You can use several methods to interact with Google Cloud and yourresources. The methods you choose can depend on your preferences, your companyworkflows, and your goals.
The following are example interaction methods:
- Google Cloud console: Use a web-based graphical user interface.
- Google Cloud CLI: Write commands and scripts.
- Cloud Client Libraries: Create your own application.
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Standardize resourcedeployment.
Use the browser-based Google Cloud console
If you prefer to manage your Google Cloud projects and resources through agraphical user interface, use the browser-based Google Cloud console.
Use the Google Cloud console to perform a variety of management andadministrative tasks, including the following:
- Manage resources.
- Store, query, and process data.
- Connect to virtual machines (VMs).
- Analyze activity.
- Diagnose production issues.
- Deploy easy-to-launch solutions.
For more information, see Google Cloud console.
Write commands and create scripts
If you prefer to manage development and workflows on the command line or throughautomated scripts, use the Google Cloud CLI. Use theGoogle Cloud CLI to perform tasks efficiently and at scale. For example, youmight do the following:
- Create a script to push a file to all VMs.
- Simulate backend data with a data emulator to help you efficiently writeclient-side code.
- Deploy serverless code.
Run gcloud commands using the following methods:
Install the Google Cloud CLI, which lets you run commands ina terminal window on your local computer.
Use the browser-based Cloud Shell, which doesn'trequire local installation. Open Cloud Shell from theGoogle Cloud console to use the followingfeatures:
- A temporary Compute Engine VM instance.
- A built-in code editor.
- Persistent disk storage.
- Pre-installed gcloud CLI, Terraform, and other tools.
- Language support for Java, Go, Python, Node.js, PHP, Ruby and .NET.
- Web preview.
- Built-in authorization for access to Google Cloud console projects andresources.
For more information about Cloud Shell, seeHow Cloud Shell works.
For a list of gcloud commands, as well as flags and examples, see thegcloud reference.
Develop your own application using Cloud Client Libraries
If you want to create your own applications to manage resources, useCloud Client Libraries to access Google Cloud APIs.
Cloud Client Libraries provide the following benefits to help you build yourapplication:
- Use conventions that are specific to your preferred language.
- Use a consistent style across services.
- Handle authentication.
For an overview, see Cloud Client Libraries explained.
Scale resource provisioning and management with Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the process of provisioning and managinginfrastructure using code instead of graphical user interfaces or command-linescripts.
Your company's administrators and architects might use IaC to obtain thefollowing benefits:
- Incorporate your change management process.
- Test and audit as you make changes.
- Store configurations in source control.
- Standardize your infrastructure.
Google Cloud is integrated with several IaC tools. For example, you might use Terraform to provision and manage your infrastructurethrough human-readable configuration files that you can version, reuse, andshare.
For an overview of IaC and a list of tools you can use with Google Cloud, see Infrastructure as Code on Google Cloud.
