Linear

Linear MCP Server exposes a set of MCP tools that bridge Claude or other MPC clients with Linear's GraphQL API. It authenticates using a Linear API key and provides capabilities to retrieve data such as issues, projects, teams, and users, as well as to create, update, comment on issues, and manage projects and labels. Use the provided tools to perform common Linear operations directly from your AI assistant, enabling workflows like creating new issues, updating statuses, assigning tasks, adding comments, and organizing work within teams.

To use the server, install the MCP server package (via npx or your preferred method) and start it with your Linear API key. If you are integrating with Claude Desktop or another MPC client, configure the client to connect to the Linear MCP Server via the transport settings (stdio or equivalent) and provide the API token either as a command-line argument or environment variable. Once connected, invoke the available MCP tools to interact with Linear data through natural language prompts or structured tool calls.

Prerequisites:

• Node.js v18+ installed on your machine
• npm or yarn available
• A Linear API key with appropriate permissions

Installation options:

1. Smithery installation (recommended):

npx -y @smithery/cli install @emmett.deen/linear-mcp-server --client claude

2. Manual configuration (npm-based):

• Install the package globally or locally

# Global installation (option A)
npm install -g @emmett.deen/linear-mcp-server

# Local installation (option B)
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/Linear-MCP-Server.git
cd Linear-MCP-Server
npm install

3. Running the server directly with your API key:

# Start with token (if supported by the package)
# Example depending on setup:
linear-mcp-server --token YOUR_LINEAR_API_TOKEN

4. Environment-based usage (alternative):

export LINEAR_API_KEY=YOUR_LINEAR_API_TOKEN
linear-mcp-server

5. If using npx approach (as in the main configuration example):

npx -y @emmett.deen/linear-mcp-server

Notes:

• Ensure your API key is kept secret and not committed to version control.
• If building from source, install dependencies and build before starting the server.
• For local development, you can use npm run dev to start in development mode.

Tips and caveats:

• The server authenticates with a Linear API key rather than OAuth for simplicity.
• When configuring Claude or other MPC clients, ensure the transport settings match the server's expected connection type (stdio for local processes).
• If you rotate your Linear API key, update theLINEAR_API_KEY in your environment or settings.
• Use the provided Tools documentation (TOOLS.md) to learn about the full list of available MCP tools and their usage.
• If you encounter rate limits or GraphQL quota issues, consider staggering requests or caching results where appropriate.
• For troubleshooting, start the server in development mode (npm run dev) to get verbose logs and easier debugging.