Pulumi Automation API
Programmatically embed Pulumi in your software.
Overview
The Pulumi Automation API is not a standalone tool but a software library that exposes the full power of the Pulumi engine programmatically. It allows developers to write applications that can create, configure, update, and destroy infrastructure. Instead of running `pulumi up` from the CLI, you can invoke the same functionality from within your Go, Python, TypeScript, or .NET code. This enables the creation of custom tools, internal developer platforms, and complex orchestration workflows.
✨ Key Features
- Programmatic control over Pulumi stacks
- Embed Pulumi engine in custom applications
- Available for Go, Python, TypeScript, and .NET
- Stream logs and events in real-time
- Can be used for both local and remote operations
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Provides a structured, programmatic interface to a full IaC engine, not just a CLI wrapper
- Maintains the benefits of Pulumi (state management, previews) in a library format
- Enables building higher-level abstractions and platforms on top of Pulumi
Unique Value: Unlocks the full potential of Infrastructure as Code by making it a composable building block within any software application, enabling limitless automation and customization.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- Building custom internal developer platforms
- Dynamic environment provisioning
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Standard CI/CD-based infrastructure deployments (the CLI is simpler)
- Users who are not developers
🏆 Alternatives
Offers a much richer and more robust integration than simply wrapping a CLI tool in a subprocess. It provides strongly-typed inputs and outputs, streaming events, and fine-grained control over the entire IaC lifecycle.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
💰 Pricing
Free tier: The Automation API library is free and open source.
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