Terraform and CDK
A quick comparison of Terraform and CDK, two popular infrastructure-as-code tools, to help you choose which to learn first.
- terraform
- cdk
- infrastructure-as-code
- cloud
- devops
Transcript
When you automate cloud infrastructure, you have two main paths: Terraform or the Cloud Development Kit. Terraform uses its own language called HCL. You write what you want the end state to look like, and Terraform figures out how to build it. The Cloud Development Kit lets you write infrastructure in languages you already know, like Python or TypeScript, then compiles those definitions into CloudFormation templates.
Both tools create the same cloud resources. Terraform works with many providers through a unified workflow. CDK integrates naturally with your existing code pipelines and testing tools. Your choice often depends on what your team already knows.
You do not need to choose just one. Start with the tool that matches what you already know. If you are comfortable with Python or TypeScript, try CDK first. If you prefer a purpose-built configuration language, start with Terraform. The skills transfer between both.
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