JavaCard Applets Enable Smart Card USB Token

Apr 23rd 2025

Top Open Source JavaCard Applets You Can Load on Your Smart Card/ USB Token

Looking to expand your smart card's capabilities? If you're working with JavaCard-based tokens (like JCOP, GXP, or NXP cards), there's a world of open-source applets you can load to enable powerful features such as encryption, authentication, OTP, and even WebAuthn. Here's a curated list of JavaCard applets with available source code you can compile and install today.

1. OpenPGP Applet

Purpose: Full OpenPGP support
Use Case: Email encryption (GPG/PGP), file signing, SSH authentication
Source Code: SmartPGP by ANSSI on GitHub

2. PIV Applet (FIPS 201)

Purpose: US government-standard Personal Identity Verification
Use Case: Secure authentication for federal systems
Source Code: pivApplet by Martin Paljak

3. JavaCard Applets Collection

Purpose: A library of demo and production-grade JavaCard applets
Use Case: Education, testing, secure data storage, crypto
Source Code: JavaCard Applets by Martin Paljak

4. JavaCard HSM

Purpose: Simulates Hardware Security Module (HSM)
Use Case: Secure key management and cryptographic operations
Source Code: JavaCard HSM

5. OATH TOTP/HOTP Applet

Purpose: Generate time-based or event-based OTPs
Use Case: 2FA tokens for websites and secure login
Source Code: OATH Applet by arekinath

6. NFC Password Manager

Purpose: NFC-enabled password manager applet
Use Case: Contactless authentication, Android integration
Source Code: NfcCard Applet

7. WebAuthn/FIDO2 Applet

Purpose: Hardware-based passwordless login
Use Case: Use your smart card as a FIDO2 security key
Source Code: JCWebAuthn by SoloKeys

How to Load These Applets

If you're ready to get started:

Use GlobalPlatformPro or GPTool or JCOP Toolkits to load .cap files onto your card.
Most applets are JavaCard 2.2.x/3.x compatible.
Developer-friendly with full access to source and tools.

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