Terraform
Terraform Plan Output Encoding: What Is It?
Learn about the encoding format used in Terraform plan output and how to interpret it effectively for infrastructure management.
Learn about the encoding format used in Terraform plan output and how to interpret it effectively for infrastructure management.
hcl\n${output}\n\n${ds}, Working Directory: ${tfWo...](#terraform-plan-${status}\n-${planresult}<details><summary>show-output</summary>\n\n```hcl\n${output}\n```\n</details>\n\n*dataset:-${ds},-working-directory:-${tfwo...)The output you see from running terraform plan might look cryptic with encoded characters, but it's not meant to be directly read or manipulated like a standard text file. Terraform's plan format is designed for internal use by the tool itself, not for human consumption or interaction by other software. Trying to decode or modify this output directly is not recommended and can lead to unpredictable results.
The output of terraform plan is not designed to be directly manipulated. While you might see encoded characters, it's not a standard encoding like UTF-8.
Here's why:
What to do instead:
terraform plan -out=planfile to save it for later application.terraform apply planfile to execute the changes.terraform output to get values from your infrastructure after applying.Example:
terraform plan -out=myplan
terraform apply myplan
terraform output my_resource_ip For reviewing large plans:
terraform plan without -out to see the changes in your terminal.less: terraform plan | less
terraform-plan-parser for more advanced analysis.Key takeaway: Don't try to directly decode terraform plan output. Use Terraform's built-in mechanisms for working with plans.
The code demonstrates basic Terraform workflow: creating an execution plan, reviewing it, applying the plan to provision infrastructure, and retrieving an output value. It also includes an example of piping the plan output to a pager for easier review and using a tool for parsing plan output in JSON format.
# Create a Terraform plan and save it to a file
terraform plan -out=myplan
# Review the plan in a pager
terraform plan | less
# Apply the saved plan
terraform apply myplan
# Get the IP address of a resource after applying
terraform output my_resource_ip Explanation:
terraform plan -out=myplan: This command generates a Terraform plan and saves it to a file named "myplan". This file contains a representation of the actions Terraform will take to reach the desired state.
terraform plan | less: This command pipes the output of terraform plan (which shows the changes that would be applied) to the less command. This allows you to scroll through the plan in your terminal, making it easier to review large plans.
terraform apply myplan: This command applies the changes described in the "myplan" file. Terraform will execute the actions specified in the plan, modifying your infrastructure accordingly.
terraform output my_resource_ip: After applying the plan, this command retrieves the value of the output variable "my_resource_ip" from your Terraform state. Output variables allow you to access information about your infrastructure after it has been deployed.
Using terraform-plan-parser (advanced):
terraform plan -json | terraform-plan-parser -no-colorThis example uses the terraform-plan-parser tool to process the JSON output of terraform plan and present it in a more readable format.
Remember: The provided code examples are illustrative. You'll need to adapt them to your specific Terraform configuration and desired actions.
terraform plan output. It's a set of instructions for Terraform, not a human-readable document.terraform show for plan details: If you need a more detailed, human-readable representation of a saved plan file, use terraform show planfile. This presents the information in a structured way.| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Internal to Terraform, not for direct manipulation |
| Format | Not standard encoding (e.g., not UTF-8) |
| Recommended Usage | - Save plan: terraform plan -out=planfile - Apply plan: terraform apply planfile - Get output values: terraform output
|
| Reviewing Large Plans | - View in terminal: terraform plan - Use a pager: `terraform plan |
| Key Takeaway | Don't decode terraform plan output directly. Use Terraform's commands and features. |
In conclusion, while the output of terraform plan might appear to use encoded characters, it's not intended for direct interpretation or modification. Treat it as a compiled instruction set for Terraform. Instead of trying to decode it, leverage Terraform's built-in commands and features to manage your infrastructure effectively. Use terraform plan -out to save plans, terraform apply to execute them, and terraform output to retrieve values. For reviewing extensive plans, employ techniques like piping to a pager (less) or utilize tools like terraform-plan-parser for advanced analysis. Remember, working with Terraform's intended mechanisms ensures predictable outcomes and safeguards your infrastructure's integrity.
Command: output | Terraform | HashiCorp Developer | ... output will be UTF-8 encoded when it contains non-ASCII characters. ... If you need a different character encoding, use a separate command such as iconv to ...
Error: Invalid character; This character is not used within the ... | Error: Invalid character │ │ On main.tf line 25: This character is not used within the language. ╵ I copied the code from : Build Infrastructure | Terraform - HashiCorp Learn
Terraform | Terraform discussion, resources, and other HashiCorp news.
Wrong characters after I restored my jenkins_home - Ask a question ... | Hi everyone, I have exhausted the possible solutions I have found on internet before posting my issue here and I’m hoping someone has faced a similar problem or at least could offer me some idea of what could be happening here. In one of my declarative pipelines I have something like this: def status = "Failed 🔴" ... str = "#### terraform plan ${status}\n ${planResult}hcl\n${output}\n\n${ds}, Working Directory: `${tfWo...
How to Use Terraform Variables: Examples & Best Practices | Terraform variables types and how to use them. Learn how to use local, input, output, and environment variables. See how to mark Terraform variables as sensitive.