Description: Applying Terraform is a fundamental command in the infrastructure as code tool Terraform, allowing users to execute the necessary changes to achieve the desired state of their infrastructure. This command takes the configuration defined in Terraform files and applies it to resources in the cloud or local environment, ensuring that the infrastructure aligns with the desired specifications. When executing ‘terraform apply’, Terraform analyzes the current configuration and compares it with the desired state, generating an action plan that details the modifications to be made. This process includes creating, modifying, or deleting resources, enabling users to manage their infrastructure efficiently and reproducibly. Additionally, ‘terraform apply’ can be run in interactive mode, where the user can review and confirm changes before they are applied, or in automatic mode, where changes are applied without user intervention. This flexibility and control make the command essential for managing modern infrastructures, facilitating the implementation of DevOps practices and automating infrastructure processes.
History: Terraform was created by HashiCorp and first released in July 2014. Since its launch, it has significantly evolved, incorporating new features and improvements in infrastructure management. The tool has become an industry standard for deploying and managing cloud resources, thanks to its focus on infrastructure as code and its ability to work with multiple cloud service providers.
Uses: The ‘terraform apply’ command is primarily used to implement changes to the infrastructure defined in Terraform configuration files. It is commonly used in various environments such as development, testing, and production to manage resources such as virtual machines, networks, databases, and other cloud services. It is also used in deployment automation and continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD).
Examples: A practical example of using ‘terraform apply’ would be in a project where a new cloud instance needs to be created. After defining the configuration in a .tf file, the user runs ‘terraform apply’ to create the instance in the cloud. Another example would be updating the configuration of a database, where the configuration file is modified and the change is applied with the same command.
