Linear Skill for Claude Code

A comprehensive Claude Code skill for managing Linear issues, projects, and teams. Provides patterns for MCP tools, SDK automation, and GraphQL API access.

Features

• esbuild Pre-compilation — 18x faster CLI startup (~50ms vs ~1s) with transparent tsx fallback via shared scripts/run.sh
• Label Taxonomy System — Domain-based labels for consistent categorization and agent routing
• First-Time Setup Check — Automatic configuration validation with actionable guidance
• High-Level Operations — Simple commands for initiatives, projects, and status updates
• Sub-Issue Management — Create and manage parent-child issue relationships
• Discovery Before Creation — Mandatory checks to prevent duplicate projects/issues
• MCP Tool Integration — Simple operations via Linear MCP server
• SDK Automation — Complex operations with TypeScript scripts
• GraphQL API — Direct API access for advanced queries
• Project Management — Content, descriptions, milestones, resource links
• Bulk Sync — Synchronize code changes with Linear via CLI, agents, or hooks
• Image Uploads — Upload images to Linear's S3 storage and attach to issues
• Smoke Tests — Automated verification of build output and CLI behavior
• lin CLI Integration — Optional fast-path via aaronkwhite/linear-cli Rust binary with silent SDK fallback

Quick Start (New Users)

1. Install the Skill

git clone https://github.com/wrsmith108/linear-claude-skill ~/.claude/skills/linear
cd ~/.claude/skills/linear && npm install

2. Run Setup Check

npm run setup

This checks your configuration and tells you exactly what's missing.

3. Get Your API Key (If Needed)

1. Open Linear in your browser
2. Go to Settings → Security & access → Personal API keys
3. Click Create key and copy it (starts with lin_api_)
4. Add to your environment:

# Add to shell profile
echo 'export LINEAR_API_KEY="lin_api_your_key_here"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

4. Verify It Works

npm run ops -- whoami

You should see your name and organization.

5. Build for Faster Startup (Optional)

npm run build

Pre-compiles TypeScript to JavaScript for ~18x faster CLI cold starts. Without building, commands still work via tsx (slower but functional).

6. Start Using It

# Create an initiative
npm run ops -- create-initiative "My Project"

# Create a project
npm run ops -- create-project "Phase 1" "My Project"

# Create a sub-issue under a parent
npm run ops -- create-sub-issue ENG-100 "Add tests" "Unit tests for feature"

# Set parent-child relationships for existing issues
npm run ops -- set-parent ENG-100 ENG-101 ENG-102

# Update issue status
npm run ops -- status Done ENG-123 ENG-124

# See all commands
npm run ops -- help

---

Installation

# Clone directly to your skills directory
git clone https://github.com/wrsmith108/linear-claude-skill ~/.claude/skills/linear
cd ~/.claude/skills/linear && npm install

Prerequisites