How to Use Linear for Startups
Linear is a fast, modern issue‑tracking platform that helps startups turn ideas into shipped code. This guide walks you through setting up Linear, creating projects, running sprints, and automating common workflows. Follow the steps, copy the code snippets, and watch your team move faster.
Table of contents
- 1. Quick account setup
- 2. Organizing work with projects
- 3. Running sprints and milestones
- 4. Connecting GitHub, Slack, and other tools
- 5. Automation rules and webhooks
- 6. Migrating from Jira or Trello
- 7. Frequently asked questions
1. Quick account setup
1.1 Create a free workspace
Visit linear.app and click “Start free”. Enter your company name, your email, and choose a password. Linear will send a verification link; click it to activate the workspace.
1.2 Invite your team
In the left sidebar, go to Settings → Team. Click “Invite members”, paste the email addresses, and assign the “Member” role. The free tier supports up to five users.
2. Organizing work with projects
2.1 Create a project for each product line
Click the “+ New Project” button in the sidebar. Give it a clear name, e.g., “Mobile App”. Choose a color that matches your brand for quick visual scanning.
2.2 Set up issue templates
Linear lets you define default fields for bugs, features, and chores. Go to Settings → Templates**. Add a template called “Feature Request” with fields:
- Title (short description)
- Description (markdown)
- Priority (P0‑P3)
- Estimate (in hours)
2.3 Example project hierarchy
| Project | Issue Type | Typical Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile App | Feature | Product Manager |
| Mobile App | Bug | QA Engineer |
| API Service | Chore | DevOps |
3. Running sprints and milestones
3.1 Enable sprints
Open Settings → Workflow and toggle “Enable sprints”. Choose a sprint length – two weeks works for most early‑stage startups.
3.2 Create your first sprint
In the “Backlog” view, click “Create sprint”. Name it “Sprint 1 – MVP Core”. Drag high‑priority issues into the sprint column. Use the “Estimate” field to keep total hours under 200 (roughly two developers full‑time).
3.3 Track progress with burndown
Linear automatically draws a burndown chart. Open the sprint, then click the “Burndown” tab. If the line stays above the ideal slope, you’re over‑committing.
4. Connecting GitHub, Slack, and other tools
4.1 GitHub integration
Navigate to Settings → Integrations → GitHub. Click “Connect”. Select the organization and repositories you want to link. After connecting, you can reference Linear issues in commit messages using #ISSUE_NUMBER. Example:
git commit -m "Fix login bug #123"The commit will appear on the issue timeline and move the issue to “In Review” if you enable the automation rule.
4.2 Slack notifications
Go to Settings → Integrations → Slack. Choose a channel, e.g., #linear-updates. Turn on “New issue”, “Status change”, and “Comment” notifications. This keeps the whole team informed without leaving Slack.
4.3 Zapier and custom webhooks
If you need a niche integration, Linear offers a webhook endpoint. Create a new webhook that POSTs JSON to https://yourdomain.com/linear-hook. Sample payload:
{
"event":"IssueCreated",
"data":{
"id":"ISSUE-456",
"title":"Add dark‑mode toggle",
"assignee":"alice@example.com"
}
}5. Automation rules and webhooks
5.1 Built‑in rule: Auto‑move on PR merge
Open Settings → Automation**. Add a rule:
- Trigger: “Pull request merged”
- Action: “Change status to Done”
- Filter: Project = Mobile App
This eliminates manual status updates after a merge.
5.2 Custom rule: Notify on high‑priority bugs
Use the “Custom webhook” action. Set trigger to “Issue created” where Priority = P0. The webhook payload can be sent to a PagerDuty endpoint to create an incident.
5.3 Code snippet for a simple Node.js webhook receiver
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
app.use(express.json());
app.post('/linear-hook', (req, res) => {
const {event, data} = req.body;
if(event === 'IssueCreated' && data.priority === 'P0'){
// Send to Slack
// (use your Slack webhook URL)
}
res.sendStatus(200);
});
app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Webhook server running'));6. Migrating from Jira or Trello
6.1 Export from Jira
In Jira, go to Filters → Export → CSV (All fields). Save the file.
6.2 Import into Linear
Open Linear, click Settings → Import → CSV. Map the columns:
- Summary → Title
- Description → Description
- Issue Type → Issue Type
- Priority → Priority
- Story Points → Estimate
Click “Import”. Linear will create the issues in the selected project.
6.3 Verify data integrity
After import, run a quick filter for “P0” issues to ensure critical bugs arrived correctly. Fix any mismatched fields manually.
7. Frequently asked questions
What is Linear and why should startups use it?
Linear is an issue‑tracking and project‑management tool built for software teams. Startups benefit from its fast UI, built‑in sprints, and powerful API that lets you automate workflows without hiring a PM specialist.
How much does Linear cost for a small team?
Linear offers a free tier for up to 5 users with unlimited issues. The Starter plan costs $8 per user per month and adds unlimited sprints, integrations, and advanced reporting.
Can Linear integrate with GitHub and Slack?
Yes. Linear has native GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket integrations that automatically link commits to issues. The Slack integration posts issue updates to a channel you choose.
Is it possible to import existing Jira tickets into Linear?
Yes. Linear provides a CSV import tool and a migration script that reads Jira’s export format. The process usually takes 10‑15 minutes for a typical startup backlog.
How do I set up automation rules in Linear?
Automation is built into the Settings → Automation page. You can create rules like “When a PR is merged, move the issue to Done” using a simple dropdown UI or a custom webhook.
Conclusion – Linear gives startups a sleek, low‑overhead way to track work, run sprints, and automate repetitive steps. By following the steps above you can launch a workspace, connect your code repository, and start shipping features faster. Keep the backlog tidy, monitor the burndown, and let automation handle the grunt work.