Convention over Configuration: Building Developer-Friendly IaC with OpenTofu

Learn how to implement Convention over Configuration principles in your Infrastructure as Code using OpenTofu, making your IaC more maintainable and developer-friendly.

by:  Cory O'Daniel

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Workshop Announcement: Convention-over-Configuration – Building Developer-Friendly IaC Modules with OpenTofu

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is essential, but too often, it forces developers into operational complexities that distract from their core work. Instead of enabling developers, we're asking them to wade through configurations and cloud specifics that don't align with their main goals.

That's why we're offering a new workshop on Convention-over-Configuration: Building Developer-Friendly IaC Modules with OpenTofu. This workshop is for ops, platform, and DevOps engineers who want to rethink their IaC design with a focus on the developer experience (DevEx), creating modules that simplify configurations, speed up onboarding, and scale effortlessly across teams.

In this workshop, we'll cover practical principles and patterns that make IaC intuitive, allowing developers to interact with infrastructure through conventions, not endless configuration. By the end, you'll be equipped with the tools to build IaC modules that support developers with efficient, tailored interfaces and workflows.

What You'll Learn: 7 Core Patterns for Developer-Friendly IaC

1. Mode-Based Configuration

   • Use high-level modes to shield developers from operational details. Instead of setting individual parameters, developers can choose a mode like “Availability Level” or “Data Retention Policy” to automatically configure settings behind the scenes. For example, setting data_retention: "short" | "medium" | "long" | "archival" adjusts storage type, backup frequency, and purge schedules based on the retention needs. With Mode-Based Configuration, developers focus on their application's requirements, while the module manages the complexity.

2. Scenario-Based Presets

   • These presets are .tfvar files tailored for common scenarios, like MySQL configurations or Kubernetes clusters, and they make getting started with IaC faster and more consistent. Developers select a preset that sets foundational configurations, allowing them to modify only what's essential for their use case.

3. Interpolated Runbooks

   • Runbooks dynamically incorporate commands and configurations specific to your infrastructure setup, providing step-by-step guides tailored to troubleshoot and resolve issues effectively. This pattern gives teams immediate access to actionable commands and best practices, reducing downtime and making troubleshooting accessible and efficient.

4. Domain-Specific Variables

   • These variables bridge familiar business terms to technical infrastructure details, abstracting away the technical complexity. Developers can input known values like “records per day” or “expected growth rate,” while the module translates this into the necessary infrastructure configuration, like storage requirements or instance size.

5. Derived Naming and Tagging

   • Derived Naming and Tagging standardizes naming and tagging conventions based on a few high-level inputs, such as “name” and “team.” Developers don't need to worry about defining every tag or following a complex naming convention—the module automatically applies consistent tags, with optional additional_tags if needed.

6. Embedded Developer Logic with Locals

   • This pattern encapsulates complex calculations and operational expertise in module locals, enabling developers to set high-level inputs without handling intricate details like CIDR math or scaling thresholds. By centralizing logic in locals, modules become easier to use and reduce the risk of misconfiguration.

7. JSON Schema Validation

   • JSON schemas enforce strict input and output validation, establishing strong contracts between modules that make them composable and resilient. This pattern uses enums, regex, and conditional requirements to ensure modules receive valid data and produce outputs that other modules can consume without additional configuration or manual checks.

Ready to transform your IaC approach with OpenTofu? The workshop has come-and-gone, but you can watch and access the labs here. Happy hacking!