linctl

name	linctl
description	Use linctl to read and update Linear issues, projects, teams, users, labels, comments, and agent sessions from the terminal. Prefer JSON reads, validate auth first, and use command-specific --help for exact flags.

linctl Agent Guide

Use this skill when the user wants to inspect or modify Linear data through linctl.

Quick Rules

• Always verify auth before substantive work: linctl auth status or linctl whoami.
• For read operations, prefer --json and parse results with jq when needed.
• Before writing, inspect current state first (get / list --json).
• Use command-specific help for exact flags and validation rules: linctl <command> <subcommand> --help.
• Be explicit with filters; defaults can hide expected results.

High-Impact Gotchas

• issue list, issue search, and project list default to --newer-than 6_months_ago.
• issue list and issue search exclude completed/canceled by default.
• issue search may also need --include-archived for archived matches.
• issue list --cycle current can validly return no rows if no active cycle exists.
• Parent/sub-issue links are set via issue update --parent (not issue create).
• If results look incomplete, retry with:
  • --newer-than all_time
  • --include-completed
  • --include-archived (search)

Auth + Credential Behavior

• Interactive login: linctl auth (or linctl auth login).
• Credentials are stored in ~/.linctl-auth.json.
• LINCTL_API_KEY overrides stored credentials.
• Precedence: LINCTL_API_KEY > ~/.linctl-auth.json.

Core Workflow

1. Confirm identity and access.
2. Discover relevant entities (team key, issue ID, project ID, user email) via list/search with --json.
3. Read exact target with get.
4. Apply changes with create/update/assign/comment/label/agent commands.
5. Re-read target and summarize concrete outcome to the user.

Command Map

• Issues: linctl issue ...
• Projects: linctl project ...
• Teams: linctl team ... (includes state list and state update)
• Users: linctl user ... and linctl whoami
• Comments: linctl comment ...
• Labels: linctl label ...
• Agent Sessions: linctl agent ...
• Auth: linctl auth ...
• Dynamic MCP: linctl mcp ... (sync, tools, call)

Suggested Read Patterns

# Issues assigned to me, no date-limit surprise
linctl issue list --assignee me --newer-than all_time --include-completed --json

# Issues in current cycle (if cycle exists)
linctl issue list --cycle current --limit 20 --json

# Find issue by text, including archived/completed
linctl issue search "<query>" --newer-than all_time --include-completed --include-archived --json

# Project inventory without default date filter
linctl project list --newer-than all_time --json

# Team labels for resolution/validation
linctl label list --team <TEAM_KEY> --json

# Team workflow states
linctl team state list <TEAM_KEY> --json

# Agent session status for an issue
linctl agent <ISSUE_ID> --json

# Dynamic schema-backed tool list and call
linctl mcp sync
linctl mcp tools --json
linctl mcp call query.viewer

Suggested Write Patterns

# Update an issue after inspecting it
linctl issue get LIN-123 --json
linctl issue update LIN-123 --state "In Progress" --assignee me
linctl issue get LIN-123 --json

# Delegate issue to an agent/user
linctl issue update LIN-123 --delegate "<displayName|email|name>"

# Set labels by name/ID, or clear
linctl issue update LIN-123 --labels bug,urgent
linctl issue update LIN-123 --clear-labels

# Attach PR or URL
linctl issue attach LIN-123 --pr https://github.com/org/repo/pull/123
linctl issue attach LIN-123 --url https://example.com/spec --title "Spec"

# List/download issue attachment files and uploads links
linctl issue attachment list LIN-123 --json
linctl issue attachment download LIN-123 --all --output-dir ./downloads
linctl issue get LIN-123 --download-attachments --output-dir ./downloads --json

# Add execution note
linctl comment create LIN-123 --body "Implemented and verified locally."

# Comment lifecycle by comment ID
linctl comment get <COMMENT_ID>
linctl comment update <COMMENT_ID> --body "Updated note"
linctl comment delete <COMMENT_ID>

# Update a workflow state
linctl team state update <STATE_ID> --name "Ready"

# Mention delegated/active agent with message
linctl agent mention LIN-123 "Please pick this up."

Troubleshooting

• Not authenticated: run linctl auth then linctl auth status.
• Empty or partial lists: remove default filters (--newer-than all_time, --include-completed).
• unknown command / unknown flag: binary is old; verify linctl --version and reinstall/upgrade.
• Validation errors on flags: run the exact subcommand help and retry:
  • linctl issue update --help
  • linctl project create --help
  • linctl comment update --help
  • linctl label create --help
  • linctl agent mention --help

Minimal Discovery Commands

linctl --help
linctl issue --help
linctl project --help
linctl team --help
linctl user --help
linctl comment --help
linctl label --help
linctl agent --help
linctl auth --help