5 Practical Examples of Terraform with Python

Terraform and Python are a match made in automation heaven. Terraform's infrastructure as code philosophy combined with Python's ease of use and flexibility creates a powerful tool for managing infrastructure. Here are five practical examples of how you can use Terraform with Python to automate your infrastructure management tasks.

Example 1: Basic AWS Server Setup

This example uses terraformpy to set up a basic AWS server:

from terraformpy import Provider, Resource

Provider('aws', profile='default', region='us-west-2')

Resource('aws_instance', 'basic_server',
         ami='ami-0c55b159cbfafe1f0',
         instance_type='t2.micro',
         tags={'Name': 'BasicServer'})

This script sets up an AWS provider and defines a t2.micro instance with a specific AMI and a name tag.

Example 2: Scalable Web Application Infrastructure

Here's how you might use Python to script the deployment of a scalable web application infrastructure on AWS:

from terraformpy import Provider, Resource, Output, Variable

Provider('aws', region=Variable('region'))

app_server = Resource('aws_instance', 'app_server',
                      ami=Variable('ami'),
                      instance_type='t3.medium',
                      key_name=Variable('key_name'),
                      vpc_security_group_ids=[Variable('security_group_id')],
                      subnet_id=Variable('subnet_id'),
                      tags={'Name': 'AppServer'})

Output('app_server_ip', value=app_server.public_ip)

This script takes input variables for flexibility and outputs the public IP of the server.

Example 3: Database Setup with RDS

For setting up a managed database with AWS RDS:

from terraformpy import Provider, Resource

Provider('aws', profile='default', region='us-east-1')

Resource('aws_db_instance', 'example_db',
         allocated_storage=20,
         storage_type='gp2',
         engine='mysql',
         engine_version='5.7',
         instance_class='db.t2.micro',
         name='mydb',
         username='user',
         password='pass',
         parameter_group_name='default.mysql5.7')

This will create a new MySQL database instance with the specified configuration.

Example 4: Network Infrastructure

Creating a VPC with associated networking resources:

from terraformpy import Provider, Resource

Provider('aws', profile='default', region='us-east-1')

Resource('aws_vpc', 'main',
         cidr_block='10.0.0.0/16',
         enable_dns_support=True,
         enable_dns_hostnames=True,
         tags={'Name': 'MainVPC'})

Resource('aws_subnet', 'main',
         vpc_id='${aws_vpc.main.id}',
         cidr_block='10.0.1.0/24',
         availability_zone='us-east-1a')

This sets up a new VPC and a subnet within it.

Example 5: Automated Script for Infrastructure Deployment

A Python script that automates the deployment process:

import subprocess
import json

# Generate Terraform configuration from Python
def generate_tf_config():
    # Python logic to generate Terraform configuration
    pass

# Apply Terraform configuration
def apply_tf():
    subprocess.run(['terraform', 'init'])
    subprocess.run(['terraform', 'apply', '-auto-approve'])

if __name__ == '__main__':
    config = generate_tf_config()
    with open('config.tf.json', 'w') as f:
        json.dump(config, f)
    apply_tf()

This script automates the process of initializing Terraform, applying the configuration, and can be extended to include more complex logic.

These examples demonstrate the versatility and power of combining Terraform with Python. From simple server setups to complex, automated deployment scripts, the possibilities are endless.

Documentation

Diving deeper into the world of infrastructure as code can be both exciting and overwhelming. To aid in your journey of mastering Terraform with Python, I've compiled a list of resources that provide additional examples and comprehensive documentation to expand your knowledge and skills.

1. Official Terraform Documentation:
   The Terraform documentation is a treasure trove of information, offering everything from introductory guides to advanced use cases. It's the perfect starting point to understand the core concepts and capabilities of Terraform.

2. CDK for Terraform with Python and TypeScript Support:
   This resource provides insights into using the Cloud Development Kit for Terraform, enabling you to define infrastructure using familiar programming languages like Python and TypeScript. It includes step-by-step examples and tutorials to get you started.

3. CDK for Terraform Examples and Guides:
   HashiCorp Developer offers a collection of tutorials and example projects in every supported language, including Python. These resources are designed to help you learn to create and manage CDK for Terraform applications effectively.

4. Terraform Tutorials:
   If you're looking for hands-on learning, the Terraform tutorials section is for you. It features practical examples and step-by-step instructions to help you apply what you've learned in real-world scenarios.

5. Terraform Registry:
   The Terraform Registry is the official directory of publicly available Terraform providers and modules. It's an excellent resource for finding existing configurations and understanding how to leverage them in your Python scripts.

By exploring these resources, you'll gain a more profound understanding of how to integrate Terraform with Python, allowing you to create more dynamic and efficient infrastructure management workflows. Remember, the key to mastery is practice, so don't hesitate to experiment with the examples and apply them to your projects. Happy coding!