Using templates and includes

Nginx templates and includes are pivotal for efficient configuration management and server organization. These tools enable the creation of modular, reusable configurations, particularly beneficial in intricate setups.

Templates, featuring placeholders provide a standardized structure. By employing the include directive, common settings are stored in separate files, promoting clarity and easing maintenance.

This approach proves especially valuable in diverse server configurations, enhancing readability and scalability while allowing dynamic customization.

1. Include directive:
Includes in Nginx allow you to include the content of one file into another. This is useful for breaking down your configuration into smaller, manageable pieces. To use includes, you typically employ the include directive.

   server {
       listen 80;
       server_name example.com;

       include /path/to/common-settings.conf;
       include /path/to/ssl-settings.conf;
       include /path/to/location-settings/*.conf;
       
       # ... other server configuration ...
   }

Here, the include directive is used to bring in the content from separate files. This helps keep the configuration modular and easier to maintain.

2. Template:
While Nginx itself doesn't have a built-in templating system like some other web servers, you can create templates using a combination of variables and includes. Essentially, you define variables that act as placeholders and then use includes to replace those placeholders with actual values.

   # /path/to/templates/server-template.conf
   server {
       listen 80;
       server_name {{SERVER_NAME}};
       root {{DOCUMENT_ROOT}};

       location / {
           index index.html;
       }

       # ... other location-specific configuration ...
   }

Then, in your actual server configuration, you can use includes and replace the variables:

   server {
       include /path/to/templates/server-template.conf;
       
       set $SERVER_NAME example.com;
       set $DOCUMENT_ROOT /var/www/html/example;

       # ... other server-specific configuration ...
   }

In this example, {{SERVER_NAME}} and {{DOCUMENT_ROOT}} are placeholders in your template, and you replace them with actual values in your server-specific configuration.

It's important to note that this is not a true template engine, but it provides a way to achieve a similar result in a modular fashion.

Using includes and templates can make your Nginx configuration more modular, easier to manage, and scalable. It's a good practice to organize your configuration files based on functionality or purpose, making it easier to maintain and understand, especially as your server configuration grows.