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provider-actions

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Implement Terraform Provider actions using the Plugin Framework. Use when developing imperative operations that execute at lifecycle events (before/after create, update, destroy).

Cloud & DevOps

What this skill does


# Terraform Provider Actions Implementation Guide

## Overview

Terraform Actions enable imperative operations during the Terraform lifecycle. Actions are experimental features that allow performing provider operations at specific lifecycle events (before/after create, update, destroy).

**References:**
- [Terraform Plugin Framework](https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/plugin/framework)
- [Terraform Actions RFC](https://github.com/hashicorp/terraform/blob/main/docs/plugin-protocol/actions.md)

## File Structure

Actions follow the standard service package structure:

```
internal/service/<service>/
├── <action_name>_action.go       # Action implementation
├── <action_name>_action_test.go  # Action tests
└── service_package_gen.go        # Auto-generated service registration
```

Documentation structure:
```
website/docs/actions/
└── <service>_<action_name>.html.markdown  # User-facing documentation
```

Changelog entry:
```
.changelog/
└── <pr_number_or_description>.txt  # Release note entry
```

## Action Schema Definition

Actions use the Terraform Plugin Framework with a standard schema pattern:

```go
func (a *actionType) Schema(ctx context.Context, req action.SchemaRequest, resp *action.SchemaResponse) {
    resp.Schema = schema.Schema{
        Attributes: map[string]schema.Attribute{
            // Required configuration parameters
            "resource_id": schema.StringAttribute{
                Required:    true,
                Description: "ID of the resource to operate on",
            },
            // Optional parameters with defaults
            "timeout": schema.Int64Attribute{
                Optional:    true,
                Description: "Operation timeout in seconds",
                Default:     int64default.StaticInt64(1800),
                Computed:    true,
            },
        },
    }
}
```

### Common Schema Issues

**Pay special attention to the schema definition** - common issues after a first draft:

1. **Type Mismatches**
   - Using `types.String` instead of `fwtypes.String` in model structs
   - Using `types.StringType` instead of `fwtypes.StringType` in schema
   - Mixing framework types with plugin-framework types

2. **List/Map Element Types**
   ```go
   // WRONG - missing ElementType
   "items": schema.ListAttribute{
       Optional: true,
   }

   // CORRECT
   "items": schema.ListAttribute{
       Optional:    true,
       ElementType: fwtypes.StringType,
   }
   ```

3. **Computed vs Optional**
   - Attributes with defaults must be both `Optional: true` and `Computed: true`
   - Don't mark action inputs as `Computed` unless they have defaults

4. **Validator Imports**
   ```go
   // Ensure proper imports
   "github.com/hashicorp/terraform-plugin-framework-validators/int64validator"
   "github.com/hashicorp/terraform-plugin-framework-validators/stringvalidator"
   ```

5. **Region/Provider Attribute**
   - Use framework-provided region handling when available
   - Don't manually define provider-specific config in schema if framework handles it

6. **Nested Attributes**
   - Use appropriate nested object types for complex structures
   - Ensure nested types are properly defined

### Schema Validation Checklist

Before submitting, verify:
- [ ] All attributes have descriptions
- [ ] List/Map attributes have ElementType defined
- [ ] Validators are imported and applied correctly
- [ ] Model struct uses correct framework types
- [ ] Optional attributes with defaults are marked Computed
- [ ] Code compiles without type errors
- [ ] Run `go build` to catch type mismatches

## Action Invoke Method

The Invoke method contains the action logic:

```go
func (a *actionType) Invoke(ctx context.Context, req action.InvokeRequest, resp *action.InvokeResponse) {
    var data actionModel
    resp.Diagnostics.Append(req.Config.Get(ctx, &data)...)

    // Create provider client
    conn := a.Meta().Client(ctx)

    // Progress updates for long-running operations
    resp.Progress.Set(ctx, "Starting operation...")

    // Implement action logic with error handling
    // Use context for timeout management
    // Poll for completion if async operation

    resp.Progress.Set(ctx, "Operation completed")
}
```

## Key Implementation Requirements

### 1. Progress Reporting

- Use `resp.SendProgress(action.InvokeProgressEvent{...})` for real-time updates
- Provide meaningful progress messages during long operations
- Update progress at key milestones
- Include elapsed time for long operations

### 2. Timeout Management

- Always include configurable timeout parameter (default: 1800s)
- Use `context.WithTimeout()` for API calls
- Handle timeout errors gracefully
- Validate timeout ranges (typically 60-7200 seconds)

### 3. Error Handling

- Add diagnostics with `resp.Diagnostics.AddError()`
- Provide clear error messages with context
- Include API error details when relevant
- Map provider error types to user-friendly messages
- Document all possible error cases

Example error handling:
```go
// Handle specific errors
var notFound *types.ResourceNotFoundException
if errors.As(err, &notFound) {
    resp.Diagnostics.AddError(
        "Resource Not Found",
        fmt.Sprintf("Resource %s was not found", resourceID),
    )
    return
}

// Generic error handling
resp.Diagnostics.AddError(
    "Operation Failed",
    fmt.Sprintf("Could not complete operation for %s: %s", resourceID, err),
)
```

### 4. Provider SDK Integration

- Use provider SDK clients from `a.Meta().<Service>Client(ctx)`
- Handle pagination for list operations
- Implement retry logic for transient failures
- Use appropriate error types

### 5. Parameter Validation

- Use framework validators for input validation
- Validate resource existence before operations
- Check for conflicting parameters
- Validate against provider naming requirements

### 6. Polling and Waiting

For operations that require waiting for completion:

```go
result, err := wait.WaitForStatus(ctx,
    func(ctx context.Context) (wait.FetchResult[*ResourceType], error) {
        // Fetch current status
        resource, err := findResource(ctx, conn, id)
        if err != nil {
            return wait.FetchResult[*ResourceType]{}, err
        }
        return wait.FetchResult[*ResourceType]{
            Status: wait.Status(resource.Status),
            Value:  resource,
        }, nil
    },
    wait.Options[*ResourceType]{
        Timeout:            timeout,
        Interval:           wait.FixedInterval(5 * time.Second),
        SuccessStates:      []wait.Status{"AVAILABLE", "COMPLETED"},
        TransitionalStates: []wait.Status{"CREATING", "PENDING"},
        ProgressInterval:   30 * time.Second,
        ProgressSink: func(fr wait.FetchResult[any], meta wait.ProgressMeta) {
            resp.SendProgress(action.InvokeProgressEvent{
                Message: fmt.Sprintf("Status: %s, Elapsed: %v", fr.Status, meta.Elapsed.Round(time.Second)),
            })
        },
    },
)
```

## Common Action Patterns

### Batch Operations
- Process items in configurable batches
- Report progress per batch
- Handle partial failures gracefully
- Support prefix/filter parameters

### Command Execution
- Submit command and get operation ID
- Poll for completion status
- Retrieve and report output
- Handle timeout during polling
- Validate resources exist before execution

### Service Invocation
- Invoke service with parameters
- Wait for completion (if synchronous)
- Return output/results
- Handle service-specific errors

### Resource State Changes
- Validate current state
- Apply state change
- Poll for target state
- Handle transitional states

### Async Job Submission
- Submit job with configuration
- Get job ID
- Optionally wait for completion
- Report job status

## Action Triggers

Actions are invoked via `action_trigger` lifecycle blocks in Terraform configurations:

```hcl
action "provider_service_action" "name" {
  config {
    parameter = value
  }
}

resource "terraform_data" "trigger" {
  lifecycl
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Complexity: 22/100
Category: Cloud & DevOps

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