity with secure, offline developer utilities.

📋 Table of Contents

• Features
• Installation
• Usage
• Why Choose Ethical Dev Tools?
• Performance & Security
• Contributing

Features

Diff Checker

Easily compare two files or text snippets with the intuitive side-by-side diff checker. Quickly identify changes and merge code with confidence.

Base64 Encoder/Decoder

Encode and decode Base64 strings directly within VS Code. No need to switch to a browser or other tools for this common task.

YAML Validator

Validate YAML syntax and structure instantly. Perfect for configuration files, Docker Compose, Kubernetes manifests, and CI/CD pipelines. Get immediate feedback on syntax errors with detailed error messages.

JWT Tool (Create, Decode & Verify JWT)

Create, decode, and verify JSON Web Tokens (JWT) directly in VS Code. Supports all major algorithms (HS256, RS256, ES256, and more). Instantly sign, inspect, and validate JWTs for authentication, authorization, and secure API development. Choose algorithm, input payload and secret, and get your JWT in seconds.

Epoch Tool

Convert between Unix timestamps (epoch time) and human-readable dates effortlessly. Convert epoch timestamps to readable dates in UTC, ISO, and local formats. Convert human-readable dates back to epoch timestamps in both seconds and milliseconds. Perfect for debugging, API development, and working with time-based data.

Demo of the Diff Viewer, Base64 Tool, and more in action.

Installation

1. Open the Extensions sidebar in VS Code.
2. Search for Ethical Dev Tools.
3. Click Install.

Alternatively, you can install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace.

Usage

Diff Checker

1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac).
2. Run the Ethical Dev Tools: Create Diff View command.

Base64 Tool

1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac).
2. Run the Ethical Dev Tools: Base64 Tool command.

YAML Validator

1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac).
2. Run the Ethical Dev Tools: YAML Validator command.
3. Paste your YAML content and click "Validate YAML" to check syntax.

JWT Tool

1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac).
2. Run the Ethical Dev Tools: JWT Tool command.
3. Switch between "Decode JWT" and "Create JWT" tabs.
4. For creation, enter your payload (JSON), secret, and select the desired algorithm (HS256, RS256, etc.).
5. Instantly copy, inspect, and validate JWTs for your authentication and API workflows.

Epoch Tool

1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac).
2. Run the Ethical Dev Tools: Epoch Tool command.
3. Convert epoch timestamps to human-readable dates or vice versa.
4. View current Unix timestamp in real-time.

Why Use Ethical Dev Tools?

🚀 Productivity Benefits

• 7 tools in 1 extension - Reduce VS Code clutter
• Instant access - No browser switching or external tools
• Offline functionality - Works without internet connection
• Native VS Code integration - Consistent UI/UX

🔒 Security & Privacy

• 100% local processing - Your data never leaves your machine
• No telemetry - Complete privacy protection
• Open source - Transparent and auditable code
• Secure JWT handling - Industry-standard algorithms

⚡ Performance

• Lightweight - Minimal resource usage
• Fast processing - Optimized for large files
• Real-time validation - Instant feedback
• Memory efficient - No performance impact

Performance & Security

• ✅ Zero data collection - Complete privacy
• ✅ Offline operation - No external dependencies
• ✅ Lightweight footprint - <2MB extension size
• ✅ Fast processing - Handles files up to 10MB
• ✅ Secure algorithms - Industry-standard JWT support

Use Cases

• API Development - JWT creation/validation, Base64 encoding
• DevOps - YAML validation for CI/CD, Kubernetes configs
• Code Review - Side-by-side file comparison
• Data Processing - JSON formatting, timestamp conversion
• Configuration Management - YAML/JSON conversion and validation

Changelog

See the CHANGELOG.md file for details on each release.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please see the contributing guidelines for more information.

** Keywords:** VS Code extension, developer tools, JWT decoder, Base64 encoder, YAML validator, diff checker, JSON formatter, epoch converter, code comparison, text utilities, API development tools, DevOps utilities, secure coding tools, productivity extension, offline developer tools