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Build Your Own Provider with Pyvider

Once you are comfortable experimenting with the pyvider Terraform provider, the next step is to build a provider that matches your own APIs and workflows. This guide outlines a pragmatic path from exploration to a working Python-based provider.

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1. Set up your development environment

  • Install Python 3.11+ (Pyvider targets modern Python features).
  • Add uv to manage dependencies.
  • Clone the pyvider framework so you can reference the examples and API docs offline if needed.
uv init my-provider
cd my-provider
uv add pyvider

2. Start from a minimal provider skeleton

Create a provider module and register it with Pyvider:

# my_provider/__init__.py
from pyvider.providers import BaseProvider, register_provider

@register_provider("mycloud")
class MyCloudProvider(BaseProvider):
    """Configure access to the MyCloud API."""
    pass

Run pyvider's quick start tutorial or copy the Minimal provider example to get the full project layout (entrypoint, packaging metadata, and CLI wrappers).

3. Model your capabilities

Break your provider into capability modules that group related functionality:

  • Resources manage objects or call imperative operations in your system.
  • Data sources read state or fetch reference data.
  • Functions offer helper utilities directly in Terraform expressions.

Study similar components in pyvider-components and adapt their schemas and handlers. The examples cover patterns such as CRUD lifecycles, async API calls, validation, and computed attributes.

4. Implement handlers with async Python

  • Use the async apply, read, update, and delete hooks on resources to integrate with HTTP APIs, SDKs, or local scripts.
  • Return structured state objects and Diagnostics so Terraform understands the results.
  • Add pytest-based tests early—Pyvider makes it straightforward to simulate provider interactions without running Terraform.

5. Package and distribute

  • Use pyvider build (or the packaging scripts in this repository) to produce a Terraform-compatible binary.
  • Ship the binary via your internal artifact store or publish to a registry.
  • Document the provider just like this project does—MkDocs works well and keeps Terraform-style documentation familiar.

6. Keep learning

  • Follow the Pyvider documentation for deeper dives into architecture, testing, and advanced features.
  • Explore more sophisticated examples in pyvider-components (streaming updates, structured logging, jq usage).
  • Share what you build! Opening discussions or PRs in the Pyvider ecosystem helps the framework grow.

Ready to keep exploring here? Jump back to the provider tour or check out troubleshooting tips as you prototype.