Terraform Cheat Sheet

Terraform Cheat Sheet

Certainly! Here's a basic Terraform cheat sheet to help you quickly reference some common commands and concepts:

Terraform Commands:

  • terraform init: Initialize a new or existing Terraform working directory.

  • terraform plan: Generate and show an execution plan for changes to be applied.

  • terraform apply: Apply the changes required to reach the desired state of the configuration.

  • terraform destroy: Destroy the Terraform-managed infrastructure.

  • terraform validate: Check whether the configuration is valid.

  • terraform fmt: Reformat your configuration files to a canonical format.

  • terraform state: Advanced state management commands.

Terraform Configuration:

  • provider: Specifies the cloud or infrastructure provider (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).

  • resource: Defines the infrastructure components to be created (e.g., virtual machines, databases, networks).

  • variable: Declares input variables for the configuration.

  • output: Declares output values to be shown after applying the configuration.

  • module: Defines a reusable Terraform configuration.

Terraform Language:

  • HCL (HashiCorp Configuration Language): The language used to write Terraform configurations.

  • Variables: Input parameters that customize Terraform configurations.

  • Expressions: Dynamic constructs used to customize configurations.

  • Functions: Built-in functions for manipulating and querying data.

  • Providers: Plugins that Terraform uses to manage infrastructure.

Terraform Best Practices:

  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Treat infrastructure as code, enabling versioning, testing, and automation.

  • Modularity: Use modules to encapsulate and reuse infrastructure configurations.

  • State Management: Understand and manage Terraform state to avoid conflicts and ensure consistency.

  • Version Control: Store Terraform configurations in version control systems like Git.

  • Documentation: Document your Terraform configurations and infrastructure.

Here are 30 essential Terraform commands that are commonly used:

  1. terraform init: Initialize a new or existing Terraform working directory by downloading and installing provider plugins.

  2. terraform plan: Generate and show an execution plan for changes to be applied, highlighting the actions that will be taken.

  3. terraform apply: Apply the changes required to reach the desired state of the configuration, executing the planned actions.

  4. terraform destroy: Destroy the Terraform-managed infrastructure, deleting all resources defined in the configuration.

  5. terraform validate: Check whether the configuration is valid and internally consistent.

  6. terraform fmt: Reformat your configuration files to a canonical format, making it easier to read and understand.

  7. terraform get: Download and install modules defined in the root module.

  8. terraform graph: Create a visual representation of the configuration and its dependencies as a graph.

  9. terraform import: Import existing infrastructure into your Terraform state.

  10. terraform output: Show the outputs of the current Terraform configuration.

  11. terraform refresh: Update the state file against real resources.

  12. terraform show: Show the current state or a saved plan.

  13. terraform state: Advanced state management commands for manual state manipulation.

  14. terraform taint: Mark a resource instance as tainted, forcing it to be destroyed and recreated on the next apply.

  15. terraform untaint: Remove the tainted state from a resource instance.

  16. terraform version: Show the current Terraform version.

  17. terraform workspace: Workspace management commands for managing multiple workspaces.

  18. terraform console: Interactive console for evaluating expressions.

  19. terraform force-unlock: Release a stuck lock on the state.

  20. terraform login: Obtain and save an API token for Terraform Cloud.

  21. terraform logout: Remove locally-stored credentials for Terraform Cloud.

  22. terraform import: Import existing infrastructure into your Terraform state.

  23. terraform output: Show the outputs of the current Terraform configuration.

  24. terraform providers: Show the providers required for this configuration.

  25. terraform state list: List all resources in the Terraform state.

  26. terraform state mv: Move an item in the Terraform state.

  27. terraform state pull: Pull current state and output to stdout.

  28. terraform state push: Update remote state from a local state file.

  29. terraform state replace-provider: Replace provider in the Terraform state.

  30. terraform state show: Show the attributes of a single resource in the Terraform state.

These commands cover a wide range of Terraform operations, from initializing a project to managing the state and interacting with infrastructure. Always refer to the official Terraform documentation for the most up-to-date information on these commands and their usage.

This cheat sheet provides a quick reference for some common Terraform commands, configuration elements, language features, and best practices. For more detailed information, always refer to the official Terraform documentation and resources.

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