Terraform Module Design Skill

Table of Contents

Quick Start → What Is This | When to Use | Simple Example

How to Implement → Step-by-Step | Examples

Help → Requirements | See Also

Purpose

Master module design for creating reusable, testable, well-documented infrastructure components. Learn when to modularize, module structure patterns, input/output design, and composition strategies.

When to Use

Use this skill when you need to:

• Create reusable infrastructure patterns - Build modules for repeated resource groups
• Encapsulate complex configurations - Simplify multi-resource setups
• Standardize across projects - Ensure consistency in infrastructure
• Organize code for maintainability - Structure large Terraform projects
• Build composable systems - Combine modules to create larger architectures
• Version infrastructure components - Publish and version modules

When NOT to use:

• Single one-off resources
• Resources used only once
• No variation between uses

Trigger Phrases:

• "Create reusable Terraform module"
• "Design module structure"
• "Define module inputs and outputs"
• "Compose multiple modules"
• "Version Terraform module"

Quick Start

Create a reusable Pub/Sub module in 5 minutes:

# 1. Create module structure
mkdir -p modules/pubsub-topic
cd modules/pubsub-topic

# 2. Create files
cat > main.tf << 'EOF'
resource "google_pubsub_topic" "topic" {
  name                    = var.topic_name
  message_retention_duration = "${var.retention_days * 86400}s"
  labels                  = var.labels
}

resource "google_pubsub_subscription" "subscription" {
  name  = "${var.topic_name}-sub"
  topic = google_pubsub_topic.topic.name

  dead_letter_policy {
    dead_letter_topic     = google_pubsub_topic.dlq.id
    max_delivery_attempts = var.max_delivery_attempts
  }
}

resource "google_pubsub_topic" "dlq" {
  name = "${var.topic_name}-dlq"
}
EOF

cat > variables.tf << 'EOF'
variable "topic_name" {
  type        = string
  description = "Name of the Pub/Sub topic"
}

variable "retention_days" {
  type        = number
  default     = 7
  description = "Message retention in days"
}

variable "max_delivery_attempts" {
  type        = number
  default     = 5
  description = "Max delivery attempts before DLQ"
}

variable "labels" {
  type        = map(string)
  default     = {}
  description = "Resource labels"
}
EOF

cat > outputs.tf << 'EOF'
output "topic_name" {
  value       = google_pubsub_topic.topic.name
  description = "Name of the Pub/Sub topic"
}

output "subscription_name" {
  value       = google_pubsub_subscription.subscription.name
  description = "Name of the subscription"
}
EOF

# 3. Use module
cd ../..
cat > main.tf << 'EOF'
module "incoming_charges" {
  source = "./modules/pubsub-topic"

  topic_name  = "supplier-charges-incoming"
  retention_days = 7
  labels = {
    environment = "production"
  }
}
EOF

# 4. Deploy
terraform init
terraform apply

Instructions

Step 1: Decide When to Create a Module

Create a Module When:

• ✅ Pattern repeats multiple times in your code
• ✅ Encapsulates complex resource group (5+ related resources)
• ✅ Has configurable inputs that vary per use
• ✅ Produces clear outputs for other modules to consume

Don't Create a Module For:

• ❌ Single one-off resources
• ❌ Resources used only once
• ❌ No variation between uses
• ❌ Over-engineering simple setup

Example: Pub/Sub topic + subscription + DLQ + IAM (4 resources, repeats twice) → Perfect candidate for a module!

Step 2: Understand Module Structure

Standard Module Layout:

modules/pubsub-topic/
├── main.tf           # Resources
├── variables.tf      # Input variables
├── outputs.tf        # Output values
├── versions.tf       # Provider requirements
└── README.md         # Documentation

Root Module (your main configuration):

terraform/
├── main.tf          # Provider, variables
├── iam.tf           # IAM resources
├── pubsub.tf        # Pub/Sub resources
├── modules/         # Local modules
│   └── pubsub-topic/
├── .terraform.lock.hcl
└── terraform.tfvars

Module Paths:

# Local module
module "incoming" {
  source = "./modules/pubsub-topic"
}

# Remote module (GitHub)
module "incoming" {
  source = "github.com/org/terraform-modules/pubsub-topic"
  version = "~> 1.0"
}

# Terraform Registry
module "incoming" {
  source = "hashicorp/vault/aws"
  version = "~> 0.2"
}

Step 3: Design Module Inputs (Variables)

Principles:

• Keep inputs simple and intuitive
• Use descriptive names
• Provide sensible defaults
• Validate constraints

Example - Pub/Sub Module:

# variables.tf
variable "topic_name" {
  description = "Name of the Pub/Sub topic"
  type        = string

  validation {
    condition     = length(var.topic_name) > 0 && length(var.topic_name) <= 255
    error_message = "Topic name must be 1-255 characters"
  }
}

variable "retention_days" {
  description = "Days to retain messages (0 = unlimited)"
  type        = number
  default     = 7

  validation {
    condition     = var.retention_days >= 0 && var.retention_days <= 365
    error_message = "Retention must be 0-365 days"
  }
}

variable "labels" {
  description = "Resource labels"
  type        = map(string)
  default     = {}

  validation {
    condition     = alltrue([for k, v in var.labels : length(k) > 0 && length(v) > 0])
    error_message = "Labels must have non-empty keys and values"
  }
}

variable "enable_dlq" {
  description = "Enable Dead Letter Queue"
  type        = bool
  default     = true
}

Input Design Patterns:

# Simple inputs
variable "name" { type = string }

# With defaults
variable "replica_count" { type = number; default = 3 }

# Lists
variable "allowed_ips" { type = list(string); default = [] }

# Maps (configuration objects)
variable "config" {
  type = map(object({
    retention_days = number
    dlq_enabled    = bool
  }))
}

# Flexible object
variable "topic_config" {
  type = object({
    retention_days    = number
    enable_dlq        = bool
    max_retries       = number
  })
  default = {
    retention_days = 7
    enable_dlq     = true
    max_retries    = 5
  }
}

Step 4: Design Module Outputs

Principles:

• Export only necessary values
• Use descriptive names
• Document what each output is
• Mark sensitive outputs

Example - Pub/Sub Module:

# outputs.tf
output "topic_id" {
  description = "Topic resource ID"
  value       = google_pubsub_topic.topic.id
}

output "topic_name" {
  description = "Topic name"
  value       = google_pubsub_topic.topic.name
}

output "subscription_name" {
  description = "Subscription name"
  value       = google_pubsub_subscription.subscription.name
}

output "dlq_topic_name" {
  description = "Dead Letter Queue topic name"
  value       = google_pubsub_topic.dlq.name
}

# Sensitive output
output "configuration" {
  description = "Complete module configuration"
  value = {
    topic_name = google_pubsub_topic.topic.name
    dlq_name   = google_pubsub_topic.dlq.name
  }
  sensitive = true
}

Output Best Practices:

# ✅ GOOD: Specific, documented
output "topic_id" {
  description = "Google resource ID of the topic"
  value       = google_pubsub_topic.topic.id
}

# ❌ BAD: Vague, undocumented
output "id" {
  value = google_pubsub_topic.topic.id
}

# ✅ GOOD: Sensible defaults to avoid null values
output "labels" {
  description = "Applied labels"
  value       = merge(var.labels, { module = "pubsub" })
}

Step 5: Create Module Documentation

README.md Format:

# PubSub Topic Module

Creates a Pub/Sub topic with optional Dead Letter Queue.

## Usage

```hcl
module "incoming_charges" {
  source = "./modules/pubsub-topic"

  topic_name       = "charges-incoming"
  retention_days   = 7
  enable_dlq       = true
}

Arguments

• topic_name (required): Name of the topic
• retention_days (optional): Message retention in days (default: 7)
• enable_dlq (optional): Enable Dead Letter Queue (default: true)
• labels (optional): Resource labels (default: {})

Outputs

• topic_id: Topic resource ID
• topic_name: Topic name
• subscription_name: Subscription name
• dlq_topic_name: Dead Letter Queue topic name

Example with Custom Configuration

module "replies" {
  source = "./modules/pubsub-topic"

  topic_name     = "supplier-charges-replies"
  retention_days = 3
  enable_dlq     = true

  labels = {
    environment = "production"
    team        = "charges"
  }
}

output "replies_topic" {
  value = module.replies.topic_name
}

### Step 6: Compose Modules

**Module Composition**: Combining modules to build larger systems.

```hcl
# main.tf - Compose multiple modules
module "incoming_pubsub" {
  source = "./modules/pubsub-topic"

  topic_name     = "supplier-charges-incoming"
  retention_days = 7
}

module "replies_pubsub" {
  source = "./modules/pubsub-topic"

  topic_name     = "supplier-charges-replies"
  retention_days = 3
}

module "dlq_pubsub" {
  source = "./modules/pubsub-topic"

  topic_name = "supplier-charges-dlq"
  enable_dlq = false  # Don't need DLQ for DLQ!
}

# Use outputs from one module as inputs to another
module "iam_bindings" {
  source = "./modules/pubsub-iam"

  topics = [
    module.incoming_pubsub.topic_name,
    module.replies_pubsub.topic_name,
  ]
}

# Export composed outputs
output "topics" {
  value = {
    incoming = module.incoming_pubsub.topic_name
    replies  = module.replies_pubsub.topic_name
  }
}

Step 7: Version and Maintain Modules

Module Versioning (for published modules):

# git tag for versions
git tag v1.0.0
git push origin v1.0.0

# In code
module "pubsub" {
  source  = "github.com/org/terraform-pubsub-module"
  version = "~> 1.0"
}

Semantic Versioning:

• 1.0.0 - MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH
• ~> 1.0 - Allows 1.0.x, not 1.1.0
• >= 1.0, < 2.0 - Allows any 1.x version

Maintenance Checklist:

• Update provider versions regularly
• Test module with new Terraform versions
• Document all breaking changes
• Provide migration guides

Examples

Example 1: Simple Service Module

# modules/gke-service/main.tf
resource "kubernetes_namespace" "service" {
  metadata {
    name = var.namespace
  }
}

resource "kubernetes_deployment" "service" {
  metadata {
    namespace = kubernetes_namespace.service.metadata[0].name
    name      = var.service_name
  }

  spec {
    replicas = var.replicas

    selector {
      match_labels = {
        app = var.service_name
      }
    }

    template {
      metadata {
        labels = {
          app = var.service_name
        }
      }

      spec {
        container {
          name  = var.service_name
          image = var.image

          env {
            name  = "PUBSUB_TOPIC"
            value = var.pubsub_topic
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

# modules/gke-service/variables.tf
variable "namespace" { type = string }
variable "service_name" { type = string }
variable "image" { type = string }
variable "replicas" { type = number; default = 3 }
variable "pubsub_topic" { type = string }

# modules/gke-service/outputs.tf
output "namespace" { value = kubernetes_namespace.service.metadata[0].name }
output "deployment_name" { value = kubernetes_deployment.service.metadata[0].name }

# Usage
module "charges_service" {
  source = "./modules/gke-service"

  namespace      = "production"
  service_name   = "supplier-charges"
  image          = "gcr.io/project/charges:1.0.0"
  replicas       = 3
  pubsub_topic   = module.pubsub.topic_name
}

Example 2: Composition Pattern

# main.tf - Compose multiple specialized modules
module "pubsub" {
  source = "./modules/pubsub-topic"

  topic_name   = "charges"
  retention_days = 7
}

module "database" {
  source = "./modules/cloud-sql"

  instance_name = "charges-db"
  database_name = "charges"
}

module "gke_service" {
  source = "./modules/gke-service"

  service_name  = "charges-processor"
  image         = "gcr.io/project/processor:1.0"
  pubsub_topic  = module.pubsub.topic_name
  db_connection = module.database.connection_string
}

# Export all outputs
output "infrastructure" {
  value = {
    pubsub_topic  = module.pubsub.topic_name
    database_host = module.database.host
    service_name  = module.gke_service.deployment_name
  }
}

Example 3: Dynamic Module Usage with for_each

# main.tf
locals {
  pubsub_topics = {
    "incoming" = {
      retention_days = 7
    }
    "replies" = {
      retention_days = 3
    }
    "events" = {
      retention_days = 14
    }
  }
}

module "topics" {
  for_each = local.pubsub_topics

  source = "./modules/pubsub-topic"

  topic_name     = each.key
  retention_days = each.value.retention_days
}

# Access module outputs
output "topic_names" {
  value = {
    for name, module in module.topics :
    name => module.topic_name
  }
}

Requirements

• Terraform 1.x+
• Module should have clear input/output contracts
• Good README documentation
• Tested with typical use cases

See Also

• terraform skill - General Terraform
• terraform-gcp-integration - GCP patterns
• terraform-state-management - State handling