DevOps Articles

AWS CDK vs Terraform: The Complete 2026 Comparison

The article contrasts two major infrastructure as code (IaC) tools: AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK) and Terraform. It explains that while both tools assist in managing cloud resources, they adopt different approaches and philosophies. AWS CDK is more programming language-centric, allowing developers to use familiar languages like TypeScript and Python, resulting in greater flexibility and power in resource management. This can cater well to developers who prefer coding solutions over configuration files.

On the other hand, Terraform offers a declarative approach, where infrastructure is defined in a concise HCL (HashiCorp Configuration Language). This makes it simpler to understand and manage, especially for teams focused on operations rather than software development. The article highlights that Terraform's state management and plan application features are additional advantages, making it a solid choice for many teams.

Moreover, the article provides insights into community support and ecosystem maturity. Terraform boasts a larger community and an extensive collection of modules and providers, enhancing its usability. Conversely, AWS CDK is evolving rapidly with strong backing from AWS, appealing especially to users heavily invested in the AWS ecosystem. DevOps teams must consider their specific needs, existing expertise, and future scalability when choosing between the two tools, balancing the power of flexible coding against the simplicity of declarative configurations.