WHAT IS AWS CDK
AWS CDK (Cloud Development Kit) is an open source software development framework provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It allows developers to define cloud infrastructure and resources using well-known programming languages such as her TypeScript, Python, Java and C#. The CDK provides a higher level of abstraction for provisioning and managing AWS resources, facilitating programmatic and repeatable creation, configuration, and provisioning of cloud infrastructure.
AWS CDK allows developers to define their infrastructure in the cloud using code called AWS CDK Apps. Apps are written in one of the supported programming languages and represent the desired state of your AWS resources. CDK apps use AWS constructs, reusable components that represent AWS resources such as Amazon S3 buckets, Amazon EC2 instances, and AWS Lambda functions. These structures are defined in the AWS CDK library.
When the CDK app runs, it synthesizes the code and generates an AWS CloudFormation template. CloudFormation is an AWS service that provisions and manages AWS resources in a predictable and controlled manner. A CloudFormation template generated by a CDK app defines infrastructure resources and their configuration based on the code and structure defined in the app.
Once the CloudFormation template is generated, it can be deployed using standard AWS CloudFormation deployment mechanisms. This includes deploying your infrastructure programmatically using the AWS Management Console, AWS CLI, or AWS SDKs.
What is CDKTF
CDKTF extends the CDK framework to support Terraform as a target deployment platform alongside AWS CloudFormation. With CDKTF, developers can write infrastructure code using programming languages such as TypeScript, Python, or Java, and define their infrastructure resources and configurations using the CDKTF constructs.
Follow this link to install cdktf in any env — https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/tutorials/cdktf/cdktf-install
Follow this link for know more about ICA tool — https://blog.nashtechglobal.com/how-to-use-infrastructure-as-code-for-efficient-finops/
The key features of CDKTF include:
1. Familiar programming languages:
CDKTF allows developers to use their preferred programming languages to define infrastructure resources, leveraging the rich ecosystem and tooling available for these languages.
2. Type safety and autocompletion:
CDKTF leverages the static typing capabilities of programming languages to provide type safety and autocompletion, reducing errors and improving developer productivity.
3. Reusable constructs:
CDKTF provides a library of reusable constructs that represent Terraform resources. Developers can leverage these constructs to define their infrastructure resources and configurations in a modular and reusable manner.
4. Combined benefits of CDK and Terraform:
CDKTF combines the declarative approach of Terraform with the higher-level abstractions and convenience of CDK, allowing developers to define complex infrastructure patterns and architectures while benefiting from Terraform’s extensive resource provider support.
5. CDK-style constructs for Terraform resources:
CDKTF provides a set of constructs that mirror the structure and behavior of Terraform resources. Developers can use these constructs to define their infrastructure using familiar Terraform concepts and workflows.
6. Seamless integration with Terraform ecosystem:
CDKTF seamlessly integrates with the existing Terraform ecosystem, including Terraform providers, modules, and configurations. Developers can use existing Terraform modules and providers within their CDKTF projects.
Conclusion
CDKTF bridges the gap between the CDK and Terraform, allowing developers to leverage the best of both worlds. It provides a powerful and flexible approach to define, manage, and deploy infrastructure resources across multiple cloud providers using programming languages and the infrastructure-as-code philosophy of Terraform.
