Ravi Sir's Cards › AWS
CDK vs Terraform
This revision card explains CDK vs Terraform. It starts from the need that picking both tools for the same stack without a rule creates double state and pain. It describes CDK — AWS-first, language + constructs, CFN state. Terraform: multi-cloud HCL, its own state, huge provider ecosystem. The how-to section notes choose one IaC tool per stack. Prefer the one your team already reviews in PRs. An example on the card is a greenfield AWS-only TypeScript team often picks CDK; a multi-cloud shop often picks Terraform.
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What this card says
Why do we need it?
Picking both tools for the same stack without a rule creates double state and pain.
What is it?
CDK: AWS-first, language + constructs, CFN state. Terraform: multi-cloud HCL, its own state, huge provider ecosystem.
How to do it
Choose one IaC tool per stack. Prefer the one your team already reviews in PRs.
one tool / stack
Example
A greenfield AWS-only TypeScript team often picks CDK; a multi-cloud shop often picks Terraform.