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Linear MCP Server

MCP server to manage Linear issues, projects, and teams with API key authentication and rich text project descriptions.

Installation

Add the following to your MCP client configuration file.

Configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cline-linear-mcp": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/path/to/linear-mcp/build/index.js"
      ],
      "env": {
        "LINEAR_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

You have a dedicated MCP server that lets you manage Linear issues, projects, and teams through a simple, local integration. It supports secure API key authentication, rich text project descriptions, and bulk operations, all accessible from your MCP client.

How to use

You will run the MCP server locally and connect it from your MCP client. The server exposes a set of actions to create, update, delete, and search Linear issues; manage projects and teams; and perform bulk operations. Authentication is handled with an API key, stored securely in the environment for each run.

How to install

Prerequisites: make sure you have Node.js and npm installed on your machine.

Step 1: Install dependencies

npm install

Step 2: Copy the environment example to your working environment file

pc .env.example .env

Step 3: Build and start the server

npm run build
npm start

Configuration and usage notes

API key authentication is recommended. You will provide your Linear Personal API key to the server so it can perform actions on your Linear workspace.

Rich text descriptions for projects are supported through Linear's documentContent field, with a safe fallback to legacy description when needed. When you query a project description, you get an actualDescription value that prioritizes rich content.

If you intend to run the MCP server as part of your local workflow, you can expose it through a local file-based command that your MCP client can start and monitor.

Security and environment

The server uses environment variables to configure access. The primary variable shown is LINEAR_API_KEY, which should contain your Linear personal access token.

Notes and troubleshooting

If you need to run in a different environment, ensure the LINEAR_API_KEY is accessible to the process and that the build has completed before starting the server.

Available actions overview

You can manage issues, projects, and teams through the MCP server. The server supports creation, updates, deletions, searches, and relationships between issues and projects, as well as comments and bulk operations.

Available tools

createIssue

Create a new Linear issue with full field support (title, description, team, project, etc.).

updateIssue

Update an existing Linear issue, including priority and description.

deleteIssue

Delete a single issue or perform bulk deletions.

searchIssues

Search for issues with filtering options.

associateIssueWithProject

Associate an issue with one or more projects.

createParentChild

Create parent/child relationships between issues.

readComments

Read issue comments and threaded comments.

createComment

Create new comments on issues.

readProject

Get project information, including rich text descriptions via documentContent.

searchProject

Search projects with rich text description support.

getTeamInfo

Get team information, including states and workflow details.

getTeamStates

Access team states and labels.

bulkCreateIssues

Bulk creation of issues for large imports.

bulkDeleteIssues

Bulk deletion of issues.

getProjectDescription

Utility to access project descriptions with automatic fallback from rich content to legacy content.