DevOps Developer with AWS Cloudformation Salary in 2024

Where is AWS Cloudformation used?

Spinning Up a Circus of Servers

• CloudFormation juggles your infrastructure like a clown with bowling pins, letting you launch a whole fleet of servers with a flick of a template wand.

Blueprinting Your Cloud Castle

• Ready to build a digital fortress? Draft the blueprint and watch CloudFormation lay the virtual bricks for your cloud empire, automagically.

The Time-Traveling Template

• Forget the DeLorean, CloudFormation's templates take your stack back to the future, letting you rewind and replay setups like a code-slinging Marty McFly.

Disaster Strikes Back

• When your cloud realm faces the dark side, CloudFormation is your Jedi ally, rebuilding your infrastructure faster than you can say "May the Force be with you."

AWS Cloudformation Alternatives

Terraform

Terraform by HashiCorp is an Infrastructure as Code tool that allows for the creation, modification, and versioning of cloud infrastructure. It uses declarative configuration files which can be treated as code.

Example: Defining an AWS S3 bucket in Terraform

resource "aws_s3_bucket" "b" {
  bucket = "my-tf-test-bucket"
  acl    = "private"
}

• Pros:
  
  
  
  1. Multi-cloud support allows for managing various cloud services.
  
  
  2. Infrastructure as code provides easy version control.
  
  
  3. Modules enable reusability of code for similar resources.
  
  
  
  


• Cons:
  
  
  
  1. Initial learning curve can be steep for beginners.
  
  
  2. State management could be complex for larger setups.
  
  
  3. Integrations may require additional providers or custom code.
  
  
  
  

Pulumi

Pulumi is a modern infrastructure as code platform. It lets developers use familiar programming languages to define cloud resources.

Example: Creating an AWS S3 bucket in Pulumi with Python:

import pulumi
import pulumi_aws as aws

bucket = aws.s3.Bucket('my-bucket')

• Pros:
  
  
  
  1. Supports mainstream programming languages for greater flexibility.
  
  
  2. Provides a robust ecosystem for cloud resource management.
  
  
  3. Integrations with CI/CD for automated deployments.
  
  
  
  


• Cons:
  
  
  
  1. Different abstraction can be a challenge for IaC purists.
  
  
  2. May require language-specific tools and dependencies.
  
  
  3. State management in Pulumi Service might introduce vendor lock-in.
  
  
  
  

Google Cloud Deployment Manager

Google Cloud Deployment Manager is an infrastructure management service that automates the creation and management of Google Cloud resources. Write templates and deploy resources as a stack.

Example: Google Compute Engine instance creation in Deployment Manager

resources:
- name: vm-instance
  type: compute.v1.instance
  properties:
    zone: us-central1-a
    machineType: https://www.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/myproject/zones/us-central1-a/machineTypes/f1-micro
    disks:
    - deviceName: boot
      type: PERSISTENT
      boot: true
      autoDelete: true
      initializeParams:
        sourceImage: https://www.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/debian-cloud/global/images/family/debian-9

• Pros:
  
  
  
  1. Tightly integrated with Google Cloud Platform.
  
  
  2. Template-based deployments simplify resource management.
  
  
  3. Provides input and output parameters for customization.
  
  
  
  


• Cons:
  
  
  
  1. Limited to Google Cloud resources.
  
  
  2. Less community support compared to multi-cloud tools.
  
  
  3. User interface is less polished than other IaC services.
  
  
  
  

Quick Facts about AWS Cloudformation

Once Upon a CloudFormation

In the mystical land of AWS, a magical tool called CloudFormation was conjured in 2011. It's like a genie for infrastructure, where a mere mortal writes a template in YAML or JSON, and voila! Servers and services pop out of the thin virtual air. AWS said, "Let there be an easier way to manage resources!" and thus, CloudFormation was born—doing the heavy lifting so you can kick back with a cup of coffee.

A Template Odyssey

Picture this: You're an architect, but instead of bricks and mortar, you've got lines of code that can erect entire data centers. Enter the year 2011, where AWS CloudFormation templates became the blueprint for your cloud kingdom—no dragons needed, just CloudFormation. It's like LEGO for techies, where clicking together pieces of code generates entire systems, and best of all—no foot injuries from stepping on rogue bricks.

Versioning Voodoo

Ever wondered how your cloud resources are like wine, getting better with age? AWS CloudFormation versions are the secret sauce. Unlike your ex who never changes, AWS CloudFormation keeps evolving. There's no "v1, v2, vInfinite" madness, but "L1" to "L9" layers of sophistication, making sure your infrastructure is as snazzy as your smartwatch and just as up-to-date.

{
  "AWSTemplateFormatVersion" : "version date",
  "Description" : "A magical incantation for spawning an S3 bucket",
  "Resources" : {
    "MyS3Bucket" : {
      "Type" : "AWS::S3::Bucket",
      "Properties" : {
        "BucketName" : "A Bucket Full of Dreams"
      }
    }
  }
}

What is the difference between Junior, Middle, Senior and Expert AWS Cloudformation developer?

Top 10 AWS Cloudformation Related Tech

1. JSON & YAML

   
   

   If CloudFormation were a pizza, JSON and YAML would be the dough—absolutely essential. They serve as the markup languages for crafting your infrastructure recipes. JSON is like that friend who loves braces and brackets, while YAML is more like a poet, who's all about indentation and minimalism. But remember, a misplaced tab in YAML may declare war on your stack. 🤓

   
   

   
   {
     "AWSTemplateFormatVersion": "2010-09-09",
     "Resources": {
       "MyS3Bucket": {
         "Type": "AWS::S3::Bucket"
       }
     }
   }
   

   
   



2. AWS CLI

   
   

   The AWS Command Line Interface is the Swiss Army knife for CloudFormation alchemists. This powerful tool lets you summon and control your cloud resources with incantations directly from your terminal—a spellbinding experience for command-line wizards.

   
   

   
   aws cloudformation create-stack --stack-name my-magical-stack --template-body file://my-cloud-formation-template.json
   

   
   



3. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Tools

   
   

   Tools like AWS CDK, Terraform, and the Serverless Framework are the Gandalfs of the IaC realm. They bring in the arcane knowledge to conjure up complex environments with a wave of a code wand—no more clicking around in the AWS Console like a mere mortal!

   
   



4. IDE Integrations & Extensions

   
   

   To avoid the perilous journey through JSON/YAML syntax forests, IDE plugins for VS Code or IntelliJ can be your map and compass. They provide autocompletion, linting, and validation—so you don't end up trapped in the Swamp of Syntax Errors.

   
   



5. Version Control Systems (e.g., Git)

   
   

   Your CloudFormation templates are akin to sacred texts. Just as ancient scholars preserved their wisdom with meticulous care, you should store your templates in a version control system, granting them the gift of immortality and collaboration.

   
   



6. Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) Platforms

   
   

   To continuously deliver your infrastructure like a pro, platforms like AWS CodePipeline, Jenkins, or GitHub Actions enter the scene. They're like conveyor belts in a factory—transforming your code into live infrastructure at the push of a button.

   
   



7. Linters and Validators

   
   

   Linters such as cfn-lint and tools like cfn-nag inspect your templates like a meticulous grandma checking for dust. They’ll nag you about best practices and potential slip-ups, making sure your stack stays clean and shiny like a freshly washed cat. 🐱

   
   



8. Testing Frameworks

   
   

   Testing frameworks for CloudFormation, like TaskCat and aws-cfn-template-flip, are like having a personal gym instructor for your templates. They put your stacks through strenuous workouts, ensuring they’re fit to lift the heavy loads of your infrastructure demands.

   
   



9. Infrastructure Monitoring and Logging

   
   

   Once your infrastructure is alive, you need to keep an eagle eye on it. Tools like Amazon CloudWatch, AWS Config, and third-party solutions such as DataDog, can be your all-seeing eyes in the sky, monitoring your CloudFormation stacks' every heartbeat.

   
   



10. Custom Resources with AWS Lambda

    
    

    When CloudFormation can't quite bend to your will, AWS Lambda steps in like a superhero. Custom resources are Lambda functions that can be called by CloudFormation to perform unique tasks—making the impossible possible, one function at a time.

    
    

    
    {
      "Type" : "AWS::CloudFormation::CustomResource",
      "Version" : "1.0",
      "Properties" : {
        "ServiceToken": "arn:aws:lambda:REGION:ACCOUNT:function:FUNCTION_NAME",
      }
    }