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name: linear-install-auth description: | Install and configure Linear SDK/CLI authentication. Use when setting up a new Linear integration, configuring API keys, or initializing Linear in your project. Trigger with phrases like "install linear", "setup linear", "linear auth", "configure linear API key", "linear SDK setup". allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash(npm:), Bash(pnpm:), Bash(yarn:*), Grep version: 1.0.0 license: MIT author: Jeremy Longshore jeremy@intentsolutions.io

Linear Install & Auth

Overview

Set up Linear SDK and configure authentication credentials for API access.

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+ (Linear SDK is TypeScript/JavaScript only)
• Package manager (npm, pnpm, or yarn)
• Linear account with API access
• Personal API key or OAuth app from Linear settings

Instructions

Step 1: Install SDK

# npm
npm install @linear/sdk

# pnpm
pnpm add @linear/sdk

# yarn
yarn add @linear/sdk

Step 2: Generate API Key

1. Go to Linear Settings > API > Personal API keys
2. Click "Create key"
3. Copy the generated key (shown only once)

Step 3: Configure Authentication

# Set environment variable
export LINEAR_API_KEY="lin_api_xxxxxxxxxxxx"

# Or create .env file
echo 'LINEAR_API_KEY=lin_api_xxxxxxxxxxxx' >> .env

Step 4: Verify Connection

import { LinearClient } from "@linear/sdk";

const client = new LinearClient({ apiKey: process.env.LINEAR_API_KEY });
const me = await client.viewer;
console.log(`Authenticated as: ${me.name} (${me.email})`);

Output

• Installed @linear/sdk package in node_modules
• Environment variable or .env file with API key
• Successful connection verification output

Error Handling

Error	Cause	Solution
Authentication failed	Invalid or expired API key	Generate new key in Linear settings
Invalid API key format	Key doesn't start with lin_api_	Verify key format from Linear
Rate limited	Too many requests	Implement exponential backoff
Module not found	Installation failed	Run npm install @linear/sdk again
Network error	Firewall blocking	Ensure outbound HTTPS to api.linear.app

Examples

TypeScript Setup

import { LinearClient } from "@linear/sdk";

const linearClient = new LinearClient({
  apiKey: process.env.LINEAR_API_KEY,
});

// Verify connection
async function verifyConnection() {
  try {
    const viewer = await linearClient.viewer;
    console.log(`Connected as ${viewer.name}`);
    return true;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Linear connection failed:", error);
    return false;
  }
}

OAuth Setup (for user-facing apps)

import { LinearClient } from "@linear/sdk";

// OAuth tokens from your OAuth flow
const client = new LinearClient({
  accessToken: userAccessToken,
});

Resources

• Linear API Documentation
• Linear SDK Reference
• Linear API Settings

Next Steps

After successful auth, proceed to linear-hello-world for your first API call.