Linear MCP Server

Overview

Linear MCP Server Extension for Zed bridges the gap between Linear’s issue‑tracking ecosystem and Claude‑style AI assistants. By exposing Linear as a remote Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, the extension allows developers to query, create, and update issues directly from within Zed’s Agent Panel. This eliminates the need to toggle between a browser and an IDE, streamlining the workflow for teams that rely on Linear for project management.

The server solves a common pain point: context leakage. When an AI assistant is asked to draft a PR description or suggest task priorities, it needs up‑to‑date information about the current sprint, open tickets, and dependencies. Linear MCP provides a lightweight, stateless interface that streams real‑time updates via Server‑Sent Events (SSE), ensuring the assistant always operates on the latest data. Developers can therefore embed Linear’s metadata—labels, assignees, due dates, and comment history—directly into the prompt, enabling more accurate reasoning and richer suggestions.

Key capabilities include:

• Real‑time issue querying: Retrieve lists of issues filtered by status, priority, or tags without leaving the editor.
• Issue manipulation: Create new tickets, update fields, and add comments through simple MCP commands.
• Contextual prompts: Pass Linear data as part of the conversation context, allowing the assistant to reference specific tasks or sprint goals.
• Secure authentication: Use a Linear API key stored in Zed’s configuration, keeping credentials out of the codebase and leveraging Linear’s OAuth scopes.

Typical use cases span the entire development lifecycle. A developer can ask the assistant to “summarize the current sprint backlog” or “generate a merge request title that reflects the issue #1234.” A product manager might request “list all blocked tasks for the next release” and receive a concise table. QA engineers can prompt the assistant to “draft test cases for issue #5678” with direct links back to Linear tickets. Because the server streams updates, any changes made in Linear—such as a status flip or comment addition—are instantly reflected in the AI’s context, reducing stale information.

Integration with existing AI workflows is straightforward. The extension registers a new MCP server in Zed’s configuration, and the Agent Panel automatically discovers it. From there, prompts can reference the server name () and invoke Linear‑specific commands. This modularity means teams can swap in other MCP servers or add additional context sources without rewriting prompts, keeping the AI experience consistent across projects.

In summary, Linear MCP Server Extension for Zed transforms Linear from a standalone web app into an integral part of the AI‑augmented coding environment. By providing real‑time, authenticated access to issue data and enabling seamless manipulation of tickets, it empowers developers, product owners, and QA specialists to make informed decisions faster, all within the familiar confines of their editor.