Terraform runs
A Terraform run provisions infrastructure from a working directory of .tf files. The run's command
names that directory, relative to the project checkout.
What runs
terraform init runs first; if it fails the run stops there with init's result. Then terraform apply -auto-approve applies the configuration. A dry run runs terraform plan instead, so it
previews the change without touching infrastructure. All three run with -input=false -no-color, so
a run never blocks on a prompt.
How values reach the configuration
- Extra vars, including survey answers and template vars, arrive as
TF_VAR_environment entries, so a variable namedregionbecomesTF_VAR_region. Scalars pass through as strings; lists and maps pass as JSON, which Terraform accepts. - Credentials arrive in the environment, so an
envcredential of cloud keys or atokencredential asYARDMASTER_TOKENauthenticates the provider. A command-source credential resolves fresh each run. - The command directory cannot escape the project with
.., so a run stays inside its checkout.
Example
A directory infra/network holding:
variable "region" { type = string }
output "vpc" { value = "vpc-${var.region}" }
Launch a Terraform run with the command set to infra/network and a survey field region. A dry run
shows the plan; a real run applies it.
See also Bash runs, Python runs, and the tutorials.
