Skip to main content

What You'll Build

A comprehensive project management workflow that lets you create, update, and manage Linear issues, projects, and team workflows from natural-language prompts. Automate sprint planning, bug triage, feature tracking, and status reporting – perfect for engineering teams using Linear for project management.

​
What You’ll Learn

This cookbook teaches you to:
  • Connect the Linear MCP to Continue for seamless issue management
  • Create and update Linear issues, projects, and cycles through AI prompts
  • Automate project workflows including sprint planning and bug triage
  • Generate status reports and project insights directly from your Linear workspace

​
Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:
1

Continue CLI Setup

Install the Continue CLI:
npm i -g @continuedev/cli
Verify installation:
cn --version
Need help with CLI setup? Check our CLI guide for detailed instructions.
2

Linear Account Requirements

Agent usage requires credits – create a Continue API key at hub.continue.dev/settings/api-keys and store it as a secret.
3

Generate Linear API Key

  1. Go to Linear Settings > API
  2. Click Create new API key
  3. Give it a descriptive name (e.g., “Continue MCP Integration”)
  4. Select appropriate scopes (read/write access to issues, projects, teams)
  5. Copy the generated API key
This token is your LINEAR_API_KEY secret. Store it securely – you won’t be able to view it again.
4

Add Secrets to Continue Hub

  1. Open Continue Hub Secrets
  2. Click + New Secret and add:
    • Key: LINEAR_API_KEY → Value: lin_api_... (Your Linear API key)
    • Key: CONTINUE_API_KEY → Value: cont_api_... (Your Continue API key)
Continue’s secure storage means secrets are available in any prompt as $LINEAR_API_KEY etc.

​
Linear Continuous AI Workflow Options

🚀 Fastest Path to Success

Skip the manual setup and use our pre-built Linear agent that includes optimized prompts, issue management rules, and the Linear MCP for more consistent project management results.
To use the pre-built agent, you need either:
  • Continue CLI Pro Plan with the models add-on, OR
  • Your own API keys added to Continue Hub secrets
The agent will automatically detect and use your configuration.

​
Example Prompts & Workflows

Now you can use natural language prompts to automate Linear workflows. The Continue agent automatically calls the appropriate Linear MCP tools.

Bug Report Creation

Prompt:
Create a bug report for the API timeout issue in the checkout flow.
Include steps to reproduce, assign to backend team, and set priority
to high. Add labels for 'api' and 'checkout'.

Feature Planning

Prompt:
Create a new project for the mobile app redesign. Add issues for
user research, wireframes, component library updates, and
implementation phases. Set up a 6-week cycle.

Sprint Review

Prompt:
Generate a sprint summary for the current cycle. Show completed
issues, blocked items, and velocity metrics. Create a document
with team accomplishments and next priorities.

Code-Based Issue Creation

Prompt:
Scan the codebase for TODO and FIXME comments in the last 30 days.
Create Linear issues for each one with the code context,
file location, and estimated complexity.

​
Advanced Project Management Workflows

​
Multi-Tool Integration

Combine Linear with other tools for powerful automation:

Linear + GitHub

"Analyze merged PRs this week and create Linear issues for
any technical debt mentioned in PR descriptions. Link back
to the original PRs and assign to code owners."

Linear + Notion

"Export completed Linear issues from this sprint to create
a release notes document in Notion with feature summaries
and user impact descriptions."
See the Notion Integration Guide

Automated Triage

🎯 Smart Workflow:
"Review all unassigned issues created in the last 24 hours.
Categorize by team (Frontend, Backend, Design), set appropriate
priorities based on user impact, and assign to team leads."

Cycle Planning

"Create next sprint's cycle in Linear. Move high-priority
issues from the backlog, balance workload across team members,
and set realistic story point targets based on last cycle's velocity."

​
Common Use Cases

  • Daily Standup Automation
  • Bug Triage Assistant
  • Release Planning
Automate your daily standup reports:
cn "Generate my standup update: show issues I worked on yesterday, 
what I'm planning today, and any blockers. Include progress on 
current cycle goals."
The agent will:
  • Query your assigned issues
  • Check recent activity and comments
  • Identify blocked or in-review items
  • Format a standup-ready summary

​
Security Best Practices

Protect Your API Keys:
  • Treat LINEAR_API_KEY like a password → rotate regularly
  • Use minimal required scopes for your use case
  • Store secrets in Continue Hub, never commit to git
  • Monitor API usage for unusual activity
  • Review team member access permissions regularly

​
What You’ve Built

After completing this guide, you have a complete AI-powered Linear automation system that:
  • Automates issue management - Create, update, and triage issues with natural language
  • Streamlines project planning - Set up cycles, projects, and milestones efficiently
  • Enhances team collaboration - Generate reports, updates, and documentation automatically
  • Integrates with your workflow - Connect Linear data with other tools and repositories

Continuous AI

Your system now operates at Level 2 Continuous AI - AI handles routine project management tasks with human oversight through review and approval of generated issues and updates.

​
Next Steps

  • Set up GitHub Actions to automatically create Linear issues from failed CI/CD runs
  • Integrate with Slack for real-time issue notifications and updates
  • Create custom templates for different issue types and project structures
  • Explore cross-tool workflows connecting Linear with GitHub, Notion, or analytics tools

​
Resources

Linear MCP Hub

View the Linear MCP on Continue Hub with setup instructions.

Continue CLI Reference

A complete guide to using the Continue CLI with project management workflows.

Pre-built Linear Agent

Access the pre-built agent optimized for Linear workflows.

Linear API Documentation

Complete Linear API reference and integration guides.
Happy project managing!
⌘I