Azure Resource Manager vs Google Cloud Deployment Manager: What are the differences?

Azure Resource Manager (ARM) and Google Cloud Deployment Manager (CDM) are both infrastructure-as-code (IaC) tools that allow users to define and manage cloud resources in a declarative way. While they have similar functionalities, there are several key differences between ARM and CDM.

1. Multicloud Support: Azure Resource Manager is specific to the Azure cloud, while Google Cloud Deployment Manager is designed for the Google Cloud Platform. This means that ARM can only be used to manage resources in Azure, while CDM supports multiple cloud providers. CDM can be used to manage resources across Google Cloud, AWS, and even on-premises systems.

2. Language and Syntax: Azure Resource Manager uses JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) for defining resource templates, which can be complex and challenging for beginners to understand. On the other hand, Google Cloud Deployment Manager uses YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language), which is considered more human-readable and easier to work with.

3. Deployment and Updates: In Azure Resource Manager, resources can be deployed and updated as a single unit known as a resource group. This can be advantageous when managing related resources together. In Google Cloud Deployment Manager, resources are deployed and updated individually, which provides more flexibility but requires extra management overhead.

4. Resource Types: Azure Resource Manager supports a wide range of resource types specific to the Azure platform, including virtual machines, storage accounts, and virtual networks. Google Cloud Deployment Manager has its own set of resource types, such as compute instances, storage buckets, and networking resources. The resource types and their capabilities may vary between the two tools.

5. Integration with Other Services: Azure Resource Manager integrates tightly with other Azure services, such as Azure Active Directory for authentication and authorization. Google Cloud Deployment Manager similarly integrates with Google Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM) for managing access controls. The specific integrations and capabilities may differ between the two tools.

6. Community and Ecosystem: Azure Resource Manager has a large and mature community of users and a well-established ecosystem of third-party tools and libraries. Google Cloud Deployment Manager, while gaining popularity, may have a smaller community and less extensive ecosystem. This can impact the availability of resources, tutorials, and support.

In Summary, Azure Resource Manager is focused on Azure cloud and supports JSON for defining resource templates, while Google Cloud Deployment Manager is more versatile, supporting multiple cloud providers and using YAML for configurations. The two tools also differ in deployment and update methods, supported resource types, integrations, and community support.