Installing Dependencies

Before you start using Terraform with Azure, install a few foundational tools on your workstation. These utilities enable authentication, source control, and smooth interaction with Azure resources. This guide covers the minimum dependencies required to work with Terraform on Azure: Azure CLI, Git, and how to verify your Azure authentication context.

What you need

Tool	Purpose	Quick install example
Azure CLI	Authenticate Terraform to Azure, manage subscriptions and resources	Windows (PowerShell MSI): see code block below; macOS: `brew install azure-cli`
Git	Source control for Terraform configurations and collaboration	`winget install --id Git.Git -e --source winget`
Terraform	Infrastructure-as-code tool (install after verifying CLI & Git)	See Terraform docs: https://www.terraform.io/

Install the Azure CLI

Azure CLI is commonly used for Terraform authentication and to manage Azure resources from the command line. Choose the installation method for your OS. Windows — download and silently install the MSI (PowerShell example):

$ProgressPreference = 'SilentlyContinue'

Invoke-WebRequest `
  -Uri https://azcliprod.blob.core.windows.net/msi/azure-cli-2.51.0.msi `
  -OutFile AzureCLI.msi

Start-Process msiexec.exe `
  -Wait `
  -ArgumentList '/I', 'AzureCLI.msi', '/quiet'

Remove-Item AzureCLI.msi

macOS — install via Homebrew:

brew update && brew install azure-cli

Linux — follow the distribution-specific instructions on Microsoft’s docs:

https://learn.microsoft.com/cli/azure/install-azure-cli

The image shows a Microsoft Learn webpage detailing how to install the Azure CLI on Windows, with options for different installation methods like WinGet and MSI.

Install Git (if needed)

Git manages Terraform configuration files as source-controlled code, enabling version tracking, collaboration, and rollbacks. Install Git and verify the installation: Windows (winget):

winget install --id Git.Git -e --source winget

Verify Git:

git --version

Git integrates with platforms like Azure Repos, GitHub, and others—use it to push Terraform code from editors like Visual Studio Code. After installing the Azure CLI, check the version and authenticate so Terraform can use your credentials. Confirm the installation:

az --version

Authenticate interactively using the device code flow (useful for machines without a browser):

az login --use-device-code

This prints a short URL (https://microsoft.com/devicelogin) and a numeric code to enter in a browser. After completing the browser flow, the CLI retrieves the subscriptions available to your account. Example (truncated) device code output:

To sign in, use a web browser to open the page https://microsoft.com/devicelogin and enter the code GT9Z8DS59 to authenticate.
Retrieving tenants and subscriptions for the selected account...
[Tenant and subscription selection]
No  Subscription name               Subscription ID
--- ------------------------------ ------------------------------
[1] * PenTest Lab 2                1b228746-75fd-46ed-8a6b-6a9066d6d3a3
The default is marked with an *.
Select a subscription and tenant (Type a number or Enter for no changes):

Inspect the active account context:

az account show

Example JSON output (truncated):

{
  "environmentName": "AzureCloud",
  "homeTenantId": "1e0fa212-37c5-45f5-bb0f-b60687cac64b",
  "id": "1b228746-75fd-46ed-8a6b-6a9066d6d3a3",
  "isDefault": true,
  "name": "PenTest Lab 2",
  "state": "Enabled",
  "tenantDefaultDomain": "kodekloudlab.onmicrosoft.com",
  "tenantDisplayName": "ASGARD",
  "tenantId": "1e0fa212-37c5-45f5-bb0f-b60687cac64b",
  "user": {
    "name": "rithinskaria@kodekloudlab.onmicrosoft.com",
    "type": "user"
  }
}

Azure CLI and Azure PowerShell operate with a context that targets one subscription at a time. If you have multiple subscriptions, switch the active context:

az account set -s 1b228746-75fd-46ed-8a6b-6a9066d6d3a3

List all subscriptions visible to your account:

az account list

Example array output (truncated):

[
  {
    "name": "PEGASUS HUB",
    "state": "Enabled",
    "tenantDefaultDomain": "MngEnvMCAP394981.onmicrosoft.com",
    "tenantDisplayName": "PEGASUS",
    "tenantId": "a8dab4a7-9027-461c-97ab-b022f15917a4",
    "user": {
      "name": "admin@MngEnvMCAP394981.onmicrosoft.com",
      "type": "user"
    }
  },
  {
    "name": "PenTest Lab 2",
    "state": "Enabled",
    "tenantDefaultDomain": "kodekloudlab.onmicrosoft.com",
    "tenantDisplayName": "ASGARD",
    "tenantId": "1e0fa212-37c5-45f5-bb0f-b60687cac64b",
    "user": {
      "name": "rithinskaria@kodekloudlab.onmicrosoft.com",
      "type": "user"
    }
  }
]

Azure CLI commands run in the context of a single subscription. Confirm az account show reports the subscription you intend to use before running Terraform commands that create or modify resources.

Next steps

Once Azure CLI and Git are installed and you’ve confirmed your Azure account context, proceed to install Terraform and configure your workspace. For Terraform installation and platform-specific packages, see:

Terraform downloads: https://www.terraform.io/downloads
Azure CLI install docs: https://learn.microsoft.com/cli/azure/install-azure-cli
Git downloads: https://git-scm.com/downloads

Now you’re ready to configure Terraform’s Azure provider and begin defining infrastructure as code.

Watch Video

Choose Your IDE

Installing Terraform

Introduction

Infrastructure as Code Fundamentals

Terraform Cloud

Setting up environment

Azure Context for Terraform

HashiCorp Configuration Language

Terraform Providers

Variables

Outputs and Dependencies

Iteration and Logic

Advanced Constructs

Terraform State Fundamentals

Remote State

Terraform Workspaces

Terraform CLI

Lifecycle Meta-Arguments

Data Sources

Provisioners

Debugging Terraform

Terraform Modules

Azure DevOps Integration

Azure Pipelines for Terraform

Installing Dependencies

What you need

Install the Azure CLI

Install Git (if needed)

Next steps

Watch Video

​What you need

​Install the Azure CLI

​Install Git (if needed)

​Verify Azure CLI and sign in

​Next steps

Watch Video

What you need

Install the Azure CLI

Install Git (if needed)

Verify Azure CLI and sign in

Next steps