This document serves as an introduction to declarative cloud infrastructure management using Terraform, specifically within the context of Linode cloud services. It begins by explaining the fundamental concepts of infrastructure as code (IaC) and then introduces Terraform as a popular tool for this purpose, emphasizing its declarative approach and ability to manage infrastructure across multiple cloud providers. The text outlines how Terraform works, its core components like the HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL), and essential commands for provisioning and managing resources, including a focus on integrating with Linode’s platform. Furthermore, it contrasts Terraform with configuration management tools like Ansible, explores automation options, and discusses advanced topics such as managing Kubernetes and importing existing infrastructure, ultimately positioning Terraform as a key tool for efficient and scalable cloud management.