Kubernetes vs Terraform Templates
GlobalAI uses templates to make deployment and configuration tasks consistent and repeatable. Templates act as predefined blueprints that allow you to deploy applications or provision infrastructure without starting from scratch.
The platform supports two distinct perspectives:
- The Kubernetes perspective, focused on deploying and managing applications.
- The Infrastructure perspective, focused on provisioning and maintaining underlying resources.
To support these perspectives, GlobalAI provides two template types: Kubernetes templates and Terraform templates.
Understanding the difference between them helps you choose the right approach for each stage of your deployment process.
Kubernetes Templates
Kubernetes templates focus on the application layer. They are designed for deploying and managing containerized applications within Kubernetes clusters.
These templates typically leverage Helm charts, the standard packaging format for Kubernetes applications.
By using Kubernetes templates, you can:
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Deploy applications: Standardize how containerized services are deployed across clusters.
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Manage application lifecycle: Control application versions, perform updates, and revert deployments to previous revisions when needed.
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Define application configuration: Specify resource requests, limits, and configuration values as part of the template.
Use Kubernetes templates when your goal is to deploy and manage software running inside a Kubernetes cluster, such as web services, APIs, or internal tools.
Terraform Templates
Terraform templates focus on the infrastructure layer. They define and provision the resources that applications depend on.
These templates are built using Terraform configuration files, enabling Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) practices within GlobalAI.
With Terraform templates, you can:
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Provision infrastructure resources: Create virtual machines, networks, storage, and managed services.
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Deploy prerequisites: Set up databases or cloud services required before applications can run.
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Safely apply changes: Use Terraform’s plan and apply workflow to preview changes and detect configuration drift.
Use Terraform templates when you need to create, update, or maintain the environment itself rather than the applications running on it.
Compare template types
While both template types rely on reusable configuration files, they serve different purposes in the deployment lifecycle.
| Feature | Kubernetes Templates | Terraform Templates |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Application deployment and lifecycle | Infrastructure provisioning |
| Technology | Helm charts | Terraform configuration files |
| Key actions | Deploy, update, revert revisions | Plan, apply, drift detection |
| Typical use case | Deploying a microservice or web app | Creating a VM or managed database |
| Lifecycle handling | Versioned application templates | Configuration-based infrastructure updates |
Combine templates for full-stack deployments
In many scenarios, Kubernetes and Terraform templates are used together to manage the full stack.
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Provision infrastructure: Use a Terraform template to create required resources, such as networks, virtual machines, or managed databases.
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Deploy applications: Once the infrastructure is available, use a Kubernetes template to deploy the application that consumes those resources.
This approach keeps infrastructure and application concerns clearly separated while allowing them to work together seamlessly.
Related articles
Now that you understand the difference between Kubernetes and Terraform templates, explore these related guides.