Linear MCP Server: Seamless Integration for AI Applications

Overview: What is Linear MCP Server?

The Linear MCP Server is a custom implementation designed to provide tools for interacting with Linear's API, enabling AI agents such as Claude Desktop, Continue, and Cursor to manage issues, projects, and teams within the Linear platform. This server acts as an adapter, allowing these applications to seamlessly connect and perform operations programmatically through a standardized Model Context Protocol.

🔧 Core Features & MCP Capabilities

The Linear MCP Server offers robust features that enhance interaction with the Linear platform:

Issue Management

Creating New Issues: Customizable properties allow for detailed issue creation, including title, description, team, assignee, priority, and labels.
Issue Listing: Flexible filtering options enable retrieval of issues based on team, assignee, and status.
Updating Existing Issues: Modify existing issues by updating their title, description, status, assignee, or priority.

Team Management

Listing Teams: Retrieve comprehensive details about all teams in the workspace, including ID, name, key, and description.

Project Management

Project Listings: View detailed project information across optional team filters.
Configuration Details: Access projects by filtering based on their associated teams and status.

These capabilities are implemented using the Model Context Protocol (MCP), ensuring compatibility with various AI applications that adhere to this standard.

⚙️ MCP Architecture & Protocol Implementation

The Linear MCP Server is built using TypeScript and leverages both the Linear SDK and MCP SDK for robust API interactions. It adheres to the following protocol flow:

graph TD
    A[AI Application] -->|MCP Client| B[MCP Protocol]
    B --> C[MCP Server]
    C --> D[Data Source/Tool]
    style A fill:#e1f5fe
    style C fill:#f3e5f5
    style D fill:#e8f5e8

This architecture ensures seamless communication between the AI application and the Linear data sources.

🚀 Getting Started with Installation

To get started with the Linear MCP Server, follow these steps:

Acquire Your API Key: Retrieve your API key from Linear's Developer Settings.

Run the Application:

LINEAR_API_KEY=your-api-key npx @ibraheem4/linear-mcp

Alternatively, set it in your environment:

export LINEAR_API_KEY=your-api-key
npx @ibraheem4/linear-mcp

Development Setup:
- Clone the repository and navigate into the project directory.
- Install dependencies using npm.
```
git clone [repository-url]
cd linear-mcp
npm install
```
- Build the project with:
```
npm run build
```
Using the Inspector (for local development and debugging):
- Install supergateway for better control over server interactions.
```
npm install -g supergateway
```
- Run the application using a provided script:
```
chmod +x run.sh
LINEAR_API_KEY=your-api-key ./run.sh
```
Access the MCP Inspector by visiting localhost:1337.

💡 Key Use Cases in AI Workflows

Workflow 1: Issue Assignment and Tracking for AI Teams

An AI team managing multiple projects and issues can use the Linear MCP Server to automate task assignments, track progress, and manage priorities. This integration ensures that all team members receive timely updates on issue statuses, contributing to efficient project management.

Workflow 2: Project Management for Collaborative Projects

Collaborative projects across different teams and roles benefit from automated project tracking. The server allows setting up custom workflows where each AI agent can assign tasks, update progress, and manage dependencies with ease. This enhances collaboration among team members by keeping everyone in sync.

🔌 Integration with MCP Clients

The Linear MCP Server is compatible with popular MCP clients such as Claude Desktop (both MacOS and Windows), Continue, and Cursor. While Cursor only supports tool integration, other clients support full-fledged AI application integration.

MCP Client Compatibility Matrix

MCP Client	Resources	Tools	Prompts
Claude Desktop	✅	✅	✅
Continue	✅	✅	✅
Cursor	❌	✅	❌

MCP Configuration Code Sample

Here’s a sample configuration snippet to integrate the Linear MCP Server with Claude Desktop:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "linear-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@ibraheem4/linear-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "LINEAR_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      },
      "disabled": false,
      "alwaysAllow": []
    }
  }
}

📊 Performance & Compatibility Matrix

The Linear MCP Server is optimized for high performance and seamless integration with various AI applications. Here’s an overview of its compatibility matrix:

AI Client: The server supports full compatibility with Claude Desktop, Continue, and Cursor.
Tool Integration: All tools can be integrated via the API endpoints provided by the server.

🛠️ Advanced Configuration & Security

Environment Variables

Environment variables are crucial for secure and flexible operation. Set these in your environment to ensure smooth execution:

export LINEAR_API_KEY=your-api-key-here

Use this with your chosen method of starting the server (local development, production, etc.).

Error Handling

The Linear MCP Server is built with comprehensive error handling mechanisms, including validation for API keys and parameter checks. Detailed error messages are returned to ensure easy debugging during integration.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I customize issue fields or labels?
- A: Yes, the server allows customization of issue properties such as title, description, assignee, priority, and labels.
Q: How do I handle user authentication for the API key?
- A: Store your API keys securely in environment variables or use a secure vault solution to avoid hardcoding them.
Q: What happens if the Linear API is down or experiencing issues?
- A: The server will return appropriate error messages indicating downtime, helping you troubleshoot and notify users.
Q: Can I list multiple projects at once?
- A: Yes, specify team IDs to filter project listings or use default values for broad queries.
Q: How can I ensure data privacy during API requests?
- A: Always handle sensitive information securely using HTTPS and secure environment variables.

👨‍💻 Development & Contribution Guidelines

Local Development

Clone the repository:

git clone [repository-url]
cd linear-mcp

Install dependencies and build the project:
```
npm install
npm run build
```
Run the application with auto-rebuild for development purposes.
```
npm run watch
```

Code Conventions

Follow TypeScript conventions and ensure all code is well-documented.
Commit messages should be clear and descriptive.

🌐 MCP Ecosystem & Resources

Explore more about MCP servers and AI application integrations within the Model Context Protocol ecosystem. Join communities, forums, and developer resources to stay updated with the latest trends in AI development.

By leveraging the Linear MCP Server, developers can build robust AI applications that seamlessly integrate with Linear's capabilities, enhancing productivity and efficiency across project management workflows.

Linear MCP Server