Linear
An open-source Model Context Protocol server that enables interaction with the Linear API to manage issues, teams, and comments. It allows users to create, update, and search for issues while accessing workspace users and workflow states.
What is Linear?
Linear is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to open-source model context protocol server that enables interaction with the linear api to manage issues, teams, and comments. it allows users to create, update, and search for issues while accessing w...
An open-source Model Context Protocol server that enables interaction with the Linear API to manage issues, teams, and comments. It allows users to create, update, and search for issues while accessing workspace users and workflow states.
This server falls under the Business Applications category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- An open-source Model Context Protocol server that enables in
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx linear-mcp-serverConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Linear
The Linear MCP Server connects AI assistants like Claude to the Linear project management API, enabling natural language management of issues, teams, comments, and workflow states without opening the Linear web interface. Users can create, search, update, and comment on issues, retrieve team backlogs, check assigned work, and explore workspace-wide data — all through conversational prompts. Engineering teams already using Linear for issue tracking will find this server especially useful for quick issue triage, status updates, and project status checks from within their AI-assisted workflows.
Prerequisites
- A Linear account with at least one team workspace
- A Linear API key (from linear.app/YOUR-TEAM/settings/api)
- Node.js 18+ installed
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop
Obtain a Linear API key
Log in to Linear, navigate to your team's Settings, then to the API section, and create a new personal API key. Copy the key — you will not be able to view it again after leaving the page.
Install via Smithery (recommended)
The easiest installation method is via the Smithery CLI, which automatically configures Claude Desktop for you.
npx @smithery/cli install linear-mcp-server --client claudeOr configure Claude Desktop manually
If you prefer manual setup, add the server entry directly to your Claude Desktop config file. On macOS this is at `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`.
{
"mcpServers": {
"linear": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "linear-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"LINEAR_API_KEY": "your_linear_api_key_here"
}
}
}
}Restart Claude Desktop
Close and reopen Claude Desktop to load the new MCP server. You should see the Linear integration available in the tools panel.
Retrieve your team ID for issue creation
Ask Claude to list your Linear teams to find the team ID you'll need when creating issues. Store it for frequent use.
Linear Examples
Client configuration
Manual Claude Desktop configuration for the Linear MCP Server using your LINEAR_API_KEY.
{
"mcpServers": {
"linear": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "linear-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"LINEAR_API_KEY": "lin_api_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
After connecting, use these natural language prompts to manage your Linear workspace through Claude:
- "Show me all open issues assigned to me in Linear"
- "Create a new bug report titled 'Login page crashes on mobile' with high priority in the Frontend team"
- "Search for all issues labeled 'performance' that are still in progress"
- "Update issue ENG-234 status to 'In Review' and add a comment summarizing what was done"
- "List all issues in the backlog for the Backend team sorted by priority"Troubleshooting Linear
Authentication error: 'Invalid API key' when starting the server
Double-check your Linear API key in the config. Keys start with `lin_api_`. Regenerate a new key from linear.app/YOUR-TEAM/settings/api if needed and update the claude_desktop_config.json `LINEAR_API_KEY` value.
Issue creation fails with 'team not found'
You must provide the team's internal ID (a UUID like `a1b2c3d4-...`), not the team's display name. Ask Claude to list your teams first to retrieve the correct team ID before creating issues.
Search returns no results even though issues exist
Search queries are case-sensitive and match against issue titles and descriptions. Try broader search terms or filter by team and status separately. The default limit is 10 results — specify a higher limit if you need more results returned.
Frequently Asked Questions about Linear
What is Linear?
Linear is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that open-source model context protocol server that enables interaction with the linear api to manage issues, teams, and comments. it allows users to create, update, and search for issues while accessing workspace users and workflow states. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Linear?
Follow the installation instructions on the Linear GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Linear?
Linear works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Linear free to use?
Yes, Linear is open source and available under the MIT License license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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