linear mcp

Overview

Linear MCP is the official Model Context Protocol (MCP) server provided by Linear (linear.app). It offers a secure, standardized interface that lets AI agents and LLMs interact with Linear's project management system via the Linear GraphQL API.

With Linear MCP, agents can seamlessly search issues, create new tasks, update statuses, add comments, manage projects, and perform other operations — all through natural language prompts in tools like Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, and other MCP-compatible clients.

Linear hosts the server centrally (authenticated remote MCP), making setup simple and eliminating the need to run your own instance in most cases.

Features

• Issue Management: Search, create, update, and retrieve issues with full support for titles, descriptions, labels, assignees, priorities, and statuses.
• Project & Team Operations: Work with projects, teams, cycles, and roadmaps.
• Comments & Collaboration: Add comments, reply to threads, and attach context to issues.
• Bulk & Advanced Actions: Support for complex queries and updates via Linear's robust GraphQL backend.
• Secure Authentication: Uses Linear API keys with proper scoping and permissions.
• MCP Compliance: Follows the latest MCP specification with tool discovery, structured outputs, and seamless client integration.
• Native Support: Deep integration in Claude, Cursor, and other leading AI coding/development environments.

Use Cases

• AI-Driven Issue Creation: While coding or brainstorming, tell your agent "Create a high-priority bug issue for the login flow with these details" — it handles everything in Linear.
• Status Updates & Tracking: Ask "Update the status of issue ENG-123 to In Progress and assign to the backend team".
• Context Enrichment: Pull relevant issues, comments, or project details into conversations to maintain long-term project awareness.
• Workflow Automation: Combine with other MCP servers (e.g., Memory MCP, Playwright MCP, or Postgres MCP) for end-to-end development automation.
• Team Productivity: Let AI assist with triage, reporting, or standup updates by interacting directly with Linear data.

Installation & Quick Start

For Claude Desktop / Web (Recommended)

Linear provides native integration for Claude users. Simply connect your Linear workspace through Claude settings or the official Linear MCP server endpoint. No manual server setup required for supported plans.

For Cursor and Other Clients

Use the official remote MCP server URL or configure via tools like mcp-remote for backwards compatibility.

Manual / Self-Hosted (Community Options)

Several open-source implementations exist (e.g., tacticlaunch/mcp-linear, tiovikram/linear-mcp) if you prefer running locally:

LINEAR_API_KEY=your_key_here npx @ibraheem4/linear-mcp

Add the server to your client's MCP configuration (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json or Cursor settings) with the command and environment variables.

Full setup instructions are available in the Linear MCP documentation.

Why Linear MCP?

Linear is already a favorite for fast-moving engineering teams. The official MCP server turns it into a first-class tool for AI agents, allowing seamless collaboration between humans and AI without context switching or manual copy-pasting. It reduces friction in issue tracking and keeps project context alive across sessions when paired with memory solutions.

Security & Best Practices

• Use dedicated API keys with minimal required scopes.
• Review permissions carefully when granting access to AI agents.
• For sensitive workspaces, consider approval workflows in client tools.
• Monitor usage through Linear's audit logs.

Links

• Official Documentation: linear.app/docs/mcp
• Claude Integration: linear.app/integrations/claude
• Linear Main Site: linear.app

Linear MCP represents one of the most polished and production-ready integrations in the MCP ecosystem, making AI a true teammate in modern product development workflows.