Understanding the core idea behind Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and why tools like Terraform have become essential in modern DevOps.
What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)?
Infrastructure as Code means provisioning servers, networks, databases, and cloud resources using code instead of manual steps.
Instead of clicking around in a cloud dashboard, you define everything in configuration files reliable, repeatable, and version-controlled.
Why IaC Matters
Traditional manual provisioning is slow and error-prone. IaC solves these issues with:
Consistency: Same setup across dev, staging, and production
Speed: Automate hours of manual work
Scalability: Deploy 1 or 100 servers with the same effort
Version Control: Track infra changes in Git
Cost Optimization: Easy cleanup, scheduled destruction, visibility
Reduced Errors: No more misclicks or forgotten settings
Team Collaboration: Everyone works on the same infra codebase
What is Terraform?
Terraform is a widely-used open-source IaC tool by HashiCorp. It allows you to create, update, and destroy infrastructure safely across providers like AWS, Azure, GCP, and more.
How Terraform Works
You write .tf files -> Terraform processes them -> It calls cloud provider APIs to create the required resources.
Terraform Basic Workflow
terraform init -> Initialize your working directory
terraform validate -> Check if your configuration is correct
terraform plan -> Preview changes Terraform will make
terraform apply -> Deploy infrastructure
terraform destroy -> Remove resources when you’re done
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