Let's just create a role that populates the Linode inventory..

inventory/linode_inventory.yml

@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-plugin: linode.cloud.linode
-api_token: '{{ lookup("env", "ANSIBLE_PASSWORD") }}'
-regions:
-  - us-east
-instance_tags:
-  - production
-  - k3s

playbooks/inventory/linode_inventory.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+---
+- name: Build Inventory from Linode
+  hosts: localhost
+  gather_facts: false
+
+  roles:
+    - populate_inventory
+
+- name: Test connection to Linode VMs
+  hosts: all
+  gather_facts: false
+
+  tasks:
+    - name: Ping each Linode
+      ansible.builtin.ping
+

roles/inventory/linode_inventory/files/linode_inventory.py

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+import os
+import sys
+import requests
+import json
+
+def main():
+    linode_token = os.getenv("LINODE_API_TOKEN") or os.getenv("ANSIBLE_PASSWORD")
+    if not linode_token:
+        print("Error: LINODE_API_TOKEN or ANSIBLE_PASSWORD environment variable not set.", file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {linode_token}"}
+    response = requests.get("https://api.linode.com/v4/linode/instances", headers=headers)
+
+    if response.status_code != 200:
+        print(f"Error fetching Linode instances: {response.status_code}", file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    linodes = response.json()["data"]
+
+    inventory = {
+        "all": {
+            "hosts": [],
+            "vars": {}
+        },
+        "_meta": {
+            "hostvars": {}
+        }
+    }
+
+    for linode in linodes:
+        hostname = linode["label"]
+        ipv4 = linode["ipv4"]
+
+        if hostname and ipv4:
+            public_ip = ipv4[0]
+            inventory["all"]["hosts"].append(hostname)
+            inventory["_meta"]["hostvars"][hostname] = {
+                "ansible_host": public_ip
+            }
+
+    print(json.dumps(inventory, indent=2))
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()

roles/inventory/linode_inventory/tasks/main.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+---
+- name: Run Linode dynamic inventory script
+  ansible.builtin.command: "{{ playbook_dir }}/roles/inventory/linode_inventory/files/linode_inventory.py"
+  register: linode_inventory_raw
+  changed_when: false
+
+- name: Parse JSON inventory output
+  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+    linode_inventory: "{{ linode_inventory_raw.stdout | from_json }}"
+
+- name: Add Linode hosts dynamically
+  ansible.builtin.add_host:
+    name: "{{ item.key }}"
+    ansible_host: "{{ item.value.ansible_host }}"
+    groups: all
+  loop: "{{ linode_inventory['_meta']['hostvars'] | dict2items }}"
+