Linear Release Setup

The linear-release README is the source of truth for commands, flags, installation, environment variables, path filtering, and troubleshooting. Fetch it before generating any config — this skill focuses on the interactive setup workflow and the pipeline modeling decisions the README cannot make for the user.

Interactive Workflow

Step 1: Preflight

Before generating config, confirm:

1. Pipeline exists in Linear — the user must have created a release pipeline in Linear first (Settings → Releases). Each pipeline has its own access key.
2. Detect CI platform — look for .github/workflows/*.yml (GitHub Actions), .gitlab-ci.yml (GitLab CI), .circleci/config.yml (CircleCI), or other CI config.
3. Detect default branch — check git symbolic-ref refs/remotes/origin/HEAD or the CI config. Don't assume main.

Step 2: Map pipelines, then ask

Start by listing every build the user ships independently — each becomes its own Linear pipeline. Pipeline-vs-stage confusion is the single most common setup mistake, so whenever a split isn't obvious, apply the test in "Stages vs Pipelines" below.

Ask, in order: