Add Linear

This skill adds Linear project management tools to host-side Claude Code sessions via the @tacticlaunch/mcp-linear MCP server. Once installed, you can create/update issues, manage projects and cycles, search your backlog, and track workflow states from conversation.

Phase 1: Pre-flight

Check if already configured

grep -q '"linear"' ~/.claude/mcp.json 2>/dev/null && echo "ALREADY_CONFIGURED" || echo "NOT_CONFIGURED"
grep -q "LINEAR_API_TOKEN" ~/deus/.env 2>/dev/null && echo "TOKEN_SET" || echo "NO_TOKEN"

• If both configured and token set, skip to Phase 3 (Verify).
• If configured but no token, skip to Phase 2 step 1 only.
• Otherwise, continue to Phase 2.

Phase 2: Install and Configure

Step 1: Get API token

Tell the user:

I need a Linear Personal API key. This is a one-time setup:

1. Open Linear → Settings → API → Personal API keys
2. Click "Create key", give it a label like "Deus"
3. Copy the token (format: lin_api_...) and paste it here

Once the user provides the token:

Add to ~/deus/.env:

grep -q LINEAR_API_TOKEN ~/deus/.env || echo 'LINEAR_API_TOKEN=<pasted-value>' >> ~/deus/.env

Verify it's gitignored:

cd ~/deus && git check-ignore .env || echo "WARNING: .env is NOT gitignored"

Step 2: Configure MCP

Read ~/.claude/mcp.json, merge the new entry into the existing mcpServers object:

"linear": {
  "command": "/bin/sh",
  "args": ["-c", "set -a && . $HOME/deus/.env && npx -y @tacticlaunch/mcp-linear"]
}

Do not overwrite existing servers.

Step 3: Document

If ~/deus/.env.example does not already have LINEAR_API_TOKEN, add it:

# === Integrations ===
# Linear project management MCP (host-side Claude Code).
# Generate at: Linear Settings → API → Personal API keys
LINEAR_API_TOKEN=

Phase 3: Verify

Tell the user:

Linear MCP is configured. Restart Claude Code (close and reopen the session) for the tools to load.

After restart, test with: "List my Linear teams" — you should see your workspace teams returned via mcp__linear__linear_getTeams.

Available tools include linear_getIssues, linear_createIssue, linear_updateIssue, linear_searchIssues, linear_getCycles, linear_getProjects, and 130+ more.

Removal

1. Remove the "linear" key from ~/.claude/mcp.json
2. Remove LINEAR_API_TOKEN=... from ~/deus/.env
3. Restart Claude Code