The generate_file block

Terramate supports the generation of arbitrary files such as JSON or YAML referencing data such as Variables and Metadata.

The generate_file block

File code generation is done using generate_file blocks in Terramate configuration files. References to Terramate globals and metadata are evaluated.

generate_file "hello_world.json" {
  content = tm_jsonencode({"hello" = "${global.world}"})
}

The label of the generate_file block names the file that will be generated. Terramate Variables (let, global, and terramate namespaces) and all Terramate Functions are supported when defining labels. For more details about how code generation uses labels check the Labels Overview docs.

Argument reference of the generate_file block

• context (optional string) The context attributes that override the generation context

• content (required string) The content argument defines the string that will be generated as the content of the file. The value of the content has access to different Terramate features depending on the context defined.

  For context=root it has access to:

  • Terramate Project Metadata references terramate.root.* and terramate.stacks.*
  • Terramate function calls tm_*(...)
  • Expressions using string interpolation "${}"

  and for context=stack (the default), it has access to everything that root has plus the features below:

  • Terramate Global references global.*
  • Terramate Stack Metadata references terramate.stack.*

  The final evaluated value of the content attribute must be a valid string.

  content = <<-EOF
    Hello World!
  EOF

• lets (optional block) One or more lets blocks can be used to define temporary variables that can be used in other arguments within the generate_file block and in the content block.

  lets {
    temp_a_plus_b = global.a + global.b
  }

• stack_filter (optional block) Stack filter allow to filter stacks where the code generation should be executed. Currently, only path-based filters are available but tag-based filters are coming soon. Stack filters do neither support Terramate Functions nor Terramate Variables. For advanced filtering of stacks based on additional conditions and complex expressions please use condition argument. stack_filter blocks have precedence over conditions and will be executed first for performance reasons. A stack will only be selected for code generation if any stack_filter is true and the condition is true too.

  Each stack_filter block supports one or more of the following arguments. When specifying more attributes, all need to be true to mark the stack_filter block as true.

  • project_paths (optional list of strings) A list of patterns matched against the absolute project path of the stack. The patterns support globbing but no regular expressions. Any matched path in the list will mark the project path filter as true.
  • repository_paths (optional list of strings) A list of patterns matched against the absolute repository path of the stack. The patterns support globbing but no regular expressions. Any matched path in the list will mark the repository path filter as true.

  stack_filter {
    project_paths = [
      "/path/to/specific/stack", # match exact path
      "/path/to/some/stacks/*",  # match stacks in a directory
      "/path/to/many/stacks/**", # match all stacks within a tree
    ]
  }

• condition (optional boolean) The condition attribute supports any expression that renders to a boolean. Terramate Variables (let, global, and terramate namespaces) and all Terramate Functions are supported. Variables are evaluated with the stack context (see Lazy Evaluation) If the condition is true and any stack_filter (if defined) is true the stack is selected for generating the code. As evaluating the condition for multiple stacks can be slow, using stack_filter for path-based generation is recommended.

  condition = tm_anytrue([
     tm_contains(terramate.stack.tags, "my-tag"), # only render if tag is set
     tm_try(global.render_stack, false), # only render if `render_stack` is `true`
  ])

• assert (optional block) One or more assert blocks can be used to prevent wrong configurations in code generation assertion can be set to guarantee all preconditions for generating code are satisfied. Each assert block supports the following arguments:

  • assertion (required boolean) When the boolean expression is false the assertion is triggered and the message is printed to the user. Terramate Variables (let, global, and terramate namespaces) and all Terramate Functions are supported.
  • message (required string) A descriptive message to present to the user to inform about the causes that made an assertion fail. Terramate Variables (let, global, and terramate namespaces) and all Terramate Functions are supported.
  • warning (optional boolean) When set to true the code generation will not fail, but a warning is issued to the user. Default is false. Terramate Variables (let, global, and terramate namespaces) and all Terramate Functions are supported.

Generating different file types

Generating a JSON file

generate_file "hello_world.json" {
  content = tm_jsonencode({"hello"="world"})
}

Generating a YAML file

generate_file "hello_world.yml" {
  content = tm_yamlencode({"hello"="world"})
}

Generating arbitrary text

It is possible to use strings and templates as known from Terraform.

generate_file "hello_world.json" {
  content = <<-EOT
    whatever text format you want, here is a global reference:

    a = ${global.reference}

    and a metadata reference:

    b = ${terramate.path}
  EOT
}