Purpose

Query Linear to verify planning/implementation status of components/features. Returns evidence-based status levels using issue data from Linear.

When to Use

•Directly invoked: /linear-check authentication
•Checking issue status for a component
•Verifying planning and tracking status
•When invoked by other skills (like /project-status)

Input

Component or feature name(s) to verify. Examples:

•/linear-check authentication
•/linear-check user-dashboard payments

Note: Component searches are case-insensitive.

Authentication

Step 1: Check Linear MCP Availability

The Linear MCP server is preferred because it handles authentication via OAuth.

Check if Linear MCP tools are available by attempting to use a Linear MCP tool. If the tool responds successfully, use MCP for all queries.

Step 2: Fallback to API Token

If Linear MCP is unavailable, fall back to LINEAR_API_TOKEN environment variable from .env.local:

bash

# .env.local
LINEAR_API_TOKEN=lin_api_xxxxxxxxxxxx

Also ensure .entourage/repos.json has the team configuration:

json

{
  "linear": {
    "teamName": "Team",
    "workspace": "my-workspace"
  }
}

Note: teamName accepts team name ("My Team"), team key ("TEAM"), or UUID.

Use curl with the token for GraphQL queries:

bash

curl -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: $TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"query": "..."}'

MCP Detection Protocol

When executing queries, follow this detection flow:

•Attempt MCP tool call (e.g., mcp__linear__list_issues)
•
Check response:
- •If successful response with data → Continue using MCP
- •If error "MCP not available" or tool not found → Fall back to API
- •If auth error from MCP → Fall back to API token from config

Example detection:

code

Attempting: mcp__linear__list_teams
├── Success → Use MCP for all operations
└── Failure → Check LINEAR_API_TOKEN env var from .env.local

Configuration Discovery

Step 1: Check for Config File

Use the Read tool to check if .entourage/repos.json exists.

If the file does not exist:

code

> No repository configuration found. Create `.entourage/repos.json` with your Linear settings.

Step 2: Extract Linear Config

Look for linear section in the config:

json

{
  "linear": {
    "token": "lin_api_...",
    "teamName": "My Team",
    "workspace": "my-workspace"
  }
}

Step 3: No Linear Configuration

If no linear section exists and MCP is unavailable:

code

> No Linear configuration found. Either configure Linear MCP or add `linear` section to `.entourage/repos.json`.

Linear API Queries

For each component/feature, run these queries:

Using MCP (Preferred)

Resolve team identifier: Before querying issues, resolve the configured teamName to a valid team:

•Call list_teams to get available teams
•Match configured teamName against team name, key, or UUID
•Use the matched team's name for all subsequent queries

This allows users to configure any of: team key ("TEAM"), team name ("My Team"), or UUID.

Important: The Linear MCP team parameter only accepts team name or UUID, not team keys. Always resolve keys via list_teams first.

Search issues by component name: Use the list_issues MCP tool with the query parameter set to the component name and the resolved team name from config.

Get issue details: Use the get_issue MCP tool with the issue ID.

Get team's workflow states: Use the list_issue_statuses MCP tool with the resolved team name.

Using API Token (Fallback)

Linear uses a GraphQL API at https://api.linear.app/graphql.

Search issues by component name:

graphql

query SearchIssues($term: String!) {
  searchIssues(term: $term, first: 20) {
    nodes {
      identifier
      title
      state {
        name
        type
      }
      assignee {
        name
      }
      updatedAt
      url
    }
  }
}

Get team's workflow states:

graphql

query TeamStates($teamKey: String!) {
  team(id: $teamKey) {
    id
    name
    states {
      nodes {
        name
        type
        position
      }
    }
  }
}

Example curl command:

bash

curl -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
  -H "Authorization: lin_api_YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "query": "query { searchIssues(term: \"authentication\", first: 20) { nodes { identifier title state { name type } } } }"
  }'

Evidence Synthesis

Apply this decision tree to determine component status based on Linear issue state:

code

1. Issue state type is "completed"?
   YES -> Status: Done (High confidence)

2. Issue state type is "started" AND state name contains "review"?
   YES -> Status: In Review (High confidence)

3. Issue state type is "started"?
   YES -> Status: In Progress (High confidence)

4. Issue state type is "unstarted" AND state name is "Todo"?
   YES -> Status: Todo (High confidence)

5. Issue state type is "backlog"?
   YES -> Status: Backlog (High confidence)

6. Issue state type is "triage"?
   YES -> Status: Triage (High confidence)

7. Issue state type is "canceled"?
   YES -> Status: Canceled (High confidence)

8. No Linear issue found?
   -> Status: Unknown
   -> Output: "No Linear issue found for this component."

State Type Mapping

Linear uses these state types:

•triage - Issues needing review before acceptance
•backlog - Accepted but not scheduled
•unstarted - Scheduled/ready to start (includes "Todo")
•started - Work in progress (includes "In Progress", "In Review")
•completed - Done
•canceled - Won't fix, duplicate, etc.

Error Handling

MCP Not Available, No Token

code

> Linear MCP not configured and no API token found. Configure Linear MCP or add LINEAR_API_TOKEN to `.env.local`.

Token Invalid/Expired

If API returns authentication error:

code

> Linear API error: Authentication failed. Check LINEAR_API_TOKEN in `.env.local`.

Rate Limited

If API returns rate limit error:

code

> Linear API rate limit reached. Try again later.

Team Not Found

If team identifier is invalid:

code

> Linear team not found. Check `teamName` in `.entourage/repos.json`.

Output Format

With Linear Configuration

markdown

## Linear Scan: [Component Name]

| Issue | Status | State | Assignee | Last Updated |
|-------|--------|-------|----------|--------------|
| TEAM-123 | In Progress | In Progress | @user | 2025-01-10 |

### Linear Details

**TEAM-123:** "Implement authentication flow"
- Status: In Progress
- Assignee: @user
- Updated: Jan 10, 2025
- URL: https://linear.app/my-workspace/issue/TEAM-123

Without Linear Configuration

markdown

## Linear Scan

No Linear configuration found. Either:
1. Configure Linear MCP server, or
2. Add `linear` section to `.entourage/repos.json`:

{
  "linear": {
    "token": "lin_api_...",
    "teamName": "My Team",
    "workspace": "my-workspace"
  }
}

Multiple Components

When checking multiple components, output a summary table followed by details:

markdown

## Linear Scan Summary

| Component | Status | Issue | State | Confidence |
|-----------|--------|-------|-------|------------|
| auth | In Progress | TEAM-123 | In Progress | High |
| dashboard | Backlog | TEAM-456 | Backlog | High |
| payments | Unknown | - | - | - |

### Details

[Per-component Linear details...]

Example

Query: /linear-check authentication

Output:

markdown

## Linear Scan: authentication

| Issue | Status | State | Assignee | Last Updated |
|-------|--------|-------|----------|--------------|
| TEAM-123 | In Progress | In Progress | @alice | 2025-01-10 |

### Linear Details

**TEAM-123:** "Implement Clerk authentication"
- Status: In Progress
- State: In Progress (started)
- Assignee: @alice
- Updated: Jan 10, 2025
- URL: https://linear.app/my-workspace/issue/TEAM-123

After Output

This skill returns results to the calling context (usually /project-status). Do not stop execution. Continue with the next step in the workflow or TODO list.