Infrastructure as Code: Building Modern Cloud Infrastructure with Pulumi and TypeScript

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) has revolutionized how we manage cloud resources. Among the growing number of IaC tools, Pulumi stands out by taking a different approach: using general-purpose programming languages instead of domain-specific languages (DSLs). In this article, I’ll share my experience using Pulumi with TypeScript, what makes it special compared to Terraform, and how to get started with your own infrastructure projects.

Why Pulumi with TypeScript?

As someone who has worked extensively with both Terraform and Pulumi, I find several aspects of Pulumi particularly compelling:

1. Familiar programming model: Using TypeScript means leveraging a language I already know, with all its features like functions, classes, loops, and conditionals.
2. Strong typing: TypeScript’s type system catches errors at compile time rather than during deployment.
3. Modern tooling: Access to IDEs, linters, and testing frameworks that are mature and powerful.
4. Code reuse: Creating abstractions and reusable components feels natural and follows standard software engineering practices.
5. Ecosystem integration: Access to npm’s vast library ecosystem.