TFLint: A Pluggable Terraform Linter Enhancing Infrastructure as Code Practices
A brief introduction to the project:
In our current age of computing, Infrastructure as Code (IAC) is a crucial practice that ensures efficiency and reliability when it comes to managing and provisioning computing resources. Among the most popular IAC tools for cloud infrastructure management is HashiCorp Terraform. However, while it’s a robust tool, human errors such as typos, incorrect configuration, and incorrect settings could be a setback. Introducing TFLint, a sophisticated linter for Terraform code. TFLint is a public GitHub project developed by Terraform-linters that catches possible errors and problematic patterns populated in terraform codes.
Project Overview:
TFLint's core objective is to enhance IAC practices by facilitating the effective use of Terraform. It focuses on eliminating potential errors that might arise when writing Terraform configuration files, thus ensuring highly reliable and clean codes. From beginners learning Terraform to experienced developers and organizations seeking consistency, TFLint is a useful tool designed to uphold the quality of Infrastructure as Code.
Project Features:
Key features that make TFLint unique includes its ability to verify variables whether they are properly interpolated, or whether the resources are correctly typed and configured. Additionally, TFLint is more comprehensive by checking not just the syntax but also the APIs of providers like AWS. A special feature that makes TFLint stand out is its pluggable architecture. The tool is designed to operate with plugins, allowing for extensions of the linter capabilities according to specific needs.
Technology Stack:
TFLint is written in Go, a statically-typed language known for its simplicity and efficiency, ultimately offering high performance. It is built on top of the HashiCorp's go-plugin library which allows it to have a pluggable architecture.
Project Structure and Architecture:
TFLint follows a clean and comprehensive structure engraved with the recommended Go project layout. It has separate directories devoted for issues, rules, rulesets, vendor and several other utilities. Each ruleset directory contains rules that are helpful for specific requirements, aiding the pluggable architecture.
Contribution Guidelines:
The project welcomes contributions. When making contributions, the maintainers expect you to first file an issue describing your proposed change. They also provide a guideline on how to get the code and its dependencies, how to build and test changes, how to work with git and preparing a PR for submission. Overall, TFLint fosters an inclusive environment to encourage open-source contributors.
