For its automation language, Ansible uses YAML, a human-readable data-serialization language. It is focused on the process, instead of the end state. Procedural, or imperative, programming is a method of writing code to provide the computer with a list of instructions-a step-by-step guide-to completing a task. This means that the sequence of commands that Terraform has to perform to achieve the required configuration changes are not visible or known to the end user. Terraform uses the Hashicorp Configuration Language (HCL) as its automation language and a declarative programming approach. It is focused on the end state, instead of the specific commands and steps needed to get there. By treating an IT infrastructure as code, organizations can automate management tasks, benefitting from best practices of software development and reducing human error.īoth Ansible and Terraform are IaC tools, though, as mentioned, the programming used by each solution differs.ĭeclarative programming is a method of writing code to describe the desired outcome of the program, rather than detailing how to do it. Each process is detailed below.Īn Infrastructure as Code (IaC) approach defines and provisions infrastructure through code that will be executed automatically, instead of through manual processes. Ansible uses a procedural (or imperative) programming approach, which tries to preserve the configuration of an IT infrastructure by defining the steps to reach a desired state. Terraform uses an approach called declarative programming, which tries to preserve the configuration of an IT infrastructure by defining a desired state. However, their approach to configuration management differs. Like many other automation solutions, Ansible and Terraform can both define configurations and apply them to various infrastructure targets. Ansible can also provision apps and services.Ĭonfiguration management is the process of defining and maintaining the configuration of infrastructure, applications, and services. Provisioning is the process of creating and deploying IT infrastructure for applications and services.īoth Ansible and Terraform can provision (and deprovision) IT infrastructure. As a result, you can standardize your approach to automation across your entire IT estate, using Ansible as the top-level, common language for all teams. Ansible has built-in modules to connect to and manage other automation tools (including Terraform). Those, in turn, execute the automation workflows.īoth Ansible and Terraform can act as orchestrators as they can invoke multiple automation workflows in sequence following specific policies.

Orchestration can also coordinate multiple automation solutions. This coordination usually follows pre-established rules defined in a policy. Orchestrated together, these workflows automate the configuration and management of complex systems, applications, and services. Each workflow executes one or more tasks. Orchestration is the coordinated execution of multiple workflows. Let’s define some of the most common ones and explore how they relate to each other-and to Ansible and Terraform.

As you’re researching automation solutions, you’ve undoubtedly seen many terms used to describe the key differences and functionality of the products.

Deployit vs puppet