Linear connector
Set up the Linear connector in Kaivo: authentication, configuration, the 16 BigQuery tables it syncs, and answers to common questions.
Written By Lauri Raivio
Last updated About 2 hours ago
Kaivo is a fully managed data platform that syncs your Linear data into a Google BigQuery warehouse and keeps it up to date automatically. There is no pipeline to build and no infrastructure to run, so you can spend your time analysing your project management data instead of moving it.
What is the Linear connector
Sync your Linear issues, cycles, and projects into BigQuery with Kaivo to report on engineering delivery alongside the rest of your data.
Getting started with the Linear connector
- Sign up for Kaivo and create a workspace.
- Connect your Linear account.
- Choose which tables to sync.
- Wait for the initial sync to finish.
- Query your data in BigQuery or your favourite AI or BI tool.
Authenticating Linear
Authenticate with your API key.
Tables and columns synced from Linear
Kaivo syncs 16 tables from Linear into a dedicated dataset in your BigQuery warehouse. Click any table to see its columns and types.
How the Linear sync works
After the first load, Kaivo keeps your BigQuery warehouse up to date for you. Where Linear supports it, each sync pulls only new and changed records so it stays fast; otherwise it refreshes the whole table. Every record keeps its original ID, so you won't get duplicate rows.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the initial sync take for Linear?
It depends on how much history is in your Linear account. Most initial syncs finish within minutes, while large accounts can take a few hours. After that, syncs only fetch new and changed records, so they're much faster.
Can I sync only some tables or columns?
Yes. You pick which tables to sync when you set up the connection and can change the selection later. Tables you don't select are never copied to your warehouse.
What happens when Linear's schema changes?
New fields are never added automatically. You choose which fields to sync, so data you haven't selected (sensitive personal data, for example) never lands in your warehouse. When a new field appears, it becomes available for you to add. What happens to removed or renamed fields depends on a table's sync mode: full-refresh tables always match what's currently in Linear, so dropped fields disappear, while incremental tables keep their existing columns and history, so an old field stays and newly added fields fill in over time.
How do I handle GDPR or data deletion requests?
Your data lives in your own Kaivo-managed BigQuery warehouse, so the most direct option is to delete or anonymise specific records right in BigQuery. If you delete data in Linear instead, full-refresh tables drop it on the next sync, while incremental tables keep it, so you would remove the row in BigQuery or ask us to run a full refresh. To remove everything, delete the Linear connector in Kaivo and all of its synced data is deleted with it.
Common use cases for Linear data
Cycle velocity
Use issues and cycles to measure velocity, scope changes, and completion rates.
Cycle time
Analyse issue workflow_states and timestamps to measure how long work takes.
Project progress
Track projects and project_milestones to report on progress against goals.
Team throughput
Break issues down by team to monitor throughput and workload.
Use Linear data in your AI and BI tools
Once Linear data lands in your Kaivo-managed BigQuery warehouse, you can explore it with AI tools or any BI tool that connects to BigQuery. Here's how the most common destinations work with Linear data.
Claude
Use Kaivo's MCP server to give Claude secure, workspace-scoped access to your data. Setup guide →
Power BI
Microsoft's BI tool with a native BigQuery connector. Supports direct query and scheduled refresh. Setup guide →
Data Studio
Free Google BI tool with native BigQuery support. One-click connection to your Kaivo warehouse; great for SMB teams on Google Workspace. Setup guide →
Tableau
The premium analytics standard, with native BigQuery integration. Setup guide →
Google Sheets
Use Connected Sheets to query BigQuery directly from a spreadsheet, with no SQL. Setup guide →
Excel
Connect via Power Query's BigQuery connector. Setup guide →
Metabase
Open-source BI tool with strong BigQuery support. Setup guide →
See our pricing page for Linear connector pricing and plan details.