Linear MCP Server
Linear issue management, search, and updates for AI-driven project workflows.
Data last scanned yesterday · Reviewed 2 months ago
Overview
Linear MCP Server allows LLMs to interact directly with the Linear API, providing tools for creating, updating, searching, and commenting on project issues. It supports filtering by status, assignee, or priority, enabling AI assistants to manage task tracking through natural language commands.
Our verdict
The Linear MCP Server carries a high-risk score of 36/100, primarily because the project is officially deprecated and unmaintained, with the last commit occurring over 455 days ago. Furthermore, it lacks a read-only mode and grants full write access to your Linear account without OAuth support. Users should avoid this repository and instead migrate to the official Linear remote MCP server provided by the vendor.
- Uses only four direct dependencies for a smaller supply chain surface
- Provides documented tools for issue creation, search, and updates
- Project is officially deprecated and unmaintained
- Lacks read-only mode, exposing all connected issues to write operations
- No OAuth support detected for secure authentication
Setup
{
"mcpServers": {
"linear-mcp-server": {
"args": [
"-y",
"linear-mcp-server"
],
"command": "npx"
}
}
}Paste into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows), then restart Claude Desktop. Some servers require API keys or tokens as environment variables — check the project's README and add an "env" object if needed.
- No read-only mode — running this grants full read/write access.
- No built-in authentication — anyone with access to this config can invoke every tool it exposes.
Tools
| Tool | Description | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| linear_create_issue | Create a new Linear issues | medium |
| linear_update_issue | Update existing issues | medium |
| linear_search_issues | Search issues with flexible filtering | low |
| linear_get_user_issues | Get issues assigned to a user | low |
| linear_add_comment | Add comments to issues | medium |
Compatibility
| Client | Local | Docker | Remote | Read-only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | ||||
| Claude Desktop | ||||
| Cursor | ||||
| VS Code | ||||
| Windsurf |
Frequently asked questions
›Is this server still supported?
No, this MCP server is deprecated and no longer maintained. Users are advised to switch to the official Linear remote MCP server.
›What authentication is required to use this server?
You must obtain a Linear API key for your team from your team's settings page and provide it via the LINEAR_API_KEY environment variable.
›Can I use markdown in issue descriptions or comments?
Yes, both the linear_create_issue tool and the linear_add_comment tool support markdown for body text.
›What happens if I omit the userId in linear_get_user_issues?
If the userId is omitted, the server will default to retrieving issues assigned to the currently authenticated user.
Alternatives
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