linear-backlog

Executes a scoped Linear backlog as maximal safe parallel batches via orchestrator child threads.

1.2k|81|Updated Sep 5, 2024
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/udecode/dotai --skill linear-backlog
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: linear-backlog
Source: https://github.com/udecode/dotai/tree/main/skills/linear-backlog
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/udecode/dotai --skill linear-backlog

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Manually working through a Linear backlog one issue at a time is slow, and naive parallelization causes merge conflicts, duplicated work, and lost state. This Skill runs a frozen Linear queue autonomously as serial batches with maximal safe parallel execution inside each batch, without asking the user to approve every next step.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Maximal Safe Batch Planning: Builds a conflict graph from dependency-ready issues and includes every ticket that can run concurrently without hard conflicts, never imposing arbitrary lane caps.
  • Durable Parallel Execution: Dispatches each issue to a durable orchestrator child thread with its own disposable worktree, branch, and issue-scoped autogoal, then supervises all lanes concurrently.
  • Queue-Terminal Discipline: Only counts issues as done when merged, verified, and moved to the team's completed state in Linear, with structured blocker classification and safe resume after restarts.
  • Use Case: Point it at a Linear cycle or label containing 20 groomed tickets; it freezes the queue, plans batches, runs implementation lanes in parallel, serializes merges against main, and reports final counts and blockers.

Quick Start

Ask the agent to use $linear-backlog to run a specific Linear project, cycle, or label as maximal safe parallel batches until no eligible work remains.

Frequently Asked Questions about linear-backlog

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I run a Linear backlog in parallel with an AI agent?

Use $linear-backlog run with a scope such as a Linear project, cycle, label, saved view, or explicit issue list. The skill freezes the queue, plans maximal safe parallel batches, and dispatches each issue to a durable orchestrator child thread until no eligible work remains.

How does linear-backlog decide which Linear issues can run in parallel?

It builds a conflict graph from dependency-ready issues and only creates hard-conflict edges for real risks like shared migrations, exclusive runtimes, or incompatible API contract changes. Minor file overlap or expected small merge conflicts become conflict groups, not reasons to serialize.

What tools does linear-backlog require before it can run?

It requires Linear issue read and write tools, the orchestrator skill with durable Codex child-thread tools, autogoal and its goal tools, the destination repo's task skill and AGENTS instructions, plus Git and the repo's normal PR and merge tooling.

Can linear-backlog resume after a restart or context loss?

Yes. On restart it reads the parent goal and ledger, re-reads the frozen Linear issue ids, inspects durable children, worktrees, branches, and PRs, then reconstructs the active batch before continuing. It never duplicates children, branches, PRs, or goals.

When does linear-backlog consider a Linear issue complete?

An issue is queue-terminal only when merged, verified, and moved to the team's completed state, when canceled by an authorized source, or when blocked with evidence, an owner, and a concrete next action. Opening a PR or passing tests alone does not count.

What happens when a Linear issue gets blocked during a batch?

Blockers are classified as dependency-local, lane-local, external-owner, scope-authority, or repo-wide. Independent lanes keep running, evidence and next actions are recorded, and the run only stops for scope-authority or repo-wide blockers that affect the whole queue.