---

name: linear-sdk-patterns description: | TypeScript/JavaScript SDK patterns and best practices for Linear. Use when learning SDK idioms, implementing common patterns, or optimizing Linear API usage. Trigger with phrases like "linear SDK patterns", "linear best practices", "linear typescript", "linear API patterns", "linear SDK idioms". allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Grep version: 1.0.0 license: MIT author: Jeremy Longshore jeremy@intentsolutions.io

Linear SDK Patterns

Overview

Essential patterns and best practices for working with the Linear SDK.

Prerequisites

• Linear SDK installed and configured
• TypeScript project setup
• Understanding of async/await patterns

Core Patterns

Pattern 1: Client Singleton

// lib/linear.ts
import { LinearClient } from "@linear/sdk";

let client: LinearClient | null = null;

export function getLinearClient(): LinearClient {
  if (!client) {
    if (!process.env.LINEAR_API_KEY) {
      throw new Error("LINEAR_API_KEY environment variable not set");
    }
    client = new LinearClient({
      apiKey: process.env.LINEAR_API_KEY,
    });
  }
  return client;
}

Pattern 2: Pagination Handling

import { LinearClient, Issue, IssueConnection } from "@linear/sdk";

async function* getAllIssues(
  client: LinearClient,
  filter?: Record<string, unknown>
): AsyncGenerator<Issue> {
  let hasNextPage = true;
  let endCursor: string | undefined;

  while (hasNextPage) {
    const connection: IssueConnection = await client.issues({
      filter,
      first: 50, // Max per page
      after: endCursor,
    });

    for (const issue of connection.nodes) {
      yield issue;
    }

    hasNextPage = connection.pageInfo.hasNextPage;
    endCursor = connection.pageInfo.endCursor;
  }
}

// Usage
for await (const issue of getAllIssues(client, { state: { name: { eq: "Todo" } } })) {
  console.log(issue.identifier, issue.title);
}

Pattern 3: Error Handling Wrapper

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

interface LinearResult<T> {
  success: boolean;
  data?: T;
  error?: {
    message: string;
    code?: string;
    retryable: boolean;
  };
}

async function linearOperation<T>(
  operation: () => Promise<T>
): Promise<LinearResult<T>> {
  try {
    const data = await operation();
    return { success: true, data };
  } catch (error) {
    if (error instanceof LinearError) {
      return {
        success: false,
        error: {
          message: error.message,
          code: error.type,
          retryable: error.type === "RateLimitedError",
        },
      };
    }
    return {
      success: false,
      error: {
        message: error instanceof Error ? error.message : "Unknown error",
        retryable: false,
      },
    };
  }
}

// Usage
const result = await linearOperation(() => client.createIssue({
  teamId: team.id,
  title: "New issue",
}));

if (result.success) {
  console.log("Issue created:", result.data);
} else if (result.error?.retryable) {
  // Implement retry logic
}

Pattern 4: Batch Operations

async function batchUpdateIssues(
  client: LinearClient,
  issueIds: string[],
  update: { stateId?: string; priority?: number }
): Promise<{ success: number; failed: number }> {
  const results = await Promise.allSettled(
    issueIds.map(id => client.updateIssue(id, update))
  );

  return {
    success: results.filter(r => r.status === "fulfilled").length,
    failed: results.filter(r => r.status === "rejected").length,
  };
}

Pattern 5: Caching Layer

interface CacheEntry<T> {
  data: T;
  expiresAt: number;
}

class LinearCache {
  private cache = new Map<string, CacheEntry<unknown>>();
  private ttl: number;

  constructor(ttlSeconds = 60) {
    this.ttl = ttlSeconds * 1000;
  }

  async get<T>(key: string, fetcher: () => Promise<T>): Promise<T> {
    const cached = this.cache.get(key) as CacheEntry<T> | undefined;

    if (cached && cached.expiresAt > Date.now()) {
      return cached.data;
    }

    const data = await fetcher();
    this.cache.set(key, { data, expiresAt: Date.now() + this.ttl });
    return data;
  }

  invalidate(key: string): void {
    this.cache.delete(key);
  }
}

// Usage
const cache = new LinearCache(300); // 5 minute TTL

const teams = await cache.get("teams", () => client.teams());

Pattern 6: Type-Safe Filters

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

function buildIssueFilter(options: {
  teamKeys?: string[];
  states?: string[];
  assigneeId?: string;
  priority?: number[];
}): IssueFilter {
  const filter: IssueFilter = {};

  if (options.teamKeys?.length) {
    filter.team = { key: { in: options.teamKeys } };
  }

  if (options.states?.length) {
    filter.state = { name: { in: options.states } };
  }

  if (options.assigneeId) {
    filter.assignee = { id: { eq: options.assigneeId } };
  }

  if (options.priority?.length) {
    filter.priority = { in: options.priority };
  }

  return filter;
}

Output

• Reusable client singleton
• Pagination iterator for large datasets
• Type-safe error handling
• Efficient batch operations
• Caching for performance

Error Handling

Error	Cause	Solution
Type mismatch	SDK version incompatibility	Update @linear/sdk package
Undefined property	Nullable field access	Use optional chaining (?.)
Promise rejection	Unhandled async error	Wrap in try/catch or use wrapper

Resources

• Linear SDK TypeScript
• GraphQL Schema Reference
• TypeScript Generics

Next Steps

Apply these patterns in linear-core-workflow-a for issue management.