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BM

World T1: Blueprints

Terraform or OpenTofu?

You will learn: how Terraform and OpenTofu are related, and what is the same.

Checked with OpenTofu 1.13 on 1 Nov 2026

The problem

A job ad asks for Terraform. You learned OpenTofu. Is that a problem?

Watch

Tap each point on the timeline.

One family tree. OpenTofu: The open-source IaC tool these lessons use. Command: tofu. Licence: MPL 2.0. A Linux Foundation project. split from Terraform: The original IaC tool, from HashiCorp (now part of IBM). Command: terraform. Same language. Licence: BUSL. in 2023. Tap each year.

Try it

This laptop has OpenTofu. Type terraform version. Then type tofu version.

Blueprint (your .tf files)init done

  • local_file.signnot built yet
  • random_pet.stallnot built yet

Built (the state file)

Nothing built yet.

Blueprint: 2 resources. Built: 0.

Change a file, then run tofu plan to see what it means.

Check

Both, OpenTofu only, or Terraform only?

Drag a card into a box. Or tap the card, then tap the box.

        Predict

        Your team’s blueprint uses hashicorp/random. Can OpenTofu use it?

        Check

        Fair statement or not?

        Swipe right for good, left for needs work. Or use the buttons.

        1 / 4

        The basics you learn here work in both tools.

        You did it!

        You can now explain how Terraform and OpenTofu relate.

        Go deeper (optional)

        Where the story breaks: a real architect can’t knock a building down with one word. Here, tofu destroy really can. A real register lists rooms. Our state can also hold secrets, in plain text (World T3).

        Certificates: HashiCorp offers the Terraform Associate exam. OpenTofu has no official exam; these skills still count.

        Real mission

        1. tofu version

        0 of 3 steps done · Your ticks are saved.