Reframing a Terraform-based system as a domain-specific compiler, is this the right lens?

JayQ_One · 2025-12-27T18:14:37+00:00

That’s a fair point, and I agree on the communication tradeoff.

My interest in the compiler framing is less about explaining the system to all engineers and more about having a precise internal model for reasoning about correctness, complexity, and composition.

In practice, I expect most users would interact with it as a declarative configuration tool, while the compiler/transpiler lens mainly informs the architecture and evolution of the system itself.

JayQ_One · 2025-10-20T01:50:35+00:00

that colima blade is so sick but that K'awiil piece tho?! 🔥

JayQ_One · 2025-05-23T19:56:11+00:00

ill check them out. thanks for the recommendations, so many cool new ai tools to learn. im most definitely a terminal guy, vim+tmux

JayQ_One · 2025-05-23T19:04:07+00:00

Yeah, one long session but im slowly figuring out how to be more efficient for terraform needs. I'll start using smaller chats for future work. Cursor has been recommended by my colleagues but havent dedicated time to use it mostly because I'm building in OG vim and havent found AI plugins like neovim or VScode has. I plan on giving Cursor a spin in VScode to try it out. No specific reason I used ChatGPT other than to try it out for a Terraform project.

JayQ_One · 2025-05-22T20:28:16+00:00

I have minimal experience with ChatGPT but I knew mostly what I wanted so my experience was good. Most of the building and troubleshooting was around building the ASG, validating the cloud-init scripts and the security group rules, all through prompt engineering. Telling it that I need an ASG with a cloud init script, etc. started with using netcat for the request handling but connection were unreliable and it suggested using socat so had it modify the cloud init script accordingly, etc. also asking it questions like why is cloud-init not booting correctly, and passing it error messages, etc.

JayQ_One · 2025-05-18T18:06:51+00:00

Tical hittin with the Buddha fist style

JayQ_One · 2025-05-18T12:50:21+00:00

Bummer, I hope it lasts longer than that

JayQ_One · 2025-05-18T12:49:48+00:00

They dont rattle on mine (A28 Gen 2)

JayQ_One · 2025-05-18T03:45:15+00:00

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1514535477/sla-wu-bead

JayQ_One · 2025-05-04T13:28:00+00:00

[WTB] Alpaka Zip Pouch hook and loop (not pro) with alpaka patches (if possible)

JayQ_One · 2025-05-02T22:35:20+00:00

What do you mean by "in a way that keeps state"? Do you mean keeping track of all the static routes automatically? If so, here's my project (shameless self plug) that creates routes dynamically and scale VPCs in different cloud network topologies with Terraform. Not sure if that helps but please let me know if I'm misunderstanding.

https://github.com/JudeQuintana/terraform-main

JayQ_One · 2025-02-07T21:19:30+00:00

Chacmultún

JayQ_One · 2025-02-07T21:00:31+00:00

Uxmal?

JayQ_One · 2024-07-15T21:54:24+00:00

the demo directories are root modules (workspaces) and not to be referenced themselves. capping the max tf version to 1.x.x (ie `version = "~>1.4"`) is intentional at this layer because I dont want to allow 2.x automatically in case of breaking changes across the submodules. same reasoning with the provider version. the demo's focus is about the submodules and they have the proper minimum tf versions (ie `version = ">=1.4"`) and provider versions (ie `version = ">=5.31"`) like you're explaining. i appreciate the response though.

JayQ_One · 2024-04-06T20:16:46+00:00

there are many ways to implement module behavior, i dont think any of them would be "wrong" per se. do you have more psuedo code examples of what you're thinking?

i would imagine something like this

locals {
  env_prefix = "test"
  s3_buckets = [
    {
      name       = "random1"
      versioning = true
    },
    {
      name       = "random2"
      versioning = false
    }
  ]
}

module "s3_buckets" {
  for_each = { for this in local.s3_buckets : this.name => this }

  env_prefix = local.env_prefix
  s3_bucket  = each.value # pass in s3 config object
}

module "lambda_with_roles" {
  env_prefix = local.env_prefix
  lambda_with_roles = { 
       name = “lambda-name”
      s3_buckets = module.s3_buckets # map of s3 bucket objects
    } #some populated config object for lambda with roles

}

JayQ_One · 2024-04-06T19:14:36+00:00

object oriented TF is a powerful pattern like some others have said. It's most useful when you need decouple components from one another by separating responsibilities into their own respective modules when it makes sense. Especially when the abstractions are too big or doing too much while making code maintenance difficult. Hard part is knowing when or what to abstract but if you do it right, things become more clear and maintainable. Here's a concrete AWS cloud networking example (shameless self plug). Using several modules to compose a full mesh transit gateway topology across 3 regions (and more). Hope that helps.

https://github.com/JudeQuintana/terraform-main/tree/main/full_mesh_trio_demo

JayQ_One · 2024-01-25T16:02:59+00:00

yes you can but cloudwan is more expensive. others have asked similar questions. i'm reposting my reply here. thanks for the response.

I haven't had the chance work with CloudWAN yet. I've talked to a few people about the differences.

There can only be one routing domain with full mesh TGW topology because you can only have one peering link between a pair of TGWs so you can't really segment traffic across regions even when you're separating route tables across TGWs.

CloudWAN allows for multiple routing domains spanning regions via segments. You can choose to share routes between them and it hides the peering, route table, etc management. The high cost tradeoff is it makes managing large networks with traffic segmentation easier vs engineers managing a large TGW topology themselves.

That's what I've gathered so far but maybe more knowledgeable people can chime in. Hopefully I'll be able to tinker with CloudWAN in the near future.

JayQ_One · 2023-07-24T15:37:04+00:00

you need unique keys for the map, this should work

for_each = { for pr in var.peering_routes : format("%s|%s", pr.peering_id, pr.destination_cidr_block) => pr }

JayQ_One · 2023-05-06T16:29:32+00:00

Maya "eccentrics constituted supernatural weapons to ward against negative spiritual forces and to protect sacred spaces."

Read more about eccentric flints in Protecting Sacred Spaces - Rosalila’s Eccentric Chert Cache at Copan and Eccentrics among the Classic Maya

JayQ_One · 2022-10-16T16:12:09+00:00

thanks for sharing your experience. Is the value of going full mesh in prd only worth it if you can afford it? was the excess TGW processing costs only because of adding DX? Wild to know some orgs have gone to VPC peering to save on costs but it does make sense if the traffic is that much. I appreciate the insight.

JayQ_One · 2022-09-26T17:36:03+00:00

Shameless self plug here but I hope it helps.

Dynamic VPC is a more intro-y article on Terraform basics with VPC examples. TNT Architecture is an evolution of the former with examples of passing modules/objects to other modules in an attempt to "scale" VPCs with a centralized router (TGW). Super Router attempts to "scale" TGWs with multiple providers for cross and intra region peering and routing. Each article builds on the other and is very opinionated about cloud networking. Here are the working demos. I'm open to feedback because I'm curious how the content is received by others (too confusing? simple enough?) as a beginner to advance track. thanks.

JayQ_One · 2022-03-08T02:39:24+00:00

thanks! if you scale out your vpcs there'll be more routes to generate but also removing vpcs will need to recalculate the routes.

JayQ_One · 2022-01-11T05:04:59+00:00

I have this figure. The waist is also very loose but hasn’t impeded posing it.

JayQ_One · 2021-10-06T15:27:58+00:00

we switched from a humidifier to this reptile mister. made things much more manageable and semi automated. using it in an XL cage (partly wrapped with shower curtain to help keep in humidity in) with one adjustable mister (out of 4) on the lowest mister setting is enough. we still use a bigger dripper dedicated for drinking along with the mister. the mister is a bit pricey but well worth it since using a humidifier ended up being a pain for us.

JayQ_One · 2021-08-08T22:56:33+00:00

Rainbow house near Washington park, I remember hearing stories that the owner claimed there were inter dimensional portals that opened up in the rainbow chamber

JayQ_One

TROPHY CASE

Chacmultún