Intro to OpenTofu: The Terraform Alternative by CNCF

Are you working on cloud infrastructure management and the IAC Team, then you heard the name Terraform - The powerful tool that Supports Lots of Providers to deploy the Infra.

But as looking for a powerful Infrastructure as Code (IAC) tool that simplifies your provisioning and deployment process? OpenTofu is an open-source project supported by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF).

On the date of 20th Sept 2023, CNCF Announced that OpenTF is Now OpenTofu. and it will be Part of the CNCF. That was a huge winning for the Open-Source communities that are working with Infrastructure as a code Industry.

In this blog post, well introduce you to OpenTofu, highlighting its features, benefits, and functionality as Terraforms new attractive alternative.

What is OpenTofu?

OpenTofu is an Infrastructure as Code (IAC) tool designed to automate the provisioning and management of cloud resources, containers, and infrastructure components.

Its an open-source project hosted under CNCF since September 2023, which speaks volumes about its beliefs and community support.

OpenTofu is published under the Mozilla Public License (MPL). Publishing software under MPL means that it is open source, can be freely used, modified, and distributed.

Controversy of terraform in OpenSource:

It has long been time for Terraform to be a Core component in simplifying the management of infrastructure in cloud environments. DevOps teams around the world use Terraform as the go-to tool due to its ease of use and powerful capabilities.

Recently, HashiCorp, the company behind Terraform, introduced significant license changes that have raised significant concerns within the open-source community.

Terraform Licences after 1.5 Versions are moving from Mozilla Public License v2.0 (MPLv2) to Business Source License v1.1.

which means you can have a Source code of Terraform, only if your use falls outside of the additional use, especially for commercial purposes you should have to commit a special license grant based on an individual agreement with HashiCorp.

Security patches for the MPL version will be provided until the end of December 2023.

Key Features of OpenTofu

OpenTofu gives a variety of features choice for IAC over Terraform :

1. Declarative Syntax : OpenTofu uses a declarative approach, making it easy to define the desired state of your infrastructure. You describe what you want, and OpenTofu figures out how to make it happen.

2. Multi-Cloud Support : It supports multiple cloud providers, allowing you to manage resources across platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, all in one place.

3. Extensibility : OpenTofu is designed to be highly extensible. You can create custom modules, plugins, and extensions to tailor it to your specific needs.

4. Version Control : Just like code, infrastructure configurations can benefit from version control. OpenTofu integrates seamlessly with Git, making it easy to track changes and collaborate with team members.

5. Community-Driven : Being part of the CNCF ecosystem means OpenTofu has a thriving community of users and contributors. You can find extensive documentation, tutorials, and support online.

Why Choose OpenTofu Over Terraform?

While Terraform is a popular choice for IAC, OpenTofu offers several advantages:

1. Multi-Cloud Natively : OpenTofu is designed with multi-cloud support in mind. While Terraform supports multiple cloud providers, OpenTofu's native multi-cloud capabilities simplify the management of complex, multi-cloud infrastructures.

2. Simplicity & Integration : OpenTofu's declarative syntax is often considered more straightforward and easier to read compared to Terraform's HCL (HashiCorp Configuration Language).

3. Extensibility : OpenTofu's architecture allows for greater extensibility through plugins and modules, providing flexibility for specific use cases.

4. Community Momentum : OpenTofu is gaining traction in the IAC space, with a growing community, continuous development, and an exciting roadmap.

Getting Started with OpenTofu

Getting started with OpenTofu is a breeze. You can follow these simple steps:

1. Install OpenTofu : Begin by installing OpenTofu on your system. You can find installation instructions in the official documentation.

2. Write Configurations : Define your infrastructure and cloud resources using OpenTofu's declarative syntax.

3. Apply Configurations : Run OpenTofu commands to apply your configurations and provision resources.

4. Version Control : Integrate OpenTofu with your version control system (e.g., Git) to manage configurations effectively.

5. Explore the Community : Dive into the OpenTofu community, where you'll find tutorials, forums, and resources to help you master the tool.

Conclusion

OpenTofu, the CNCF-backed Terraform alternative, brings simplicity, multi-cloud support, and a thriving community to the world of Infrastructure as Code. Whether you're a seasoned IAC professional or just getting started, OpenTofu is worth exploring for its promising features and the CNCF stamp of approval. Stay tuned for more in-depth tutorials and insights into harnessing the full potential of OpenTofu in future blog posts.

Are you ready to dive into the world of OpenTofu?

Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!