Terraform - Advanced Techniques

This one-day course provides participants with a deeper understanding of advanced aspects of infrastructure as code using the Terraform tool. Participants will gain the knowledge and skills needed for effectively creating and managing infrastructure in various cloud environments using Terraform.

Target Audience:

• Cloud Architects
• DevOps Engineers
• Platform Engineers

Course Objectives:

The goal of this course is to provide participants with advanced techniques and knowledge in the field of Terraform. Participants will become familiar with advanced concepts, working with modules, utilizing variables and data sources, through practical scenarios and exercises.

Course Outline:

1. Introduction to Advanced Terraform Techniques

• Overview of advanced Terraform concepts
• Working with Modules and Their Management

2. Working with modules for code organization and abstraction

• Module dependencies
• Repository structuring to minimize cyclic dependencies
• TF registry and open-source alternatives
• Private registries and their utilization   

3. Advanced Use of Variables and Data Sources

• Conditionally creating resources using count and for_each
• Utilizing dynamic variables and data sources for infrastructure flexibility
• Dynamic blocks
• Data manipulation and resource linking
• Input variables - their structure and creation
• Variable conditions

4. Manipulating Complex Data Structures in Terraform

• Nested loops and conditional expressions
• State management in Terraform - imports, deletions, moves
• Protecting sensitive information in the state
• Resource lifecycle management - create before destroy
• Working with multiple providers

5. Terraform CI/CD Automation

• Automation with Terraform - Atlantis, Terraform Cloud, Github/Gitlab integration
• TFlint, TFsec, Checkov, Terraform docs, Terrascan, Driftctl, Terrafirma

6. Extending Terraform and its Alternatives

• Terragrunt
• Terramate
• Crossplane
• Terraform CDK

7. Terraform Testing Frameworks

• Terratest
• TF2
• terraform-compliance

Prerequisites:

• Basic knowledge of Terraform and its syntax
• Basic knowledge of working with public cloud platforms
• Knowledge of version control system (Git)
• Understanding of basic concepts of infrastructure as code