What command is required the first time you run Terraform in a configuration directory?

The command necessary to execute the first time you run Terraform in a configuration directory is "terraform init." This command initializes a working directory that contains Terraform configuration files. During this initialization process, Terraform performs several essential tasks.

It sets up the backend where the state of your infrastructure will be stored, downloads necessary provider plugins specified in your configuration, and prepares the directory for further Terraform commands. Without running "terraform init," the existing configuration files would lack the necessary context and resources to properly apply any infrastructure changes.

The other commands have specific purposes that come into play after the initialization step. For example, "terraform apply" is used to create or update infrastructure based on configurations after they have been initialized. "terraform validate" checks the configuration files for syntax errors, which should ideally occur only after initialization, and "terraform plan" is used to preview the changes Terraform will make if executed without actually making those changes. Therefore, "terraform init" is the foundational command required to start using Terraform in any new configuration directory.