CloudFormation

AWS CloudFormation is Amazon's infrastructure as code service that allows users to model and provision AWS resources using declarative templates in JSON or YAML format. It provides a common language to describe and provision all the infrastructure resources in AWS cloud environment.

Key Characteristics

• Template-Based: Uses JSON or YAML templates to define infrastructure
• Declarative: Describes desired state rather than provisioning steps
• Stack Management: Groups related resources into stacks
• Change Sets: Allows preview of changes before applying

Advantages

• Infrastructure as Code: Version control for infrastructure
• Consistency: Ensures consistent resource configurations
• Automation: Automated resource provisioning and updates
• Dependency Management: Handles resource dependencies automatically

Disadvantages

• Vendor Lock-in: AWS-specific service and syntax
• Complexity: Can be complex for large infrastructure
• Update Limitations: Some resource changes require replacement
• Learning Curve: Requires understanding of template syntax

Best Practices

• Use parameters for environment-specific values
• Implement nested stacks for complex deployments
• Use cross-stack references for shared resources
• Apply security best practices in templates

Use Cases

• Automated infrastructure provisioning
• Multi-environment deployments
• Disaster recovery configurations
• Infrastructure testing and validation