Infrastructure as Code
A list of best practices and methodologies for Infrastructure as Code. Learn about basic concepts, benefits, challenges, and implementation methods for each practice.
Declarative Infrastructure
intermediateA methodology that describes the desired state of infrastructure declaratively and automatically converges the actual state. Define end state rather than procedural scripts.
Benefits
- Idempotency Guarantee
- Simplified State Management
- Improved Readability
Key Principles
- End State Definition
- Automatic Convergence
- Declarative Description
Related Tools
Terraform, CloudFormation, Pulumi, Kubernetes
Immutable Infrastructure
intermediateInfrastructure that is never modified after deployment; updates require deploying new instances and replacing old ones.
Benefits
- Eliminate Configuration Drift
- Consistency Guarantee
- Simplified Rollback
Key Principles
- No-Modification Principle
- Update by Replacement
- Version Control
Related Tools
Packer, Docker, AMI Builder, Cloud Images
Configuration Drift
advancedTechniques to detect and prevent unintended configuration changes (drift) that occur over time. Implement continuous monitoring and automatic correction.
Benefits
- Maintain Consistency
- Enhanced Security
- Predictable Environment
Key Principles
- Continuous Verification
- Automatic Remediation
- Change Tracking
Related Tools
Terraform, AWS Config, Azure Policy, Chef InSpec
State Management
intermediateTechniques to track and manage infrastructure's current state, synchronizing declarative definitions with actual resources. Includes remote state management and locking mechanisms.
Benefits
- Enable Team Collaboration
- Centralized State Management
- Concurrent Execution Control
Key Principles
- Remote State Storage
- State Locking
- Encryption
Related Tools
Terraform, Pulumi, CloudFormation, Ansible
Module Design
advancedModule design patterns for creating reusable and maintainable infrastructure code. Utilize abstraction, encapsulation, and parameterization.
Benefits
- Code Reusability
- Promote Standardization
- Improved Maintainability
Key Principles
- Single Responsibility
- Interface Design
- Composability
Related Tools
Terraform, Ansible, Helm, AWS CDK