Terraform with Azure – Introduction

Terraform is an open-source infrastructure as code (IaC) tool that enables you to define and deploy your infrastructure using declarative configuration files. It supports a wide range of cloud providers, including Azure, and enables you to automate the provisioning and management of your infrastructure.

Here is an example of how you can use Terraform to create an Azure virtual machine (VM) using IaC:

1. Install Terraform on your local machine by following the instructions provided in the Terraform documentation.
2. Create a new directory for your Terraform configuration files, and create a file called main.tf with the following content:

provider "azurerm" {
  version = "=2.27.0"
}

resource "azurerm_resource_group" "my_resource_group" {
  name     = "my_resource_group"
  location = "westus"
}

resource "azurerm_virtual_machine" "my_vm" {
  name                  = "my_vm"
  resource_group_name   = azurerm_resource_group.my_resource_group.name
  location              = azurerm_resource_group.my_resource_group.location
  size                  = "Standard_B1s"
  network_interface_ids = []
  vm_size               = "Standard_B1s"
}

This configuration file defines an Azure resource group and an Azure VM, using the azurerm provider and the azurerm_resource_group and azurerm_virtual_machine resources.

3. Initialize Terraform by running the following command in the terminal:

terraform init

This command installs the necessary Terraform plugins and prepares the environment for the deployment.

4. Review the changes that Terraform will make to your infrastructure by running the following command:

terraform plan

This command will show you a summary of the changes that Terraform will make to your infrastructure.

5. Apply the changes by running the following command:

terraform apply

This command will create the Azure resource group and VM, as defined in the configuration file.

In summary, Terraform is an open-source IaC tool that enables you to define and deploy your infrastructure using declarative configuration files. You can use Terraform to automate the provisioning and management of your Azure infrastructure, and apply version control and collaboration practices to your infrastructure deployments.

Terraform best practice – Modular code

Modularizing your Terraform code is a best practice that can help you organize and manage your infrastructure as code (IaC) deployments more effectively. Here are some best practices for modularizing your Terraform code:

1. Use separate modules for different components: Create a separate module for each component of your infrastructure, such as VMs, networking, and storage. This will enable you to reuse and manage these components independently, and make it easier to update and maintain your code.
2. Use input and output variables: Use input and output variables to pass data between modules and to expose the outputs of a module to the rest of your code. This will enable you to define the inputs and outputs of a module in a single location, and make it easier to reuse and test your modules.
3. Use modules from the Terraform Registry: The Terraform Registry is a collection of community-contributed modules that you can use to automate common infrastructure patterns. You can use these modules to reduce the amount of code you need to write, and to take advantage of best practices and patterns that have been tested by the community.
4. Document your modules: Document your modules using comments and documentation blocks to describe their purpose, inputs, outputs, and dependencies. This will make it easier for others to understand and use your modules, and will help you maintain your code over time.
5. Use version control: Use version control to track changes to your code and collaborate with others. This will enable you to revert changes if necessary, and to collaborate with others on your infrastructure deployments.

In summary, modularizing your Terraform code is a best practice that can help you organize and manage your IaC deployments more effectively. You can use separate modules for different components, input and output variables, modules from the Terraform Registry, and version control to modularize your code and make it easier to reuse, test, and maintain.

Terraform vs Bicep

Terraform and Bicep are both tools that enable you to define and deploy your infrastructure as code (IaC). Both tools support Azure and enable you to automate the provisioning and management of your infrastructure, but they differ in their approach and capabilities.

Terraform is an open-source IaC tool that enables you to define and deploy your infrastructure using declarative configuration files written in the HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL). It supports a wide range of cloud providers and enables you to use infrastructure as code (IaC) practices, such as version control and collaboration, to manage your infrastructure deployments.

Bicep is a domain-specific language (DSL) for Azure IaC that is designed to be more concise and readable than other IaC tools, such as Terraform. It is developed and maintained by Microsoft, and enables you to define your Azure infrastructure using a familiar JSON-like syntax.

Here are some key differences between Terraform and Bicep:

• Syntax: Terraform uses the HCL syntax, which is designed to be easy to read and write, but may be less familiar to those who are not familiar with HCL. Bicep uses a JSON-like syntax that is more familiar to many developers, but may be more verbose than HCL.
• Language features: Terraform has a more comprehensive and flexible language, with support for a wide range of operators and functions that enable you to manipulate and transform data. Bicep has a more limited set of language features, but is designed to be easier to learn and use, with a focus on readability and simplicity.
• Community and ecosystem: Terraform has a large and active community, with a wide range of resources and tools available, such as the Terraform Registry and the Terraform Provider Development Kit (PDK). Bicep is a newer tool, with a smaller community and a more limited ecosystem of resources and tools.

In summary, Terraform and Bicep are both tools that enable you to define and deploy your infrastructure as code. Terraform is an open-source IaC tool that supports a wide range of cloud providers and has a comprehensive and flexible language, while Bicep is a domain-specific language for Azure IaC that is designed to be more concise and readable.