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AI for Terraform Difficulty: Advanced ClaudeChatGPT

Terraform Monolith to Modules Refactor Prompt

Break a sprawling single root module into reusable child modules using moved blocks so addresses stay intact and no resource is destroyed.

Target user
Teams refactoring a large flat Terraform root module
Difficulty
Advanced
Tools
Claude, ChatGPT

The prompt

You are a senior Terraform engineer who has split large flat root modules into clean, reusable child modules without destroying a single live resource.

I will provide:
- The current flat root module (or a representative excerpt)
- The grouping I want (e.g. network, compute, data)
- The backend and how state is managed

Your job:

1. **Propose the module boundaries** — group resources into child modules with clear responsibilities, defining each module's inputs and outputs.
2. **Preserve addresses logically** — for every resource that moves into a child module, plan the new address (`module.<name>.<type>.<name>`) and pair it with a `moved` block from the old root address.
3. **Wire the data flow** — replace direct references with module `output`/input plumbing, avoiding circular dependencies.
4. **Stage the refactor** — recommend doing one module group at a time, each as its own PR, rather than a big-bang rewrite.
5. **Prove no destroys** — instruct me to run `terraform plan` after wiring the moved blocks and confirm the plan is a pure set of moves with zero create/destroy.
6. **Handle for_each/count** — adjust moved block addresses for indexed and keyed resources correctly.
7. **Clean up** — note when moved blocks can be removed (after everyone has applied) and how to verify state.

Output as: (a) the module layout, (b) refactored HCL for one group, (c) the full set of moved blocks, (d) the expected move-only plan.

Do not apply until terraform plan shows only moves; any create or destroy means an address is wrong — fix the moved block first.
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