CDK vs Terraform: Which is right for a small team?
- Published on
- Authors
- Name
- Binh Bui
- @bvbinh
CDK vs Terraform: Which is right for a small team?
In This Article
What are CDK and Terraform?
AWS CDK (Cloud Development Kit) lets you define infrastructure using real programming languages like TypeScript, Python, or Java. You can reuse code, organize files in modules, and build infrastructure the same way you write apps.
Terraform uses HCL, a declarative language designed for describing cloud infrastructure. It's very popular in the DevOps world because of its stability, clear syntax, and strong multi-cloud support.
Comparing CDK and Terraform for small teams
| Criteria | CDK | Terraform |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of learning | Easy if you know TypeScript or Python | Requires learning HCL |
| Code reuse & logic | Strong – uses functions, loops, classes | Limited logic – mostly static config |
| Community & ecosystem | Newer, AWS-focused | Very popular, large community |
| Multi-cloud support | AWS only | Works with many cloud providers |
| CI/CD integration | Needs scripting with cdk deploy | Built-in commands like terraform plan/apply |
| Testing & Debugging | Can write unit tests (e.g., Jest, Pytest) | Easy to preview changes with plan |
When should you use CDK?
- Your team is made of backend developers
- You mainly use AWS and don’t need to support other clouds
- You want to write flexible and reusable infrastructure code
- You like the idea of testing infrastructure just like application code
"Our team has 3 developers using Node.js and AWS. CDK helped us build infrastructure quickly without learning a new language."
When should you use Terraform?
- You want a stable, popular tool with lots of documentation
- You have a DevOps or SRE engineer handling infrastructure
- You need to support multi-cloud or third-party services
- You prefer a simple, clear approach that’s easy to review and audit
"We use Terraform to manage both AWS and GCP. The
plancommand helps us clearly see changes before applying."
Conclusion
There’s no single best tool for everyone. But if you’re a small, developer-led team, using mostly AWS, and want to move fast, CDK is a great choice.
If you’re building a long-term, scalable system that might grow or involve multiple clouds, Terraform is more stable and flexible in the long run.
What about you?
Are you using CDK, Terraform, or both? Do you have a favorite? Let me know your thoughts or questions in the comments!
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