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An application programming interface (API) for controlling Azure resources is made available through the Azure Resource Manager (ARM) service. Using a REST API or Azure Resource Manager templates, it is possible to create, update, and remove Azure resources.
The infrastructure for an Azure solution may be defined using JSON or YAML files, which are referred to as ARM templates. They may be used to deploy and manage resources such as storage accounts, virtual networks, and virtual machines virtually. Infrastructure as code is what happens when ARM templates are used to automate the process of creating and managing Azure resources. This process may be automated using ARM templates (IaC). The Azure Resource Management (ARM) templates are an essential component of the Azure platform and are utilised extensively in the process of installing and managing Azure resources. They are a low-level language that can be used to describe infrastructure for Azure. They are strong and adaptable, but also rather difficult to deal with due to their complexity.
Bicep is a new open-source language that can be used to express Azure infrastructure as code. It is also a domain-specific language (DSL) that uses declarative syntax to deploy Azure resources. Bicep was developed by Microsoft (IaC). It is meant to be more user-friendly and straightforward in comparison to Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, which are the alternative principal method of establishing IaC in Azure. This is because ARM templates are the alternative primary technique.
Bicep is a higher-level language that was developed expressly to be optimised for the purpose of creating Azure infrastructure. Compared to ARM templates, it has a syntax that is easier to understand and a structure that is more natural to navigate, which makes it simpler for users to learn and apply. Bicep was also meant to be more understandable and easier to maintain than ARM templates, which are known for being verbose and confusing.
Bicep is still in its infancy as a tool, and it has not yet gained the same level of popularity as ARM templates. The Azure community, on the other hand, has shown positive reaction to it, and analysts believe that it will continue to gain popularity over time. You may discover further information and tools on the official Bicep website if you are interested in utilising Bicep to design your Azure architecture.
Visual Studio Code is a popular code editor that has a Bicep extension that can be used for debugging Bicep files. You can set breakpoints in your code, and then use the built-in debugger to step through your code.
Will Terraform outperform Bicep? What do you think?
21 March 2023
Zug, Switzerland
