Mutable and Immutable Infrastructure are two opposing approaches to managing infrastructure in a software development and deployment process.
Mutable Infrastructure:
- In this approach, infrastructure components (such as servers, databases, networks, etc.) are updated and modified in place as needed, usually via manual configuration or automated scripts.
- This approach is flexible, as it allows for quick changes, however, it can also lead to configuration drift, errors, and security vulnerabilities as changes can be made that are not documented or tested.
Immutable Infrastructure:
- This approach involves treating infrastructure components as disposable and creating new instances instead of modifying existing ones.
- This leads to a more predictable and consistent infrastructure, as components are always in a known state and changes can be tested and validated before deployment.
- However, this approach can be more time-consuming and complex as it requires more coordination between different components.
Both approaches have their use cases and trade-offs, and the choice between them often depends on the specific needs of an organization or project.