Unified design platform, beyond IaC
Tags: terraform, design, codenewbie, devops
Published: 2023-10-09 11:12:21

The cloud infrastructure landscape is evolving rapidly, and the demands of businesses are pushing the boundaries of what's possible. The phrase "I need Cloud infrastructure" may sound simple, but the journey from that statement to a fully functional cloud setup is intricate. Let's delve into this journey and understand the significance of a unified design platform in the age of Infrastructure as Code (IaC).

### The Journey Begins: Understanding the Need

When someone says, "I need Cloud infrastructure," it's not just about provisioning resources. It's about understanding the steps involved, the challenges at each stage, and the tools required. The industry has a pattern: we start with specifications, design them using tools like Visio or draw.io, and then translate these designs into code. This code is then tested, reviewed, documented, validated, and finally deployed. This process, while familiar, has its challenges, especially when it comes to tooling and the learning curve associated with each step.

### The Cloud Infrastructure Management Workflow

Every step in the cloud infrastructure management workflow requires a different mindset and toolset. For instance:

- **Design**: Traditional tools like Visio often lead to a drift in infrastructure because they focus on high-level designs without capturing the nuances of low-level details. The importance of design-first is evident. We are visual beings, and designing allows us to visualize and understand what we're building before diving into the code.
  
- **Code Translation**: Tools like Terraform dominate this space. However, the transition from design to code has a steep learning curve, requiring standardizations and best practices within organizations.
  
- **Testing**: Testing cloud infrastructure brings its own set of challenges. Whether testing locally or remotely, the tools and mindset required differ from the design and coding phases.

- **Review and Validation**: Once the design and code are in place, they need to be reviewed and validated. This step ensures that the infrastructure aligns with the organization's goals and meets security and performance benchmarks.

### Rethinking the Process: A Unified Approach

What if we could simplify this process? What if we had a platform that seamlessly integrated design, code generation, testing, and deployment? This is where the concept of a unified design platform comes into play.

Imagine a platform that allows you to design cloud infrastructure with built-in Terraform and cloud knowledge. A platform that auto-generates code based on designs, integrates best practices, and offers an in-built CI/CD platform to shorten feedback loops. Such a platform would not only streamline the cloud infrastructure process but also ensure that the infrastructure is secure, cost-effective, and scalable.

### Introducing [Brainboard](https://app.brainboard.co/): The Future of Cloud Infrastructure Design

[Brainboard](https://app.brainboard.co/) aims to transform the way we think about cloud infrastructure. By integrating design, code generation, testing, and deployment into a single platform, [Brainboard](https://app.brainboard.co/) offers a holistic approach to cloud infrastructure management.

With Brainboard, organizations can:

- Design cloud infrastructure with built-in Terraform modules.
- Auto-generate code based on designs.
- Integrate best practices and standardizations.
- Test infrastructure for security and cost-effectiveness.
- Review, validate, and deploy infrastructure seamlessly.

Furthermore, [Brainboard](https://app.brainboard.co/) supports multi-cloud strategies, allowing organizations to scale their infrastructure across different cloud providers.

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As the cloud infrastructure landscape continues to evolve, tools like [Brainboard](https://app.brainboard.co/) will play a pivotal role in ensuring that organizations can design, deploy, and manage their cloud resources efficiently and effectively. The future is unified, and with platforms like [Brainboard](https://app.brainboard.co/), we're one step closer to realizing that vision.