How to print terraform variable values? - azure-devops

Question

I am learning terraform. I want to print values of variables in "plan" stage. So I found how to do it. seems I am doing something wrong here....
in variables.tf:....
variable "VMCount" {
description = "How many VMs do you want to start with (number)? default=1 max=5"
type = number
}
in main.tf
output "VMCount" {
value = "${var.VMCount > 2 && var.VMCount < 6 ? var.VMCount : 2}"
}
after that i run terraform plan and the condition seem to be working fine (it creates right num of VMs)
but the variable output is not coming. why?
$ terraform output
VMC = 56
that VMC is might be from some previous attempts ( I tried several things).
How to print the value of user entry (variable)?
Thank you.

Answer 1

I tested with this:
variable "VMCount" {
description = "How many VMs do you want to start with (number)? default=1 max=5"
type = number
}
output "VMCount" {
value = "${var.VMCount > 2 && var.VMCount < 6 ? var.VMCount : 2}"
}
and it works well.
Terraform will perform the following actions:
Plan: 0 to add, 0 to change, 0 to destroy.
Changes to Outputs:
+ VMCount = 4
Do you want to perform these actions?
Terraform will perform the actions described above.
Only 'yes' will be accepted to approve.
Enter a value: yes
Apply complete! Resources: 0 added, 0 changed, 0 destroyed.
Outputs:
VMCount = 4
PS C:\d\m\terraform\output-and-variable> terraform output
VMCount = 4
PS C:\d\m\terraform\output-and-variable> terraform apply
var.VMCount
How many VMs do you want to start with (number)? default=1 max=5
Enter a value: 8
Terraform used the selected providers to generate the following execution plan. Resource actions are indicated with the following symbols:
Terraform will perform the following actions:
Plan: 0 to add, 0 to change, 0 to destroy.
Changes to Outputs:
~ VMCount = 4 -> 2
Do you want to perform these actions?
Terraform will perform the actions described above.
Only 'yes' will be accepted to approve.
Enter a value: yes
Apply complete! Resources: 0 added, 0 changed, 0 destroyed.
Outputs:
VMCount = 2
PS C:\d\m\terraform\output-and-variable> terraform output
VMCount = 2
PS C:\d\m\terraform\output-and-variable>
Could you check what outouts doyou have in state? VMC or VMCount?

Answer 2

As stated here in the terraform documentation:
Outputs are only rendered when Terraform applies your plan. Running terraform plan will not render outputs.