Installing Terraform CLI – Tutorial

Introduction

Terraform is a powerful Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool that allows you to define and provision infrastructure using a declarative configuration language. To get started with Terraform, you’ll need to install the Terraform Command-Line Interface (CLI) on your local machine. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to install the Terraform CLI on various platforms.

Prerequisites

Before you start the installation process, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

1. A computer with internet access.
2. Administrative privileges on your machine, as the installation may require making system-wide changes.

Let’s get started!

Installing Terraform on Windows

Step 1: Download the Terraform Binary

1. Visit the official Terraform downloads page: Terraform Downloads.
2. Download the Windows version of the Terraform binary. Terraform is distributed as a single executable file.

Step 2: Install Terraform

1. After downloading, locate the Terraform binary (usually named terraform.exe) in your downloads folder.
2. Move the binary to a directory included in your system’s PATH environment variable, such as C:\Windows\System32 or a custom folder. This step allows you to run Terraform from any command prompt.
3. Open a command prompt and run the following command to verify the installation:

terraform --version

You should see the Terraform version displayed.

Installing Terraform on macOS

Step 1: Download the Terraform Binary

1. Visit the official Terraform downloads page: Terraform Downloads.
2. Download the macOS version of the Terraform binary. Terraform is distributed as a single executable file.

Step 2: Install Terraform

1. After downloading, locate the Terraform binary (usually named terraform) in your downloads folder.
2. Move the binary to a directory included in your system’s PATH environment variable, such as /usr/local/bin. This step allows you to run Terraform from the terminal.
3. Open a terminal and run the following command to verify the installation:

terraform --version

You should see the Terraform version displayed.

Installing Terraform on Linux

Step 1: Download the Terraform Binary

1. Visit the official Terraform downloads page: Terraform Downloads.
2. Download the Linux version of the Terraform binary. Terraform is distributed as a single executable file.

Step 2: Install Terraform

1. After downloading, locate the Terraform binary (usually named terraform) in your downloads folder.
2. Move the binary to a directory included in your system’s PATH environment variable, such as /usr/local/bin. This step allows you to run Terraform from the terminal.
3. Open a terminal and run the following command to verify the installation:

terraform --version

You should see the Terraform version displayed.

Conclusion

You’ve successfully installed the Terraform CLI on your operating system. With Terraform at your disposal, you’re ready to define and provision infrastructure as code, making your infrastructure management more efficient and predictable. Start by creating your first Terraform configuration, and explore the powerful capabilities of this tool in automating infrastructure deployment and management. Happy Terraforming!