Terraform Cloud (HCP Terraform) Tutorials: Workspace Workflow types

Terraform Cloud (HCP Terraform) provides different workspace workflow types, allowing teams to manage infrastructure efficiently based on their preferred automation and collaboration methods. Below are the primary workspace workflow types available in HCP Terraform.

1. UI/VCS-Driven Workflow

• Description:
  This is the most commonly used workflow in HCP Terraform. A workspace is linked to a Version Control System (VCS) repository (such as GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or Azure DevOps), and Terraform automatically triggers a plan when new changes are committed. If a pull request (PR) is created, Terraform executes a speculative plan, helping teams review the impact of changes before merging.
• Use Case:
  • Best for GitOps workflows, where infrastructure changes are managed through pull requests and code reviews.
  • Ideal for teams collaborating on infrastructure-as-code (IaC) using version control.
  • Useful for automation, as runs are automatically queued when code changes.

2. API-Driven Workflow

• Description:
  This workflow does not require a direct connection to a VCS. Instead, Terraform configurations are uploaded via API from an external system such as a CI/CD pipeline, automation scripts, or custom integrations. Runs are triggered programmatically by pushing configuration files to Terraform Cloud.
• Use Case:
  • Suitable for organizations using custom automation tools that need Terraform to be part of a larger workflow.
  • Ideal when working with unsupported VCS providers or dynamically generated Terraform configurations.
  • Useful for event-driven automation, where infrastructure changes are triggered by external workflows.

3. CLI-Driven Workflow

• Description:
  The CLI-driven workflow allows users to run Terraform directly from the Terraform CLI while still taking advantage of Terraform Cloud’s features like remote execution, state management, policy enforcement, and private module registries. Instead of running Terraform locally, commands like terraform plan and terraform apply execute on Terraform Cloud, ensuring consistency and governance.
• Use Case:
  • Best for teams already using Terraform CLI but want the benefits of centralized collaboration.
  • Useful for organizations that want fine-grained control over when and how Terraform runs are executed.
  • Ideal for teams that do not use a VCS integration but still want Terraform Cloud’s state management and remote execution features.

Choosing the Right Workflow

The choice of workspace workflow type depends on team size, automation needs, and infrastructure management approach:

Each workflow provides flexibility in managing infrastructure as code, ensuring efficient automation, collaboration, and governance in Terraform Cloud.

Rajesh Kumar

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