Troubleshooting SSL Certificate Issues with Package Control in Sublime Text 3 on Windows

As a developer, you rely on tools like Sublime Text 3 and Package Control to streamline your workflow. However, sometimes, unexpected errors can occur, making it difficult to complete tasks efficiently. In this article, we will focus on resolving SSL certificate issues that prevent Package Control from installing packages in Sublime Text 3 on Windows.

Identifying the Issue

When attempting to install a package using Package Control, you may encounter an error message stating 'Error downloading package' with a cryptic description like 'InvalidCertificateException (Host returned an invalid certificate (certificate verify failed (_ssl.c:548)))'. This issue can occur regardless of the package being installed, and it's not limited to Babel or any specific package.

Root Cause Analysis

The root cause of this issue lies in SSL certificate validation. Package Control uses SSL/TLS encryption to download packages from the Sublime Text package repository. In some cases, the SSL certificates used by the repository may be invalid, causing the SSL certificate validation process to fail.

Troubleshooting Steps

To resolve this issue, you can follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify the Server Certificate: You can use tools like `curl` to verify the server certificate. Run the following command:

```

curl -vvI https://packagecontrol.io

```

This will display information about the SSL/TLS connection, including the server certificate details.

2. Check Package Control Configuration: Ensure that your Package Control configuration is correct and up-to-date. You can do this by checking the `Package Control.sublime-settings` file in the `Packages/User` directory.

3. Disable SSL Certificate Validation: As a temporary workaround, you can disable SSL certificate validation in Package Control. To do this, add the following lines to your `Package Control.sublime-settings` file:

```

{

'ssl_verify': false

}

```

4. Update OpenSSL: If you're using Homebrew, ensure that your OpenSSL installation is up-to-date. You can update OpenSSL by running the following command:

```bash

brew install openssl

```

5. Reinstall Package Control: In some cases, reinstalling Package Control may resolve the issue. To do this, delete the `Package Control` directory in the `Packages` directory and then reinstall Package Control using the Sublime Text package manager.

In conclusion, SSL certificate issues can cause problems when installing packages with Package Control in Sublime Text 3 on Windows. By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve the issue and get back to installing packages efficiently. Remember to always keep your OpenSSL installation up-to-date and verify server certificates using tools like `curl` to prevent similar issues in the future.

Package control sublime text 3 windows