DevOptimize

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Build once, deploy many
Why: Artifacts enable repeatable deployments
• Publish consumer modules to repos
• Download in deployment pipelines
• Same version across all envs
• Atomic promotion with confidence
This is how you go from "works on my machine" to "works everywhere."

Tfvars files, not per-env repos
Why: Configuration should travel with code
• dev.tfvars, staging.tfvars, prod.tfvars
• Edit together, review together
• Same module version everywhere
• Only values change between envs
One commit, multiple environments. That's the goal.

Child modules first, then consumers
Why: Dependencies flow from small to large
• Test locally before publishing
• Flat archive structure required
• Breadcrumb outputs verify loading
• Version constraints prevent drift
Your module chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

Terraform Artifacts: Publishing and Using Modules Learn how to publish Terraform modules as versioned artifacts and consume them in deployment pipelines. Build once, deploy many with proper artifact promotion.

Terraform modules as artifacts, not source
Source code ≠ deployable infrastructure
• Build once, deploy many
• Immutable, auditable modules
• Clean promotion paths
• Environment consistency
Stop promoting Git branches. Start promoting artifacts.

devoptimize.org/cloud/tf-art...

Monday Questions June 30, 2025 Weekly thread for deployment and packaging questions.

Monday Questions June 30, 2025

• Have questions about optimizing deployment or packaging? Drop them below!
• Have tips to help other packagers? We’d love to hear!
• Read other people’s tips, or answer any questions you know the answer to!

devoptimize.org/posts/202506...

We’re featuring Terragrunt in our tool spotlight—now we want to hear from you.
Are you using Terragrunt already?

How are you organizing your stacks, environments, and dependencies?
Reply below or tag us—let’s trade strategies!

Gruntwork | ​Scalable Infrastructure as Code built for Terragrunt, OpenTofu, & Terraform​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍​‍‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍... Accelerate your AWS infrastructure deployment and create world-class, end-to-end DevOps workflows using Gruntwork's DevOps tools and battle-tested IaC modules. Built for OpenTofu, Terraform, and Terra...

Tired of repeating Terraform code for every environment? Terragrunt makes your IaC DRY, scalable, and production-ready. Define once, deploy everywhere. Built by Gruntwork.io and featured in our tool library.

devoptimize.org/tools/terrag...

Includes practical tips on refactoring, bulletproof automation, DRY configs with Terragrunt, and knowing when to use the “escape hatch.”
Level up your IaC game with this fast, powerful reference.

What are your best cheatsheet tips?

A Cheatsheet to Level Up Your Terraform Master Terraform with advanced patterns, dynamic blocks, and CI/CD best practices. This cheatsheet takes your IaC from basic to bulletproof.

Want to write Terraform like a pro?
This cheatsheet covers `for_each`, `dynamic` blocks, `templatefile`, `terraform_remote_state`, CI/CD patterns, and more.
Build scalable, testable, production-grade IaC.

devoptimize.org/bibliography...

AWS Organization to Accounts How to create and manage AWS accounts within your organization

devoptimize.org/aws/aws-org-...

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Follow
@DevOptimize.org
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Layer your Terraform like a cake, not a closet
Separation by lifecycle keeps deployments sane

* Foundation: accounts, org policies
* Network: VPC, routing
* Shared services: S3, KMS
* Apps and CI/CD last
Scaling infra gets easier when layers stay crisp

Use Organizational Units and SCPs to enforce rules
Guardrails beat guard dogs in cloud governance

* Organize by env, team, or function
* Apply Service Control Policies (SCPs)
* Deny risky actions like deleting CloudTrail
OU structure helps policy inheritance scale

Create AWS accounts with CLI or CloudFormation
Don’t create them manually—standardize early

* `aws organizations create-account`
* Monitor with `describe-create-account-status`
* Or define with `AWS::Organizations::Account`
Set the stage for repeatable, auditable growth

Structure AWS accounts with purpose, not just need
Clear boundaries improve security and scalability

* Dev/Test/Stage/Prod environments
* Workload or function-based accounts
* Map to business units
You’ll thank yourself later when access and billing stay clean

Thanks for reading.
Follow
@DevOptimize.org
for hands-on tips on packaging & config for growing systems.
If this helped you, repost the first tweet to share the love.
Appreciate the support!

4/
Add a temporary bootstrap-admin
Why? You’ll need automation creds
How:
• Create IAM user with CLI access
• Grant AdministratorAccess
• Tag it for deletion after SSO
• Record keys, delete after use
One bridge user. Then automation takes over.

3/
Create your AWS Organization next
Why? You’ll manage multiple accounts under one roof
How:
• Sign in as root
• Go to AWS Organizations
• Click "Create Organization"
• Record your account ID
Root becomes “management”—but stays resource-free

2/
Root account = security cornerstone
Why? It’s the only account that can’t be replaced
How:
• Use a unique email
• Enable MFA immediately
• Store credentials in a password manager
• Never deploy resources from root
One-time pain = long-term gain

AWS Root to Org Manually set up a secure AWS root account and organization to prepare for infrastructure automation.

🧵 AWS Bootstrapping: From Root to Org

1/
Manual steps matter—even in automation-heavy setups.
Before spinning up VPCs or deploying IaC, you need a secure AWS root and organization setup. Here’s how to lay the foundation with clarity and future-proofing.

devoptimize.org/aws/aws-root...

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@DevOptimize.org
for hands-on tips on packaging & config for growing systems.
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Appreciate the support!

Artifacts make cloud delivery boring—in the best way.
Clear boundaries. Fewer surprises. Fast, safe deploys.
That’s how platform teams win.

Your cloud layout is a reusable module
One app is the demo. The second app is the test.

* Platform-first structure
* Automation is portable
* Delivery is repeatable
* Ownership is clear
* Practices scale cleanly

Make structure once. Reuse it forever.

Configuration must follow code
Otherwise, it drifts—and breaks in prod.

* Group config by env
* Build it into artifacts
* Review config changes
* Promote alongside app
* Use drop-in patterns

Change a config key? All envs follow—safely.

Never promote source code
Merging to main isn't promotion.

* Build once in CI
* Produce versioned artifacts
* Promote artifacts, not commits
* Use same pipeline per env
* Track exactly what shipped

Artifacts tell the truth. Branches are gossip.

Treat environments like real deployments
Dev, staging, and prod aren’t Git branches.

* Separate account/project per env
* Strong isolation boundaries
* No shared state
* Destroy/recreate safely
* Promote artifacts, not state

You’ll never guess what env broke prod again.

Cloud Introduction Intro to cross-platform cloud structure for artifact-based delivery. Build once, deploy many. Avoid Git promotion. Treat environments as real.

Cloud isn’t just a runtime—it's your delivery platform.
Structure it like you’ll run 10 apps, even if you're starting with one.

devoptimize.org/cloud/intro/

Thanks for reading.
Follow
@DevOptimize.org
for hands-on tips on packaging & config for growing systems.
If this helped you, repost the first tweet to share the love.
Appreciate the support!

Packaging is a boundary
Why: Boundaries give clarity
• Python libs → known state
• Models/datasets → auditable
• Artifacts → atomic, testable
• Systems → consistent rollout
This is how you go from “it works here” to “it works everywhere.”