Fix: Unintended Apply Steps In Woodpecker's OpenTofu Plugin
Hey folks! Ever run into a situation where your infrastructure gets deployed when you didn't actually want it to? Annoying, right? Well, that's the core issue we're diving into today: the unintended apply step in the Woodpecker OpenTofu plugin. Let's break down what's happening, why it's a problem, and how to fix it. We'll be looking at how the plugin's action parameter definition falls back to its defaults and causes these unexpected deployments. I'll explain the specific configurations that trigger the issue and how to avoid the pitfalls. This is crucial for anyone using Woodpecker and OpenTofu to manage their infrastructure as code.
The Problem: Action Parameter Defaults and Unwanted Applies
So, here's the deal. The Woodpecker OpenTofu plugin, as detailed in the docs (https://woodpecker-plugins.geekdocs.de/plugins/wp-opentofu/), is supposed to give you control over your OpenTofu workflow. You define actions like validate, plan, and apply to control what the plugin does during each pipeline step. Now, the documentation provides examples using an actions parameter (plural) in your configuration file. But, here's where things get tricky, guys. If you define actions in a certain way, specifically using actions as the parameter and including validate and plan, the plugin still defaults to including the apply step. Yep, you read that right. Even when you only want to validate and plan, the plugin goes ahead and attempts to apply your changes. Talk about a surprise!
This behavior is a real pain, especially when you're dealing with push events or pull requests. Imagine this: you push some code, and without a thorough review, your infrastructure gets updated automatically. Not ideal, right? This unintended apply step is a major issue because it can lead to deployments of unreviewed code. This is definitely not what you want, particularly when dealing with critical infrastructure or sensitive deployments. I mean, nobody wants to roll out changes that haven't been vetted properly. This is where this becomes a critical issue for anyone using this plugin.
Now, let's talk about why this is happening. The plugin seems to have a bit of a hiccup in how it handles the actions parameter. Instead of respecting your explicit instructions (validate and plan), it falls back to a default set of actions that includes apply. The root cause is most likely the plugin's logic and how it processes your configuration. This can either be a bug or a design flaw, where the plugin doesn't correctly interpret the actions parameter, causing it to use default values instead. If the plugin doesn't correctly interpret the actions parameter or has a fallback mechanism that includes apply, you're going to get an unwanted deployment.
To make things worse, this issue undermines the whole point of using tools like validate and plan in the first place. You use these steps to check for errors and preview changes before actually deploying anything. But when apply runs automatically, you lose that safety net. It's like having a seatbelt, but then the car still crashes.
Diving into the Configuration Conundrum
To really understand what's going on, let's look at the configuration setups that cause this problem. In the original problem description, you'll see a snippet of YAML code that demonstrates the issue. When you define the actions parameter (plural) like this:
settings:
actions:
- validate
- plan
you expect only validation and planning. But, the plugin ignores this and adds the apply step. That's because the plugin does not correctly interpret this actions parameter. This is most likely a bug.
Then, when the pipeline runs, it executes /usr/local/bin/tofu apply .terraform.plan.tfout. This command tries to apply all the changes and is the root of the problem. Your changes are going straight to the infrastructure without review or approval. This is clearly a problem, especially in CI/CD pipelines where you need a way to review your code before any major change.
However, if you change the configuration and use the singular action parameter instead:
settings:
action:
- validate
- plan
you don't get the apply step. This makes a difference. The action parameter correctly interprets your instructions to validate and plan without trying to apply any changes. So, using this singular version, you can validate and plan without accidentally deploying anything. This is a crucial distinction. It highlights the problem with the plural actions parameter. The singular parameter works as intended.
This difference shows that the plugin has a bug. The current documentation provides an example using the plural actions definition. This definition causes a failure. This could be confusing to those who are trying to implement it. To fix this, you either need to change the documentation or fix the plugin. The documentation can be updated to include the use of the singular form to avoid these unintended applies.
The Fix: Avoiding Unintended Applies and Ensuring Safe Deployments
Okay, so how do we fix this? There are a couple of approaches, guys. First, and this is super important, use the action (singular) parameter in your configuration. This seems to be the workaround that actually works, as the plugin correctly interprets your instructions and doesn't run the apply step. This is the simplest and most effective solution right now. It prevents the unintended deployment of changes.
Also, consider adding another step to your workflow, like a manual approval process, before the apply step is triggered. You can use this to review the plan output. This step creates a manual review for anyone who wants to deploy. You can add this review step to your workflow. This can act as a safety net. This is because it helps prevent accidental deployments. Your process will be more safe as you can always verify any issues before applying changes.
Another thing you can do is to make sure you use the latest version of the plugin, since the issue may have been patched. Check for any updates to the plugin that might fix the issue. Keep in mind that software and plugins get updated regularly, so always stay up-to-date with your tooling. It is a good practice to use the latest version of your tools to help resolve any bug, especially security flaws. You can also consult the plugin's documentation and/or community forums for more solutions. You can also raise this issue and provide the code to the developers so they can provide a patch.
Finally, make sure that all the members of your team understand these nuances. Especially the importance of reviewing changes before deployment. This can help minimize risks and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Conclusion: Keeping Your Deployments in Check
Alright, folks, that's the lowdown on the unintended apply steps in the Woodpecker OpenTofu plugin. This is critical for anyone managing infrastructure through CI/CD. The key takeaway? If you're using the plugin, be sure to use the action (singular) parameter. Also, set up a manual review and stay up-to-date with the latest versions. By being aware of this issue and implementing these strategies, you can keep your deployments safe, controlled, and exactly as you intended. Thanks for reading, and happy coding!