What are the two types of domain-specific languages (DSLs) for configuration management?

The classification of domain-specific languages (DSLs) into imperative/procedural and declarative/intentional is rooted in the fundamental ways these languages approach configuration management.

Imperative or procedural DSLs focus on explicitly detailing the steps that must be performed to achieve a desired state. This means they instruct the system on how to change the current state, providing a sequence of actions or commands. An example of an imperative DSL is Ansible when using procedural playbooks, where the user specifies the exact commands or processes to execute.

In contrast, declarative or intentional DSLs focus on the desired end state rather than the steps to reach that state. With this approach, users specify what the configuration should look like, and the underlying system takes care of determining how to achieve that configuration. An example of a declarative DSL is Terraform, where users define the infrastructure they want, and the software handles the implementation details.

This distinction between how the languages communicate intent (whether through step-by-step commands or by specifying end results) is vital for understanding configuration management systems and how they automate tasks in cloud environments. This understanding guides practitioners in choosing the right tools based on their needs for automation and system management.