Using Terraform modules to speed DevOps velocity
In the world of cloud computing, Terraform has become the go-to tool for provisioning and managing cloud infrastructure. For DevOps, Cloud, and Platform Engineers, managing cloud assets is an integral part of the job. But what if we could democratize this process, extending this ability to developers and freeing up platform engineers’' time? Firefly's innovative new feature does just that.
Firefly has been a game-changer in the realm of cloud asset management, providing an intuitive platform for managing, organizing, and optimizing cloud resources. It has empowered organizations to take control of their cloud ecosystems, driving efficiency and optimization across the board. We're thrilled to announce an exciting addition to our product - the "Compose Module Call" feature.
Terraform Modules in Firefly
We've taken our cloud asset management solution a step further by integrating the ability to compose new cloud infrastructure by using Terraform modules within the Firefly platform. The best part is they don't need to know any Terraform at all. For those who aren’t familiar, Terraform modules provide a governed way to create infrastructure assets that are pre-defined with the desired policy and governance requirements already baked in, so you don’t need to reinvent the wheel with each new repeatable cloud asset.
With Firefly's innovative "Compose Module Call" feature, you no longer need to be an expert in Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) or Terraform. The new feature takes a user-friendly approach to the cloud infrastructure setup, allowing anyone in your organization to create and manage cloud resources. Whether you're a seasoned developer or a newbie to the IaC scene, this feature simplifies the process of generating Terraform code using an easy-to-navigate interface, and creates a pull request that you can deploy directly using your existing DevOps CI/CD.
Democratizing Cloud Infrastructure Management
This new feature represents a major shift in the way cloud infrastructure is managed. Traditionally, platform engineers have manually provisioned cloud infrastructure for developers for each project. This process can be time-consuming and may take them away from other critical tasks.
By allowing developers to independently create Terraform code, we are distributing the load and creating a more democratized system for managing our infrastructure at scale. Developers can now manage their own cloud infrastructure needs without waiting for platform or DevOps engineers to provision resources for them - while at the same time using trusted, vetted methods .
Unleashing Developer Autonomy
This isn't just about reducing the workload for engineers. It's about unleashing developer autonomy and productivity. By providing developers with the tools to provision their own cloud resources, we are empowering them to be self-sufficient. As cloud operations grow in scale and complexity, and new and more intelligent machine capabilities are unlocked––there really is no reason to continue with the practice of having a human bottleneck for simple cloud tasks. Developers, with the right guardrails in place, should be able to self-serve and move much more quickly with regards to simple technocratic requirements.
Consider a common scenario: a developer requires an EC2 server on AWS for development purposes. This EC2 configuration would typically be handled through a Terraform module authored by the platform team, incorporating all the best practices for security, reliability, optimization, and efficiency. With our new feature, this process becomes hassle-free, with a wizard that performs an automated analysis of the necessary inputs to create the code for the infrastructure.
By having Terraform modules be available to them inside their familiar DevOps workflows and platforms, developers can now implement, test, and tweak their cloud infrastructure without having to navigate multiple teams or wait for resources to be provisioned by another team. This freedom enables faster deployment, streamlined workflows, and ultimately, a more agile end-to-end development process. At the same time, the platform team can rest assured that best practices are followed and policies enforced.
Embracing the Future of Cloud Infrastructure Management
The ability to compose Terraform modules in Firefly is a forward-thinking feature that promises to transform the way organizations manage their cloud infrastructure. For businesses, this could mean significant time and resource savings, while for developers, it opens up new opportunities for greater velocity and efficiency. For DevOps/Platform Engineers it alleviates the burden of manual provisioning, freeing up their time to focus on more critical, value-added tasks.
Initial feedback for the "Compose Module Call" feature has been overwhelmingly positive. The feature has been a long-awaited answer to platform teams' need to empower developers. Our clients appreciate the simplicity of the interface and the degree of control it offers over their cloud infrastructure. It's a game-changer, enabling teams to streamline their workflow and ultimately deliver value more rapidly.
Firefly is proud to be at the forefront of this exciting development in cloud asset management. We invite you to explore this new feature and discover the benefits of a more democratized, efficient approach to managing your cloud infrastructure. Together, let's embrace the future of cloud infrastructure management.