Author: Roni Frantchi

I recently returned from KubeCon EU where I participated in the first-ever OpenTofu Day and an Evolution of Infrastructure-as-Code panel discussion. During the conference, dozens of engineers and tech execs asked me questions about the OpenTofu project. They wanted to ascertain if it made sense for them to switch to OpenTofu, whether for testing purposes or to make the IaC management tool a permanent fixture in their tech stack.

Many people shared similar questions and concerns which, notably, were still the same as those expressed during the GA release. Now, on the heels of the OpenTofu v1.7 release, I’m taking the time to summarize my answers to those frequently asked questions and to share my (understandably biased) insights on the advantages of adopting it.

What Does “Drop-In” Replacement Mean?

In our communications, we commonly refer to OpenTofu as a “drop-in replacement” for Terraform. Unsurprisingly, the most common question I was asked was, “What does ‘a drop-in replacement’ really mean?”

As a developer, I understand where such questions come from. “Drop-in replacement” sounds more like a marketing promise than a technical specification. With that in mind, let me clarify what we mean.

To try OpenTofu, follow these steps:

1. Install OpenTofu.
2. Use the tofu command to execute your previously terraform commands (e.g.,tofu plan instead of terraform plan, tofu apply instead of terraform apply, and so forth).

And that’s it.

You don’t need to change a single line of code in your Terraform configuration. You can continue using all your favorite providers and modules, public or private. They will all just work.

By “drop in” we mean literally the minimal possible amount of effort with the fewest possible adjustments.

What’s the Best Time to Make the Switch?

Another question I encountered, often implied rather than asked directly, was, “Should I start with OpenTofu now or wait a while?”

Setting aside my personal bias, I can sum up my answer with a simple, undeniable fact: No future scenario is likely to make the switch easier than it is right now.

Let me explain.

The ease of transitioning between OpenTofu and Terraform comes from their complete interoperability in 1.6 stable versions. The ability to switch between Terraform and its open-source successor with a simple command alias means there’s effectively no cost to trying OpenTofu.

To me, this suggests that if you’re considering giving OpenTofu a try—whether sooner or later—the best time to do so is now.

Will the Projects Diverge?

Inevitably they will. However, there’s more to consider.

Ease of migration is a top priority for us on the OpenTofu team, and it is equally important to our community. This commitment ensures that we will manage any divergence between versions carefully.

Take OpenTofu v1.7 as an example. This version introduces several features, such as the much-anticipated state file encryption. But importantly, all these additions are opt-in. This approach exemplifies our commitment to not locking users into OpenTofu against their preferences.

Starting with OpenTofu is essentially a low-effort trial. The worst-case scenario is that you end up with a free, open-source version of Terraform that includes some additional, optional features to explore.

This was the mindset of several people I spoke with at KubeCon who were adopting OpenTofu as a future-proofing strategy. Doing so would let them keep their options open and help them avoid being locked into any specific vendor-ecosystem or IaC management tool.

What About Community Support?

Support for the project is gaining momentum. Key players including Alpine, Brew, and GitLab have already moved away from BSL-licensed Terraform binaries to ensure long-term open-source interoperability and to address their unique needs.

These are just a few examples. The shift in HashiCorp’s licensing terms, compounded by its recent acquisition by IBM, has sparked concerns about long-term viability and compatibility. These are unlikely to go away anytime soon. For many people in the community, this positions OpenTofu as a logical and straightforward path to return to business as usual.

Moreover, adopting OpenTofu also serves as a way to tap into the wellspring of community contribution that dwindled for Terraform following the licensing change.

As a vendor-neutral Linux Foundation project, OpenTofu remains true to Terraform’s original open-source ethos, drawing on the collective wisdom and diversity of the FOSS community.

This commitment to openness, reinforced by the project’s transparent governance through a multi-vendor technical steering committee, ensures that community innovation can flourish.

But don’t just take my word for it. Form your own opinion by joining our Slack community (2,100 members and growing), or follow the discussions on our GitHub repo. You can also keep up with our project updates and engage in open discussions by following us on Twitter or LinkedIn, and by joining our office hours.

Looking Forward

Switching to OpenTofu isn’t the right move for everyone. For example, if you’re deeply embedded in Terraform Cloud, it may be more practical to stick with HashiCorp.

However, the undeniable fact is that currently, the effort to experiment with OpenTofu is as low as it’ll ever be.

So, if you are looking for a true open-source project backed by a vibrant and enthusiastic community, or you just foresee a future where OpenTofu would fit into your tech stack, the best time to dip your toes in the water is right now.