TFENV vs TFSWITCH

Managing multiple versions of terraform

What are version managers?

Tools that allow you to install and switch between multiple versions of a programming language or other software.

Commonly used by developers to manage different versions of programming languages such as Ruby, Python, Node.js, and Go.

Can also be used to manage different versions of other software such as Terraform.

What are tfenv and tfswitch?

Popular version managers for terraform.

Simplify the process of installing and switching between multiple versions of Terraform.

Community driven projects.

TFEnv is written in Bash.

TFSwitch is written in Go.

Features of TFEnv

Version management.

Automatic version switching.

Easy installation.

Inspired by rbenv.

Written in Bash.

Version management: It allows users to easily manage multiple Terraform versions on their local machine. It enables users to list, install, and uninstall versions. It supports version aliases, which allows users to specify custom names for installed Terraform versions.
Automatic version switching: Can automatically switch to the appropriate Terraform version based on a project’s configuration. By including a “.terraform-version” file in a project’s directory, tfenv will use the specified version when running Terraform commands in that directory. This feature ensures that users are always working with the correct Terraform version for each project, without having to manually switch versions.
Installation: tfenv can be installed using various package managers, such as Homebrew for macOS or Git for Linux and macOS. The installation process is straightforward and well-documented, making it accessible for users of all experience levels.
Inspired by rbenv: tfenv was inspired by rbenv, a popular Ruby version manager. It uses a similar approach to managing Terraform versions, making it easy for users familiar with rbenv to get started with tfenv.
Written in Bash: tfenv is written in Bash, which makes it easy to install and use on most Linux distributions. It also means that it can be easily extended with Bash scripts, allowing users to add custom functionality as needed.

Pros and Cons of TFEnv

Pros:

Easy installation and management of multiple Terraform versions

Automatic version switching based on project configuration

Works on macOS, Linux, and Windows (through Windows Subsystem for Linux)

Cons:

No interactive CLI for selecting and switching Terraform versions

Relies on the presence of a “.terraform-version” file for automatic version switching, which may not be ideal for some workflows

How to install TFEnv

Through Homebrew on macOS/Linux

brew install tfenv

Manual

Check out tfenv into any path (here is ${HOME}/.tfenv)

git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/tfutils/tfenv.git ~/.tfenv

Add ~/.tfenv/bin to your $PATH any way you like

echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.tfenv/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bash_profile

Using TFEnv

List all available versions

tfenv list-remote

Install a specific version

tfenv install 0.12.31

Switch to a specific version

tfenv use 0.12.31

Uninstall a specific version

tfenv uninstall 0.12.31

Install the latest version

tfenv install latest

Use the latest version

tfenv use latest

Features of TFswitch

Version management.

Easy-to-use interactive CLI

Easy installation.

Written in Go.

Version management: It simplifies the process of installing and managing multiple Terraform versions. Like tfenv, it enables users to list all available versions, install specific versions, and easily switch between installed versions. However, unlike tfenv, tfswitch does not support uninstalling versions directly.
Easy-to-use interactive CLI: tfswitch stands out with its interactive CLI, which allows users to select and switch between Terraform versions quickly and easily. Users can search for a specific version or select from a list of installed versions, making the process more user-friendly and less reliant on memorizing version numbers or command syntax.
Installation: tfswitch can be installed using package managers like Homebrew for macOS or by downloading the appropriate binary for your operating system (macOS, Linux, or Windows). The installation process is well-documented, making it easy for users to get started with the tool.
Written in Go: tfswitch is written in Go, which makes it easy to install and use on most Linux distributions. It also means that it can be easily extended with Go scripts, allowing users to add custom functionality as needed.

Pros and Cons of TFSwitch

Pros:

Simple installation and management of multiple Terraform versions

User-friendly interactive CLI for selecting and switching between versions

Works on macOS, Linux, and Windows (via WSL)

Can use an optional configuration file (e.g., “.tfswitchrc”) for setting default versions

Cons:

No automatic version switching based on project configuration (e.g., “.terraform-version” file)

Does not support uninstalling Terraform versions directly

No support for version aliases

How to install TFSwitch

Through Homebrew on macOS/Linux

brew install warrensbox/tap/tfswitch

Script

curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/warrensbox/terraform-switcher/release/install.sh | bash

Manual

Download the binary from the releases page and put it in /usr/local/bin or any other location on your PATH.

Using TFEnv

Run the interactive CLI:

tfswitch

Select a version:

tfswitch 0.12.31

List all installed versions:

tfswitch -l

List all available versions:

tfswitch -l --all

Set a default version:

tfswitch -b 0.12.31

Set a default version for a specific directory:

tfswitch -b 0.12.31 /path/to/directory

Set a default version using a configuration file:

tfswitch -b 0.12.31 --rcfile .tfswitchrc
# or
echo "0.12.31" > .tfswitchrc
tfswitch --rc

Comparison of TFEnv and TFSwitch

Version management.

Automatic version switching.

Interactive CLI.

Platform support.

Community and support.

Installation.

Version management: Both tfenv and tfswitch provide similar functionality in terms of managing multiple Terraform versions. Both tools enable users to list available versions, install specific versions, and switch between installed versions. However, tfenv supports uninstalling Terraform versions directly, while tfswitch does not.

Automatic version switching: tfenv offers automatic version switching based on a project’s “.terraform-version” file, ensuring that the correct Terraform version is always used for each project. tfswitch, on the other hand, does not have this feature and requires users to manually switch between versions using the interactive CLI or the optional “.tfswitchrc” configuration file.

Interactive CLI: tfswitch stands out with its easy-to-use interactive CLI, allowing users to search for specific versions or select from a list of installed versions. This feature makes the process more user-friendly and less reliant on memorizing version numbers or command syntax. tfenv does not provide an interactive CLI, and users must input commands to switch between versions.

Platform support: Both tfenv and tfswitch support macOS, Linux, and Windows (tfenv through Windows Subsystem for Linux and tfswitch with native Windows support). This ensures that users can choose either tool regardless of their operating system.

Community and support: Both tfenv and tfswitch are community-driven projects with active development and support. Users can find extensive documentation, issue tracking, and contributions from the community for both tools, ensuring that they remain up-to-date and compatible with the latest Terraform releases and features.

Installation: tfenv can be installed using various package managers, such as Homebrew for macOS or Git for Linux and macOS. The installation process is straightforward and well-documented, making it accessible for users of all experience levels. tfswitch can be installed using package managers like Homebrew for macOS or by downloading the appropriate binary for your operating system (macOS, Linux, or Windows). The installation process is well-documented, making it easy for users to get started with the tool.

Use cases

Small projects

Large projects

Team collaboration

Small projects: For small projects or personal use, either tfenv or tfswitch could be a suitable choice. The decision may come down to personal preference, such as whether you prefer tfenv’s automatic version switching or tfswitch’s interactive CLI.

Large projects: For larger projects or organizations with multiple projects, tfenv’s automatic version switching feature may be more advantageous. This can help ensure that team members are always using the correct Terraform version for each project, reducing the risk of errors or infrastructure changes due to version mismatches.

Team collaboration: When working in a team environment, the automatic version switching provided by tfenv may be more beneficial, as it can help maintain consistency across team members’ local environments. However, some teams may prefer the interactive CLI offered by tfswitch for easier version management and selection.

Conclusion

Both tfenv and tfswitch are popular Terraform version managers that simplify the process of installing and switching between multiple versions of Terraform.

They offer unique features that cater to various use cases and user preferences.

Depending on your specific needs, one tool may be better suited for your Terraform projects than the other, you should consider yours and your team’s needs when choosing one over the other.

A. Recap of key differences between tfenv and tfswitch:

tfenv offers automatic version switching based on a project’s configuration, while tfswitch does not tfswitch provides an easy-to-use interactive CLI for selecting and switching between versions, while tfenv requires command input Both tools support multiple platforms, community involvement, and active development B. Recommendations for choosing the right Terraform version manager: The choice between tfenv and tfswitch ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you value automatic version switching and want to ensure you’re always using the correct Terraform version for each project, tfenv may be the better choice. If you prefer a more user-friendly, interactive experience for managing Terraform versions, tfswitch might be the right fit for you. In any case, both tools provide valuable functionality that can streamline Terraform version management and improve your overall Infrastructure as Code experience.

TFENV vs TFSWITCH

Managing multiple versions of terraform

What are version managers?

What are tfenv and tfswitch?

Features of TFEnv

Pros and Cons of TFEnv

Pros:

Cons:

How to install TFEnv

Through Homebrew on macOS/Linux

Manual

Using TFEnv

Features of TFswitch

Pros and Cons of TFSwitch

Pros:

Cons:

How to install TFSwitch

Through Homebrew on macOS/Linux

Script

Manual

Using TFEnv

Comparison of TFEnv and TFSwitch

Use cases

Conclusion

Thank you!