# Azure Bicep

> domain-specific declarative language for defining Azure resources

**Wikidata**: [Q123193699](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123193699)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/azure-bicep

## Summary
Azure Bicep is a domain-specific declarative language developed by Microsoft for defining Azure resources. It is utilized as an infrastructure-as-code solution, allowing users to manage and provision Azure infrastructure through code rather than manual processes. The language is free, open-source software licensed under the MIT License.

## Key Facts
- **Developer:** Created and developed by Microsoft.
- **Category:** Domain-specific language (DSL) and declarative programming language.
- **Primary Use:** Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for defining Azure resources.
- **License:** MIT License (Copyrighted).
- **Source Repository:** Hosted at `github.com/Azure/bicep`.
- **Twitter Handle:** `@BicepLang`.
- **Version History:** Includes stable releases such as v0.3.1 (released March 2, 2021), v0.4.1 (released June 1, 2021), and v0.5.6 (released April 8, 2022).
- **Documentation:** Official user manuals and FAQs are hosted on `learn.microsoft.com` and the GitHub repository.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Azure Bicep used for?
A: Azure Bicep is used for implementing "infrastructure as code." It allows developers and IT professionals to declaratively define the Azure resources they need, which simplifies the management and deployment of cloud infrastructure.

### Q: Is Azure Bicep free to use?
A: Yes, Azure Bicep is free and open-source software released under the MIT License. The source code is publicly available on GitHub.

### Q: Where can I find the official documentation for Azure Bicep?
A: The official user manual is available at `https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/bicep/overview`. Additional information and a FAQ are located in the project's GitHub repository.

## Why It Matters
Azure Bicep matters because it streamlines the process of managing Azure infrastructure, addressing the complexity often associated with raw Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates. As a domain-specific language (DSL), it provides a cleaner, more readable syntax compared to the JSON format typically required for ARM templates, reducing the boilerplate code needed for deployments.

By treating infrastructure as code, Bicep allows teams to version control their infrastructure, ensuring consistency across development, testing, and production environments. Its status as an open-source project under the permissive MIT License encourages community adoption and transparency, while its backing by Microsoft ensures tight integration with the Azure ecosystem.

## Notable For
- **Declarative Syntax:** Unlike imperative scripting, Bicep describes the *desired state* of the infrastructure, allowing the Azure platform to handle the "how" of the deployment.
- **Microsoft Integration:** Being developed by Microsoft, it offers first-party support and native integration with Azure services.
- **Open Source Transparency:** The project is fully open-source, allowing users to view the code, track issues, and contribute via GitHub.
- **Infrastructure as Code (IaC):** It is a key tool in the modern DevOps landscape for automating cloud resource provisioning.

## Body
### Development and Classification
Azure Bicep is classified as a domain-specific language (DSL) and a declarative programming language. It was created by Microsoft to serve as a transparent abstraction over Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates. The project is identified as free and open-source software (FOSS).

### Licensing and Availability
The language is distributed under the **MIT License**. While the software is open-source, it maintains a copyrighted status. The primary source code repository is hosted on GitHub at `https://github.com/Azure/bicep`.

### Version History
The development of Azure Bicep has seen regular updates, with several stable versions released throughout 2021 and 2022. Key stable release dates include:
- **v0.3.1:** Released March 2, 2021.
- **v0.4.1:** Released June 1, 2021.
- **v0.4.613:** Released August 10, 2021.
- **v0.5.6:** Released April 8, 2022.

### Resources and Support
Official support and educational resources are provided by Microsoft.
- **User Manual:** Detailed documentation is available in English at `https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/bicep/overview`.
- **Issue Tracking:** Bug reports and feature requests are managed via the GitHub issues page.
- **FAQ:** A Frequently Asked Questions section is maintained within the GitHub repository's README and on the official Microsoft Learn site.

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/blob/main/LICENSE)
2. [Release 0.3.1. 2021](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.3.1)
3. [Release 0.3.126. 2021](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.3.126)
4. [Release 0.3.255. 2021](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.3.255)
5. [Release 0.3.539. 2021](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.3.539)
6. [Release 0.4.1. 2021](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.4.1)
7. [Release 0.4.63. 2021](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.4.63)
8. [Release 0.4.412. 2021](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.4.412)
9. [Release 0.4.451. 2021](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.4.451)
10. [Release 0.4.613. 2021](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.4.613)
11. [Release 0.5.6. 2022](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.5.6)
12. [Release 0.6.1. 2022](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.6.1)
13. [Release 0.6.11. 2022](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.6.11)
14. [Release 0.6.18. 2022](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.6.18)
15. [Release 0.7.4. 2022](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.7.4)
16. [Release 0.8.2. 2022](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.8.2)
17. [Release 0.8.9. 2022](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.8.9)
18. [Release 0.9.1. 2022](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.9.1)
19. [Release 0.10.13. 2022](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.10.13)
20. [Release 0.10.61. 2022](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.10.61)
21. [Release 0.11.1. 2022](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.11.1)
22. [Release 0.12.1. 2022](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.12.1)
23. [Release 0.12.40. 2022](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.12.40)
24. [Release 0.13.1. 2022](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.13.1)
25. [Release 0.14.6. 2023](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.14.6)
26. [Release 0.14.46. 2023](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.14.46)
27. [Release 0.14.85. 2023](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.14.85)
28. [Release 0.15.31. 2023](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.15.31)
29. [Release 0.16.1. 2023](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.16.1)
30. [Release 0.16.2. 2023](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.16.2)
31. [Release 0.17.1. 2023](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.17.1)
32. [Release 0.18.4. 2023](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.18.4)
33. [Release 0.19.5. 2023](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.19.5)
34. [Release 0.20.4. 2023](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.20.4)
35. [Release 0.21.1. 2023](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.21.1)
36. [Release 0.22.6. 2023](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.22.6)
37. [Release 0.23.1. 2023](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.23.1)
38. [Release 0.24.24. 2023](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.24.24)
39. [Release 0.25.3. 2024](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.25.3)
40. [Release 0.25.53. 2024](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.25.53)
41. [Release 0.26.54. 2024](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.26.54)
42. [Release 0.26.170. 2024](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.26.170)
43. [Release 0.27.1. 2024](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.27.1)
44. [Release 0.28.1. 2024](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.28.1)
45. [Release 0.29.45. 2024](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.29.45)
46. [Release 0.29.47. 2024](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.29.47)
47. [Release 0.30.3. 2024](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.30.3)
48. [Release 0.30.23. 2024](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.30.23)
49. [Release 0.31.34. 2024](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.31.34)
50. [Release 0.31.92. 2024](https://github.com/Azure/bicep/releases/tag/v0.31.92)