Pulumi

Pulumi is an open-source infrastructure as code platform that allows developers to define, deploy, and manage cloud infrastructure using familiar programming languages instead of proprietary domain-specific languages. Think of it as bringing software engineering practices to infrastructure management.

The platform consists of three main products: Pulumi IaC for infrastructure management, Pulumi ESC for secrets and configuration management, and Pulumi Insights for AI-powered infrastructure analytics. What sets Pulumi apart is its use of real programming languages, enabling developers to write infrastructure code with loops, conditionals, functions, and all the features they're used to.

Pulumi manages infrastructure declaratively while providing the flexibility of imperative programming. Each resource is tracked and managed through state files, ensuring consistent and predictable deployments. The platform integrates with existing CI/CD pipelines and supports policy as code for security and compliance requirements.

Getting started with Pulumi is straightforward for any developer familiar with programming languages. First, install the Pulumi CLI on your system and choose your preferred cloud provider and programming language.

Here's the basic workflow:

• Create a new project using pulumi new command with your chosen template

• Write infrastructure code using your preferred language (Python, TypeScript, Go, etc.)

• Configure your cloud credentials and project settings

• Preview changes with pulumi preview to see what will be created

• Deploy infrastructure using pulumi up command

• Manage updates and destroy resources when needed

Best practices include:

• Use Pulumi's component resources to create reusable infrastructure patterns

• Leverage the Pulumi Registry for pre-built components and providers

• Implement proper state management with Pulumi Cloud or self-hosted backends

• Set up CI/CD integration for automated deployments

• Use policy packs to enforce security and compliance rules

The platform remembers your infrastructure state, making updates and changes seamless and predictable.

• Multi-language programming (TypeScript, Python, Go, .NET, Java, YAML)

• 170+ cloud and SaaS provider support

• Real-time infrastructure preview and validation

• Built-in testing and policy enforcement

• Secrets and configuration management

• AI-powered infrastructure insights

• GitOps and CI/CD integration

• Component libraries and reusable patterns

• Team collaboration and state management

• Open-source with enterprise features