Linear

---
name: linear
description: '用于管理 Linear issues、项目、团队和协作状态。'
zh_description: "用于管理 Linear issue、项目、状态流转和工程协作。"
version: "2.0.3"
author: "seaworld008"
source: "adapted-from-hermes-agent"
source_url: "https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/3636f64540a3d80c8425f195f46e53e940956cba/skills/productivity/linear/SKILL.md"
license: "MIT"
tags: '["graphql", "issues", "linear", "mcp", "productivity", "project-management"]'
created_at: "2026-03-04"
updated_at: "2026-09-22"
quality: 4
complexity: "intermediate"
metadata:
short-description: 'Manage Linear with GraphQL API first, MCP second'
---

# Linear — Issue & Project Management

Manage Linear issues, projects, and teams directly via the GraphQL API using `curl`. No MCP server, no OAuth flow, no extra dependencies.

## Setup

1. Get a personal API key from **Linear Settings > Account > Security & access > Personal API keys** (URL: https://linear.app/settings/account/security). Note: the org-level *Settings > API* page only shows OAuth apps and workspace-member keys, not personal keys.
2. Set `LINEAR_API_KEY` in your environment (via `hermes setup` or your env config)

## API Basics

- **Endpoint:** `https://api.linear.app/graphql` (POST)
- **Auth header:** `Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY` (no "Bearer" prefix for API keys)
- **All requests are POST** with `Content-Type: application/json`
- **Both UUIDs and short identifiers** (e.g., `ENG-123`) work for `issue(id:)`

Base curl pattern:
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ viewer { id name } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

## Connector and API Selection

Use the host's connected Linear tools when they cover the requested operation.
The standalone Python helper referenced by older copies is not bundled and is
unavailable at this skill's archived upstream commit; use the GraphQL examples
below when a connector is unavailable.

Keep credentials in the environment and out of reports or committed files.
Read the response's `errors` field as well as the HTTP status.
Resolve team, workflow state and project identifiers before mutation.
Paginate `pageInfo.hasNextPage` with `endCursor` when listing large collections.
Write issues or comments only within the user's requested scope.

## Workflow States

Linear uses `WorkflowState` objects with a `type` field. **6 state types:**

| Type | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `triage` | Incoming issues needing review |
| `backlog` | Acknowledged but not yet planned |
| `unstarted` | Planned/ready but not started |
| `started` | Actively being worked on |
| `completed` | Done |
| `canceled` | Won't do |

Each team has its own named states (e.g., "In Progress" is type `started`). To change an issue's status, you need the `stateId` (UUID) of the target state — query workflow states first.

**Priority values:** 0 = None, 1 = Urgent, 2 = High, 3 = Medium, 4 = Low

## Common Queries

### Get current user
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ viewer { id name email } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### List teams
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ teams { nodes { id name key } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### List workflow states for a team
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ workflowStates(filter: { team: { key: { eq: \"ENG\" } } }) { nodes { id name type } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### List issues (first 20)
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ issues(first: 20) { nodes { identifier title priority state { name type } assignee { name } team { key } url } pageInfo { hasNextPage endCursor } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### List my assigned issues
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ viewer { assignedIssues(first: 25) { nodes { identifier title state { name type } priority url } } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### Get a single issue (by identifier like ENG-123)
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ issue(id: \"ENG-123\") { id identifier title description priority state { id name type } assignee { id name } team { key } project { name } labels { nodes { name } } comments { nodes { body user { name } createdAt } } url } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### Search issues by text
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ issueSearch(query: \"bug login\", first: 10) { nodes { identifier title state { name } assignee { name } url } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### Filter issues by state type
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ issues(filter: { state: { type: { in: [\"started\"] } } }, first: 20) { nodes { identifier title state { name } assignee { name } } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### Filter by team and assignee
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ issues(filter: { team: { key: { eq: \"ENG\" } }, assignee: { email: { eq: \"user@example.com\" } } }, first: 20) { nodes { identifier title state { name } priority } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### List projects
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ projects(first: 20) { nodes { id name description progress lead { name } teams { nodes { key } } url } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### List team members
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ users { nodes { id name email active } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### List labels
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ issueLabels { nodes { id name color } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

## Common Mutations

### Create an issue
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "query": "mutation($input: IssueCreateInput!) { issueCreate(input: $input) { success issue { id identifier title url } } }",
    "variables": {
      "input": {
        "teamId": "TEAM_UUID",
        "title": "Fix login bug",
        "description": "Users cannot login with SSO",
        "priority": 2
      }
    }
  }' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### Update issue status
First get the target state UUID from the workflow states query above, then:
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "mutation { issueUpdate(id: \"ENG-123\", input: { stateId: \"STATE_UUID\" }) { success issue { identifier state { name type } } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### Assign an issue
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "mutation { issueUpdate(id: \"ENG-123\", input: { assigneeId: \"USER_UUID\" }) { success issue { identifier assignee { name } } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### Set priority
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "mutation { issueUpdate(id: \"ENG-123\", input: { priority: 1 }) { success issue { identifier priority } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### Add a comment
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "mutation { commentCreate(input: { issueId: \"ISSUE_UUID\", body: \"Investigated. Root cause is X.\" }) { success comment { id body } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### Set due date
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "mutation { issueUpdate(id: \"ENG-123\", input: { dueDate: \"2026-04-01\" }) { success issue { identifier dueDate } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### Add labels to an issue
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "mutation { issueUpdate(id: \"ENG-123\", input: { labelIds: [\"LABEL_UUID_1\", \"LABEL_UUID_2\"] }) { success issue { identifier labels { nodes { name } } } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### Add issue to a project
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "mutation { issueUpdate(id: \"ENG-123\", input: { projectId: \"PROJECT_UUID\" }) { success issue { identifier project { name } } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

### Create a project
```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "query": "mutation($input: ProjectCreateInput!) { projectCreate(input: $input) { success project { id name url } } }",
    "variables": {
      "input": {
        "name": "Q2 Auth Overhaul",
        "description": "Replace legacy auth with OAuth2 and PKCE",
        "teamIds": ["TEAM_UUID"]
      }
    }
  }' | python3 -m json.tool
```

## Documents

Linear **Documents** are prose docs (RFCs, specs, notes) stored alongside issues. They have their own `documents` root query and `document(id:)` single-fetch.

### Document URLs and `slugId`

Document URLs look like:
```
https://linear.app/<workspace>/document/<slug>-<hexSlugId>
```

The trailing hex segment is the `slugId`. Example: `https://linear.app/nousresearch/document/rfc-hermes-permission-gateway-discord-38359beef67c` → `slugId` is `38359beef67c`.

**Important schema detail:** the Markdown body is in the `content` field. The ProseMirror JSON is in `contentState` (not `contentData` — that field does not exist and the API returns 400).

### Fetch a document by slugId

`document(id:)` only accepts UUIDs. To fetch by the URL's hex slug, filter the collection:

```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "query($s: String!) { documents(filter: { slugId: { eq: $s } }, first: 1) { nodes { id title content contentState slugId url creator { name } project { name } updatedAt } } }", "variables": {"s": "38359beef67c"}}' \
  | python3 -m json.tool
```

Or via the Python helper:
```bash
python3 scripts/linear_api.py get-document 38359beef67c
```

### Fetch a document by UUID

```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ document(id: \"11700cff-b514-4db3-afcc-3ed1afacba1c\") { title content url } }"}' \
  | python3 -m json.tool
```

### List recent documents

```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ documents(first: 25, orderBy: updatedAt) { nodes { id title slugId url updatedAt project { name } } } }"}' \
  | python3 -m json.tool
```

### Search documents by title

Linear's schema has no `searchDocuments` root. Use a title-substring filter instead:

```bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ documents(filter: { title: { containsIgnoreCase: \"RFC\" } }, first: 25) { nodes { title slugId url } } }"}' \
  | python3 -m json.tool
```

## Pagination

Linear uses Relay-style cursor pagination:

```bash
# First page
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ issues(first: 20) { nodes { identifier title } pageInfo { hasNextPage endCursor } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool

# Next page — use endCursor from previous response
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $LINEAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "{ issues(first: 20, after: \"CURSOR_FROM_PREVIOUS\") { nodes { identifier title } pageInfo { hasNextPage endCursor } } }"}' | python3 -m json.tool
```

Default page size: 50. Max: 250. Always use `first: N` to limit results.

## Filtering Reference

Comparators: `eq`, `neq`, `in`, `nin`, `lt`, `lte`, `gt`, `gte`, `contains`, `startsWith`, `containsIgnoreCase`

Combine filters with `or: [...]` for OR logic (default is AND within a filter object).

## Typical Workflow

1. **Query teams** to get team IDs and keys
2. **Query workflow states** for target team to get state UUIDs
3. **List or search issues** to find what needs work
4. **Create issues** with team ID, title, description, priority
5. **Update status** by setting `stateId` to the target workflow state
6. **Add comments** to track progress
7. **Mark complete** by setting `stateId` to the team's "completed" type state

## Rate Limits

- 5,000 requests/hour per API key
- 3,000,000 complexity points/hour
- Use `first: N` to limit results and reduce complexity cost
- Monitor `X-RateLimit-Requests-Remaining` response header

## Important Notes

- Always use `terminal` tool with `curl` for API calls — do NOT use `web_extract` or `browser`
- Always check the `errors` array in GraphQL responses — HTTP 200 can still contain errors
- If `stateId` is omitted when creating issues, Linear defaults to the first backlog state
- The `description` field supports Markdown
- Use `python3 -m json.tool` or `jq` to format JSON responses for readability