Linear

Why Developers Are Switching to Linear

Linear proves that developer tools can be fast and beautiful. It’s opinionated about workflows in ways that actually help teams ship faster.

My Experience

After years of Jira, Linear feels like a revelation. Everything is fast—really fast. The keyboard shortcuts make issue management feel like using Vim. Teams I’ve introduced to Linear don’t want to go back.

What Makes Linear Special

1. Speed - Linear is instant. No loading spinners, no waiting. The interface responds immediately. This sounds small but changes how you interact with your issue tracker.

2. Keyboard-First - Navigate, create, and manage issues without touching your mouse. Command-K for everything. It’s designed for developers who live in the keyboard.

3. Cycles and Roadmaps - Sprint planning and roadmapping built in, not bolted on. Plan work, track progress, communicate roadmaps—all in one fast interface.

4. GitHub Integration - Link PRs to issues automatically. Status updates sync. The development workflow feels connected, not separate.

Where Linear Falls Short

Less customizable than Jira—that’s by design, but some teams need flexibility. Enterprise features are newer. The ecosystem is smaller.

Who Should Use Linear

• Software teams tired of slow tools
• Startups wanting modern workflows
• Engineers who prefer keyboard navigation
• Teams valuing speed over customization

Linear vs Jira

Factor	Linear	Jira
Speed	Instant	Variable
Customization	Opinionated	Unlimited
Learning Curve	Minutes	Days
Enterprise	Growing	Mature
Best For	Dev teams	Large orgs

The Bottom Line

Linear is the right choice for software teams who value speed and developer experience. For complex enterprise requirements, Jira might still fit. For everyone else, Linear is the future.