Terraform

Terraform by HashiCorp

Terraform is an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool created by HashiCorp. It allows users to define, provision, and manage infrastructure in a declarative way using configuration files. These configuration files are human-readable and can be versioned, reused, and shared. Terraform supports various cloud providers and on-premises infrastructure, and it can manage resources like virtual machines, storage, and networking.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

Declarative Configuration: Terraform uses a declarative configuration language called HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL). Instead of defining step-by-step instructions, users specify the desired state of the infrastructure, and Terraform figures out how to achieve that state.

Infrastructure as Code: Terraform allows users to treat infrastructure as code, meaning they can manage their infrastructure using version control and code deployment practices. Multi-Cloud and On-Premises: Terraform supports a wide range of cloud providers and on-premises infrastructure, making it a versatile tool for managing various environments.

Resource Management: Terraform can manage low-level components like compute instances, storage, and networking, as well as high-level components like DNS entries and SaaS features.

Execution Plans: Terraform generates an execution plan before applying changes, allowing users to review the proposed changes and ensure they are as intended.

Modules: Terraform supports modules, which are reusable units of configuration that can be used to package and share common infrastructure patterns.

Workflow: Terraform follows a consistent workflow for provisioning and managing infrastructure throughout its lifecycle.

Version Control: Terraform configuration files can be version controlled, allowing teams to track changes, collaborate, and revert to previous versions if needed.

State Management: Terraform uses a state file to track the current state of the infrastructure it manages, allowing it to determine the necessary changes to achieve the desired state.

Terraform vs Ansible

In terms of popularity for individual configuration management tools, Ansible is now ahead of the pack, with a survey from TechRepublic showing that Ansible had the most widespread usage across survey respondents, at 41%, followed by Chef and Puppet in a tie at 31%, with Terraform at 31%, and Saltstack at 18%.