OpenTofu Alpha Release: No Code Changes Required!

Things move fast in the world of OpenTofu. Just two weeks ago we announced that the initiative had joined the Linux Foundation. Now, we’re excited to be launching OpenTofu’s first alpha release! Even better, this OpenTofu release is a drop-in replacement, so developers and engineers can integrate it into their workflow quickly and easily. You can immediately start testing it out on all your current projects — and the best part? There’s absolutely no need to alter or adjust any part of your existing codebase! It’s designed to effortlessly fit right in. 

Whether you are switching from Terraform or you’re adopting the infrastructure-as-code (IaC) approach for the first time, Open Tofu offers some compelling benefits:

• Stability: Membership of the Linux Foundation ensures stability and growth for OpenTofu. Furthermore, the support of a large community of experts, practitioners, and users behind this open-source initiative guarantees the expertise and resources required to maintain a solid pace for improvements and new feature implementation.
• Community-driven initiative: The backing of a large community will ensure OpenTofu proceeds in the right direction, influenced by a variety of different backgrounds, views, and expectations. 
• Dynamic roadmap and development: Open-source, community-driven projects like OpenTofu offer the unique potential for users to make a real difference, helping it grow and influencing its direction.  

Now that OpenTofu 1.6 has been released, you can easily migrate to OpenTofu with Spacelift. There is full compatibility in the code, how state files are managed, and the runtime, so migration could not be easier; The process is as simple as switching the binaries to execute the IaC template. It might take more work if you use an older version of Terraform, but it will still involve the same process as switching between old and new versions of Terraform.

Release notes are also available in the release link.

This short video shows how seamless the migration process is:

OpenTofu uses a registry hosted by the OpenTofu team that properly resolves all public providers and modules. However, it’s worth noting that this registry is in its early days and hasn’t reached full stability. In these initial phases, there might be occasional hiccups or issues with availability. The OpenTofu team doesn’t recommend it for production use cases just yet. The design process will start soon, and participation from the community is highly encouraged.

Diving into the features of the alpha version, it also introduces the 1.6 testing feature. This isn’t just any regular testing tool; it’s meticulously crafted to mirror legacy Terraform’s testing capabilities. The primary aim is to ensure that users experience a smooth, hitch-free transition. It doesn’t stop at merely matching the legacy capabilities; it takes it a step further by integrating bug fixes and enhancements that refine the process.

As a Spacelift customer, you don’t need to change anything in your code to move to OpenTofu. It works as a drop-in replacement. Spacelift supports OpenTofu natively through the Workflow tool – simply select OpenTofu and you are good to go.

You also have the option to change your existing Terraform Stack to use the OpenTofu backend, just by going to Settings → Backend, and changing the Workflow tool to OpenTofu:

This release isn’t just about direct functionality. It is also a call to developers and open-source enthusiasts contributing to third-party tools that work with legacy Terraform. The release provides a golden opportunity to adapt and upgrade third-party tooling, ensuring they’re fully compatible and supportive of the OpenTofu ecosystem. This proactive approach ensures a more cohesive and integrated experience for users down the line.

The OpenTofu initiative is part of the Linux Foundation and is also applying to join the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. It has huge support, with more than 18 full-time equivalents (FTEs) from four companies committed to the project and the broad backing of over 140 companies. The project’s steering committee includes representatives from Spacelift, Scalr, Gruntwork, Harness, and env0.

Visit the  OpenTofu repo and check out the issues to see what kind of conversations and feature suggestions are coming up. You can also join the Slack community. 

Remember OpenTofu is, and will always remain truly open source, community-driven, and impartial, and the OpenTofu team greatly values feedback from the community,  believing that constructive feedback plays an instrumental role in refining and enhancing OpenTofu’s capabilities. Taking it for a test drive not only gives you a firsthand experience of its features but also provides an opportunity to contribute to its evolution. 

Be part of the OpenTofu journey.