Sharing a variables.tf file across multiple terraform environment folders

Terraform
1

hello forum folks.

having just started using app.terraform.io remote backend states today, and sharing those states across other terraform environments, i’ve come across having to keep a standards copy of a variables.tf file in each of my environments folders, but it would be cool just to use a shared one for all my environments.

this variables.tf file actually picks up values of a local env setup script to set the variables.

eg: a pipeline is currently using assets from the shared terraform remote state from the vpc.

folders:

/vpc
/vpc/network.tf
/vpc/variables.tf
/pipeline
/pipeline/codebuild.tf
/pipeline/variables.tf

variables.tf:

variable "aws_region" {
  default = "{var.aws_region}"
}
(etc etc)

it appears terraform can’t use a new /shared/variables.tf in both the terraform apply for the /vpc and /pipeline folders. if what i’m saying is correct, is there a work around to somehow use a shared variables.tf file like this?

thank you!

1 Like
2

What about a simple symlink?

3

@Wolfsrudel comes in FTW! thank you. that worked perfectly.

1 Like
4

tip: be careful while running terraform fmt over the symlinks. I have observed in the past that the symlinks get converted to regular files.

1 Like
5

Thanks for the hint. :+1: