What is infrastructure as code? Automating your infrastructure builds

"Infrastructure as code (often abbreviated IaC) is a practice of writing plain-text declarative configuration files that automated tools use to manage and provision servers and other computing resources. In the pre-cloud days, sysadmins would often customize the configuration of individual on-premises server systems; but as more and more organizations move to the cloud, those skills became less relevant and useful."

"In his book, Infrastructure as Code: Dynamic Systems for the Cloud Age, Kief Morris says that infrastructure as code boils down to three core practices: "Define everything as code, continuously test and deliver everything as you work, and build your system from small, loosely coupled pieces." He adds that IaC "is an approach to infrastructure automation based on practices from software development. It emphasizes consistent, repeatable routines for provisioning and changing systems and their configuration.""

Infrastructure as code (IaC) is a practice of writing plain-text declarative configuration files that automated tools use to manage and provision servers and other computing resources. Sysadmins define systems in configuration files that IaC tools apply to many physical or virtual servers, enabling operations at web scale. Configuration files use human-readable formats like JSON or YAML and integrate into software development and management processes. IaC makes system administration part of DevOps and CI/CD. Core IaC practices include defining everything as code, continuously testing and delivering changes, and building systems from small, loosely coupled pieces, enabling consistent, repeatable provisioning and safer source-driven changes.

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