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ZawilecxD
ZawilecxDCOMMUNITY
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start-linear-issue

Creates a git branch from a Linear issue identifier and sets the issue to In Progress.

Updated May 20, 2026
Search Tags:#workflow automation#mcp#issue tracking#linear#branch naming#status update#git branch
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/ZawilecxD/trAInR --skill start-linear-issue-zawilecxd
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: start-linear-issue
Source: https://github.com/ZawilecxD/trAInR/tree/main/.cursor/skills/start-linear-issue
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/ZawilecxD/trAInR --skill start-linear-issue-zawilecxd

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Starting work on a Linear issue involves repetitive manual steps: looking up the issue, deriving a clean branch name, creating the git branch, and updating the issue status. This Skill automates that handoff so branch naming stays consistent and Linear always reflects actual work in progress. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Issue Resolution and Branching: Parses identifiers like ZAW-5 from the user's message, fetches the issue via Linear MCP, and creates a kebab-case branch derived from the Linear gitBranchName or issue title. - Git State Safety Checks: Detects uncommitted changes and non-default base branches, warning the user before branching from an unexpected base. - Status Synchronization: Moves the issue to In Progress via the Linear MCP save_issue tool, optionally assigning the current user. - Use Case: A developer says "let's start working on ZAW-8" and immediately gets a correctly named local branch checked out from master with the Linear issue moved to In Progress. ## Quick Start Ask the assistant to start working on a specific Linear issue by its identifier, for example "start working on ZAW-5".

Frequently Asked Questions about start-linear-issue

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I create a git branch from a Linear issue?▼

Provide the issue identifier like ZAW-5 and the skill fetches the issue via Linear MCP, derives a kebab-case branch name from the Linear gitBranchName or issue title, and runs git checkout -b. The issue is then moved to In Progress automatically.

How to update a Linear issue status to In Progress automatically?▼

The skill calls the Linear MCP save_issue tool with the issue id and the resolved In Progress state name for the issue's team. It can also set the assignee to me if the user requests self-assignment.

What happens if I start a Linear issue from a non-default branch?▼

The skill warns that the new branch will be created from the current branch instead of master, then asks whether to continue, switch to master first, or abort. No branch is created until the user chooses.

Does this skill work without the Linear MCP connected?▼

No, it requires the Linear MCP integration (user-Linear) with get_issue, save_issue, and list_issue_statuses tools. Without it, the issue lookup and status update steps cannot run.

What branch naming convention does it use for Linear issues?▼

It uses short flat names like zaw-8-client-onboarding, stripping any username prefix from Linear's gitBranchName. If no title is available, it falls back to just the lowercase identifier such as zaw-5.

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