Terraform Variables FAQs
Comprehensive answers to common questions about tfvars management in your Discord workflows. Search below or browse by category:
General
Security
Automation
General Questions
Q: What is the tfvars format?
A: tfvars is a YAML-based format for defining variables in Terraform configurations. It's used to manage sensitive configuration data in your Discord infrastructure projects.
Q: How do I validate my tfvars file?
A: Use the tfvars-validate command with your file path: tfvars-validate ./config.auto.tfvars. This will check for syntax errors and missing required fields.
Q: Can I use templates for tfvars?
A: Yes! Use the tfvars-template command to generate boilerplate. For example: tfvars-template infrastructure -e dev will create an infrastructure template for the dev environment.
Q: How to handle sensitive data in tfvars?
A: Always use tfvars-encrypt for secrets: tfvars-encrypt --input secret.tfvars --output encrypted.tfvars. Access decrypted values with tfvars-decrypt in your Terraform runs.
Security Best Practices
Q: How do I secure my tfvars files?
A: Use tfvars-audit to automatically detect insecure values. Always encrypt files with tfvars-encrypt, store encryption keys in your secret management system, and use temporary credentials where possible.
Q: How to rotate tfvars secrets?
A: Use the tfvars-rotate command to automate secret rotation. This will create a new encrypted value and update all references in your template files.
Q: What's the best way to share tfvars securely?
A: Share encrypted tfvars files only. Use our secure sharing API: tfvars-share --encrypt --exp 2h to share with 2-hour expiration. Access via the unique URL generated.
Automation and Integration
Workflow Automation
Q: Can I automate tfvars updates?
A: Yes! Use the tfvars-watch command with a watch directory. For example: tfvars-watch ./environments/ --sync will automatically sync changes to your infrastructure.
Q: How to set up tfvars with CI/CD?
A: Use tfvars-decrypt in your pipeline with environment encryption keys. Store encrypted variables in your source repository and decrypt them during build.
Advanced Features
Q: How do I use tfvars with multiple environments?
A: Organize with tfvars-environment command. Example: tfvars-environment production -b main will create environment-specific configurations on the master branch.
Q: What's the best way to version tfvars?
A: Use tfvars version tags: tfvars-tag v1.2.0 -m "Infrastructure update". This creates versioned snapshots of your configuration that can be rolled back.