Terraform’s workflow is designed to manage the lifecycle of infrastructure in an organized and predictable way. It follows a standard procedure to ensure that infrastructure is deployed, managed, and modified consistently. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the typical Terraform workflow:
1. Write Configuration
The first step in Terraform’s workflow is writing the infrastructure configuration using HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL). This file (usually main.tf) defines the resources you want to manage, such as servers, databases, networks, etc.
Example:
provider “aws” {
region = “us-west-2”
}
resource “aws_instance” “example” {
ami = “ami-123456”
instance_type = “t2.micro”
}
2. Initialize Terraform (terraform init)
After writing the configuration, you need to initialize the Terraform project. This command downloads provider plugins, sets up the backend (if configured), and ensures your environment is ready.
codeterraform init
3. Create an Execution Plan (terraform plan)
Next, Terraform creates an execution plan based on your configuration. This shows what actions Terraform will take to reach the desired infrastructure state without making any actual changes.
codeterraform plan
- Output will show resources to be created, modified, or destroyed.
4. Apply the Changes (terraform apply)
Once you review the plan, the terraform apply command applies the changes to provision or modify infrastructure. Terraform will create, update, or delete resources to match the configuration.
codeterraform apply
- You will be prompted to confirm before Terraform proceeds with the changes.
5. Manage State
Terraform stores the current state of your infrastructure in a state file (terraform.tfstate). This allows Terraform to track changes and manage resources efficiently. The state can be stored locally or remotely (e.g., in AWS S3, Azure Blob, or Terraform Cloud).
6. Update Configuration
As requirements evolve, you might need to update the configuration files (e.g., add resources, modify settings). After updating the configuration, run terraform plan and terraform apply to implement the new changes.
7. Destroy Resources (terraform destroy)
When infrastructure is no longer needed, you can clean it up using terraform destroy. This command removes all the resources defined in the configuration.
codeterraform destroy
Optional Commands:
terraform validate: Validates the syntax of your configuration files.terraform fmt: Formats configuration files to a standard style.terraform import: Imports existing resources into Terraform’s state.terraform state: Manages the state file, including viewing or manipulating resources.
This workflow ensures that infrastructure is provisioned and managed in a predictable, repeatable, and efficient manner.
Final Thoughts
Terraform’s structured workflow simplifies infrastructure management by automating provisioning, scaling, and teardown processes. These key steps can effectively manage your cloud infrastructure with confidence and precision. Whether managing a small cloud environment or a complex multi-cloud deployment, Terraform offers a reliable and scalable approach to Infrastructure as Code.