Building Git Workflows for IaC and Terraform Projects

In this chapter, we look at the pivotal role of Git workflows in managing Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and Terraform projects, particularly within Amazon Web Services (AWS) environments. We explore various Git workflows, offering insights to effectively implement them for optimized collaboration and code quality. This chapter provides a comprehensive guide on selecting, setting up, and managing Git workflows, along with tools specifically tailored for AWS and Terraform projects.

Security takes center stage as we share best practices to safeguard your Terraform projects, from backend security to role-based access control (RBAC) and compliance. We wrap up the chapter with strategic insights on streamlining AWS Terraform projects for enhanced efficiency and effectiveness.

In the subsequent chapters, we’ll expand on advanced strategies and tools, empowering you to elevate the security, efficiency, and scalability of your...

Why do we need a Git workflow?

Git is a version control system (VCS) that allows multiple developers to work on the same code base while keeping track of changes and collaborating on code. A Git workflow is a set of guidelines that dictate how developers use Git to manage the code base.

There are several Git workflows, but the most common one is a Gitflow workflow. A Gitflow workflow is a branching model that provides a clear separation of development branches and release branches. It consists of two main branches:

• Master branch: The master branch represents the official code base, and it should always contain a stable, working version of the code.
• Develop branch: The develop branch is used for ongoing development work. Developers create feature branches off the develop branch, make changes to the code, and then merge their changes back into the develop branch.

In addition to the master and develop branches, there are also feature branches, release branches, and...

Implementing a Git workflow

Implementing a Git workflow involves defining a set of guidelines and processes that dictate how developers will use Git to manage the code base. Here are general steps for implementing a Git workflow:

1. Choose a Git workflow: Choose the Git workflow that best suits the needs of your team and project. The most common Git workflow is Gitflow, but there are other workflows as well, such as a centralized workflow, a feature branch workflow, and a forking workflow.
2. Set up the repository: Create a Git repository to store the code base for your IAC project and set up the necessary branches, such as the master and develop branches.
3. Define a process for creating and merging feature branches: Define a process for creating and merging feature branches, such as naming conventions, coding standards, code review, and testing. Typically, developers will create a new branch off the develop branch for each feature they work on, make changes to the code, and...

Tools and flows to use with AWS Terraform projects

When using Terraform for AWS IAC projects, several Git tools can be used to implement a Git flow. Here are some of the most commonly used Git tools for Terraform:

• Git: Git is a popular VCS that can be used to manage changes to Terraform code. With Git, you can create branches for different features, manage changes to the code base, and collaborate with other developers.
• GitHub: GitHub is a popular Git hosting platform that provides features such as pull requests, code review, and collaboration tools. You can use GitHub to host your Terraform code and collaborate with other developers.
• GitLab: GitLab is another popular Git hosting platform that provides features such as continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) and security scanning. You can use GitLab to host your Terraform code, manage pipelines, and collaborate with other developers.
• Bitbucket: Bitbucket is a Git hosting platform that provides features...

How to secure a Terraform project

Securing a Terraform project involves taking several steps to ensure that the infrastructure is properly configured and protected against security threats. Here are some best practices for securing a Terraform project:

• Use a secure backend: Terraform stores state information in a backend, which can be a remote service such as Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) or Terraform Cloud. Make sure that the backend is properly secured, with appropriate access controls and encryption.
• Use variables and secrets: Use variables and secrets to store sensitive information such as API keys, passwords, and other secrets. Store these variables and secrets in a secure location such as AWS Secrets Manager or a secure configuration management tool.
• Use secure networking: Ensure that the network configuration for the infrastructure is properly secured, with appropriate firewalls, network security groups (NSGs), and virtual private networks (VPNs) in place...

Streamlining AWS Terraform projects

Streamlining an AWS Terraform project involves taking steps to optimize the infrastructure deployment process, reduce the time and effort required for deployment, and improve the efficiency of the development process. Here are some best practices for streamlining an AWS Terraform project:

• Use modular code: Use modular code to create reusable templates and modules that can be easily shared across the project. This can help reduce the amount of duplicated code and make it easier to maintain and update the infrastructure.
• Use Terraform modules: Use Terraform modules to encapsulate reusable infrastructure components such as security groups, load balancers, and databases. This can help simplify the infrastructure deployment process and reduce the time and effort required for deployment.
• Use Terraform workspaces: Use Terraform workspaces to manage multiple environments such as development, staging, and production. This can help streamline...

Summary

In this chapter, we unfolded the intricacies of integrating Git workflows into IaC and Terraform projects. We demystified the art of selecting and implementing robust Git workflows and elucidated security protocols essential for safeguarding your Terraform projects. We also navigated through strategies to enhance the efficiency of deploying AWS Terraform projects, setting the stage for advanced, streamlined, and secure infrastructure deployment.

As we transition into the next chapter, Automating the Deployment of Terraform Projects, prepare to delve deeper into the world of automation, where we’ll explore cutting-edge tools and methodologies designed to optimize, expedite, and enhance the precision of deploying Terraform projects, turning complexity into simplicity and challenges into opportunities. We’re on the brink of transforming theory into actionable insights!