Build reusable Terraform modules for AWS, Azure, GCP

Terraform Module Library

Production-ready Terraform module patterns for AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI infrastructure.

Purpose

Create reusable, well-tested Terraform modules for common cloud infrastructure patterns across multiple cloud providers.

When to Use

• Build reusable infrastructure components
• Standardize cloud resource provisioning
• Implement infrastructure as code best practices
• Create multi-cloud compatible modules
• Establish organizational Terraform standards

Module Structure

terraform-modules/
├── aws/
│   ├── vpc/
│   ├── eks/
│   ├── rds/
│   └── s3/
├── azure/
│   ├── vnet/
│   ├── aks/
│   └── storage/
├── gcp/
│   ├── vpc/
│   ├── gke/
│   └── cloud-sql/
└── oci/
    ├── vcn/
    ├── oke/
    └── object-storage/

Standard Module Pattern

module-name/
├── main.tf          # Main resources
├── variables.tf     # Input variables
├── outputs.tf       # Output values
├── versions.tf      # Provider versions
├── README.md        # Documentation
├── examples/        # Usage examples
│   └── complete/
│       ├── main.tf
│       └── variables.tf
└── tests/           # Terratest files
    └── module_test.go

AWS VPC Module Example

main.tf:

resource "aws_vpc" "main" {
  cidr_block           = var.cidr_block
  enable_dns_hostnames = var.enable_dns_hostnames
  enable_dns_support   = var.enable_dns_support

  tags = merge(
    {
      Name = var.name
    },
    var.tags
  )
}

resource "aws_subnet" "private" {
  count             = length(var.private_subnet_cidrs)
  vpc_id            = aws_vpc.main.id
  cidr_block        = var.private_subnet_cidrs[count.index]
  availability_zone = var.availability_zones[count.index]

  tags = merge(
    {
      Name = "${var.name}-private-${count.index + 1}"
      Tier = "private"
    },
    var.tags
  )
}

resource "aws_internet_gateway" "main" {
  count  = var.create_internet_gateway ? 1 : 0
  vpc_id = aws_vpc.main.id

  tags = merge(
    {
      Name = "${var.name}-igw"
    },
    var.tags
  )
}

variables.tf:

variable "name" {
  description = "Name of the VPC"
  type        = string
}

variable "cidr_block" {
  description = "CIDR block for VPC"
  type        = string
  validation {
    condition     = can(regex("^([0-9]{1,3}\\.){3}[0-9]{1,3}/[0-9]{1,2}$", var.cidr_block))
    error_message = "CIDR block must be valid IPv4 CIDR notation."
  }
}

variable "availability_zones" {
  description = "List of availability zones"
  type        = list(string)
}

variable "private_subnet_cidrs" {
  description = "CIDR blocks for private subnets"
  type        = list(string)
  default     = []
}

variable "enable_dns_hostnames" {
  description = "Enable DNS hostnames in VPC"
  type        = bool
  default     = true
}

variable "tags" {
  description = "Additional tags"
  type        = map(string)
  default     = {}
}

outputs.tf:

output "vpc_id" {
  description = "ID of the VPC"
  value       = aws_vpc.main.id
}

output "private_subnet_ids" {
  description = "IDs of private subnets"
  value       = aws_subnet.private[*].id
}

output "vpc_cidr_block" {
  description = "CIDR block of VPC"
  value       = aws_vpc.main.cidr_block
}

Best Practices

1. Use semantic versioning for modules
2. Document all variables with descriptions
3. Provide examples in examples/ directory
4. Use validation blocks for input validation
5. Output important attributes for module composition
6. Pin provider versions in versions.tf
7. Use locals for computed values
8. Implement conditional resources with count/for_each
9. Test modules with Terratest
10. Tag all resources consistently

Reference: See references/aws-modules.md and references/oci-modules.md

Module Composition

module "vpc" {
  source = "../../modules/aws/vpc"

  name               = "production"
  cidr_block         = "10.0.0.0/16"
  availability_zones = ["us-west-2a", "us-west-2b", "us-west-2c"]

  private_subnet_cidrs = [
    "10.0.1.0/24",
    "10.0.2.0/24",
    "10.0.3.0/24"
  ]

  tags = {
    Environment = "production"
    ManagedBy   = "terraform"
  }
}

module "rds" {
  source = "../../modules/aws/rds"

  identifier     = "production-db"
  engine         = "postgres"
  engine_version = "15.3"
  instance_class = "db.t3.large"

  vpc_id     = module.vpc.vpc_id
  subnet_ids = module.vpc.private_subnet_ids

  tags = {
    Environment = "production"
  }
}

Testing

// tests/vpc_test.go
package test

import (
    "testing"
    "github.com/gruntwork-io/terratest/modules/terraform"
    "github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
)

func TestVPCModule(t *testing.T) {
    terraformOptions := &terraform.Options{
        TerraformDir: "../examples/complete",
    }

    defer terraform.Destroy(t, terraformOptions)
    terraform.InitAndApply(t, terraformOptions)

    vpcID := terraform.Output(t, terraformOptions, "vpc_id")
    assert.NotEmpty(t, vpcID)
}

Related Skills

• multi-cloud-architecture - For architectural decisions
• cost-optimization - For cost-effective designs