Terraform Key Notes
Version Management
•Use
tfenv for version switching: tfenv install 1.6.6, tfenv use 1.6.6•Pin provider versions in
versions.tf — prevents surprise breaking changes•OpenTofu is the open-source fork (after HashiCorp BSL license change Aug 2023) — same syntax
State Management Rules
1.Remote state is mandatory for teams — never local state in shared repos
2.State locking prevents concurrent applies
3.Never manually edit state file — use
terraform state mv/rm4.State contains secrets in plaintext — encrypt at rest (S3 server-side encryption, Azure Blob encryption)
Import Workflow (Bringing Existing Resources Under TF)
1.Write the HCL configuration for the resource
2.
terraform import azurerm_resource_group.main /subscriptions/.../resourceGroups/my-rg3.
terraform plan — verify no unexpected changes4.
terraform apply if plan shows no changesTerraform vs OpenTofu (2024)
| Terraform | OpenTofu |
|---|
|-|-----------|----------|
| License | BSL 1.1 (not fully open source) | MPL 2.0 (fully open source) |
|---|---|---|
| Governance | HashiCorp (IBM) | CNCF |
| Syntax | HCL | HCL (identical) |
| Compatibility | Source | Drop-in replacement |
| State | Compatible | Compatible |
Quick Reference — Terraform
Key Points for Revision
•Review the overview section for core architecture and fundamentals
•Practice commands/configurations from the cheatsheet section
•Use interview Q&A for active recall before exams or interviews
•Cross-reference with related tools in the devops academy
Related Topics
Explore these connected topics to build complete understanding:
•Overview and Architecture
•Fundamentals and Core Concepts
•Advanced Patterns and Production Usage
•Interview Preparation Q&A
•Quick Reference Cheatsheet
Practice Approach
1.Read the overview to understand what and why
2.Work through fundamentals for how
3.Attempt hands-on labs or configurations
4.Test yourself with interview questions
5.Keep cheatsheet accessible for quick reference during work
Further Learning
Connect this topic to the broader devops ecosystem.
Each tool in this academy is designed to work with others —
understanding the integration points is what separates intermediate from senior practitioners.
This section is part of the SynfraCore learning platform. Use the sidebar to navigate to Overview, Fundamentals, Advanced, and Cheatsheet sections for comprehensive coverage of this topic.