Terraform Module Scaffold Generator

Modules keep Terraform DRY, but starting one from a blank directory means writing the same three files every time: main.tf, variables.tf, and outputs.tf. The Terraform Module Scaffold Generator writes that skeleton from a short form, so you begin with a correct, consistent structure instead of copy-pasting from a previous project.

Give the module a name and, optionally, a sample resource with its type and name, then list the input variables and outputs you want as comma separated names. The generator validates each identifier, emits a resource block when you supply one, a typed variable block for every variable, and an output block for every output, wiring outputs to the sample resource when present. Everything runs locally in your browser, so no module name or resource definition is uploaded and no command is executed on your behalf. That keeps your design private while producing accurate, repeatable scaffolding you can drop straight into a new directory and fill in. Whether you are prototyping a small helper module or the first file of a large shared library, this tool removes the boilerplate so you can focus on the logic rather than the file layout.

• main.tf - a sample resource block for the type and name you provide.
• variables.tf - a typed variable block for every input you list, defaulting to string.
• outputs.tf - an output block for every output, wired to the resource when one is present.
• Identifier validation - variable, output, and resource names are checked against Terraform naming rules.
• Live counts - stats show how many variables, outputs, and resources were scaffolded as you build.
• Flexible - build with just variables, just outputs, or a full module that includes a resource.
• Sample loader - one click fills a realistic ec2-instance example so you can see the expected shape.
• Copy, download, print - export module.tf in the format your workflow expects.
• Empty-safe - if you add no resource, the tool still emits variables and outputs without a main.tf file.
• Output wiring - outputs default to the sample resource id, or to null when no resource is given, so the scaffold always parses.

1. Name the module using a valid identifier such as ec2-instance or app_cache.
2. Add a sample resource by entering its type, for example aws_instance, and a resource name like this.
3. List variables as comma separated names, such as region, instance_type.
4. List outputs the same way, such as id, arn.
5. Click Generate scaffold to build the three file sections from your input.
6. Review the counts to confirm every variable and output was created as intended.
7. Copy, download, or print the scaffold and save it as your module files.
8. Fill in the bodies of the resource, variables, and outputs with real values and the logic they need.
9. Run terraform validate in the new directory to confirm the scaffold is syntactically valid before adding detail.

Example 1 - full module. Name ec2-instance, resource aws_instance named this, variables region and instance_type, outputs id and arn. The scaffold emits a main.tf with an empty aws_instance block, a variables.tf with two string variables, and an outputs.tf whose id and arn reference aws_instance.this, giving a complete starting point you can extend.

Example 2 - outputs only. Name util with no resource and outputs id. The tool skips main.tf, omits variables.tf, and emits only an outputs.tf with value = null, which is useful for a thin wrapper module that simply forwards values from elsewhere.

Example 3 - variables only. Name tags with variables environment and owner and no outputs or resource. The result is a variables.tf containing two string variables and no other files, which is a quick way to standardise tagging inputs across many modules without any resource code.

• Correct schema - a valid, consistent module skeleton every time, with no missing files to trip up a plan.
• Reusable - start every module from the same predictable layout across your organisation and repositories.
• Validated - bad identifiers are caught before you generate the scaffold, avoiding later parse errors in CI.
• Private - the whole flow runs in the browser; nothing leaves your machine at any point in the process.
• Fast - generate a full scaffold in seconds instead of hand-writing three separate files each time.
• Focused - boilerplate disappears so you spend time on the actual resource logic that matters most.
• Teachable - the three-file split is a clear teaching example for engineers new to module authoring.