# Import Your Linear Roadmap and Link It to Customer Evidence

Import Linear initiatives and projects into Deck, keep each one linked to Linear, and back every roadmap item with customer evidence. Nothing changes in Linear.

- URL: https://getdeck.io/playbooks/import-linear-roadmap
- Author: Matt Teixeira
- Published: 2026-11-01
- Updated: 2026-11-01
- Stage: Set up

## How Do You Import a Linear Roadmap into Deck?

Connect Linear in Settings → Integrations, then import each Linear initiative from Build → Initiatives. Deck creates a matching initiative and brings in its child projects as Deck Projects, each linked to its Linear item. Nothing changes in Linear, imports use no credits, and every item is now ready to link to customer evidence.

## Why Your Roadmap and Customer Evidence Live Apart

The roadmap lives in Linear, and the reasons behind it live somewhere else. When someone asks why a project is on the list, the answer is a meeting nobody wrote down. You cannot tell which initiatives customers asked for and which ones run on gut feel.

## How Deck Links Linear Work to Customer Evidence

Deck imports Linear initiatives and projects as Deck initiatives and Projects and keeps each one linked to its Linear item. Linear stays the place you run delivery. Deck refreshes the title, status, owner, and dates daily, while documents and customer evidence stay in Deck, so every roadmap item can carry the feedback behind it.

Deck features used:

- [Initiatives](https://getdeck.io/product/initiatives)
- [Projects](https://getdeck.io/product/projects)
- [Integrations](https://getdeck.io/product/integrations)

## How to Import Your Linear Roadmap into Deck

### 1. Connect Linear

An organization admin opens Settings → Integrations, picks Linear, clicks Connect, and completes the authorization. Linear does not count toward the Free plan's one-integration limit.

### 2. Decide What to Import, Link, or Skip

List the Linear initiatives and projects you want in Deck. If a Deck Project already covers a Linear project, link it instead of importing, so you do not create a duplicate. Skip items that are already linked.

### 3. Import Each Linear Initiative

Open Build → Initiatives, open the New menu, and choose Import from Linear. Pick the initiative, optionally pick a segment, and confirm. Deck also imports its child projects that are not linked yet.

### 4. Import Standalone Linear Projects

Open Build → Projects and choose the Linear import option. Pick the project, optionally the initiative it belongs to and a segment, and confirm.

### 5. Link Deck Projects That Already Cover the Work

Open the Deck Project, open the external handoff menu, and choose the Linear link option. Deck fills only empty fields from Linear and does not overwrite your title, owner, Overview, or Evidence.

### 6. Check the Customer Evidence

Check the Insights column in Build → Initiatives, then open each imported Project's Evidence tab. Items with few linked insights need customer evidence before they earn their place. As new feedback arrives, Deck can attach high-confidence matches to Projects on its own.

## Import the Linear Roadmap with Your AI Agent

You need:

- Deck MCP connected to your agent
- An organization admin for one step
- Linear connected to Deck

Your agent starts with the `explore_integrations` tool.

Paste this prompt into your agent:

```text
Use Deck MCP. Fetch and follow https://docs.getdeck.io/docs/agents/workflows/import-linear-roadmap.md
```

Full agent workflow: https://docs.getdeck.io/docs/agents/workflows/import-linear-roadmap.md

## Linear Roadmap Import Plan

### Linear Roadmap Import Plan

```text
| Linear item | Kind | Status | Target date | Action | Deck initiative | Segment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Linear title] | Initiative / Project | [Status] | [Date] | Import / Link / Skip | [Initiative or none] | [Segment or none] |

ACTIONS
Import: not in Deck yet. Import initiatives first, their unlinked child projects come with them.
Link: a Deck Project already covers it. Link it instead of importing.
Skip: already linked in Deck. Open it from its Deck link.

BEFORE YOU START
[ ] Linear is connected in Settings → Integrations
[ ] An organization admin is available to import initiatives

AFTER THE IMPORT
| Item | Result | Deck link | Linked insights |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Title] | Imported / Linked / Skipped ([reason]) | [Deck link] | [Deck count] |
```

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does importing change anything in Linear?

No. Imports read Linear and create Deck records only. Unlinking removes only the Deck-side link and does not delete or change the Linear item.

### Who can import from Linear?

Only organization admins can connect Linear and import a Linear initiative. Any member can import a single Linear project, but a project imported that way has no link to its Linear initiative.

### Does it use credits?

No. Imports spend no credits, and Linear does not count toward the Free plan's one-integration limit.

### What stays in sync after the import?

Deck refreshes the title, status, owner, and dates of linked items daily. It does not sync child relationships after the import, and Linear never overwrites your documents or evidence in Deck.

### What if an item is already in Deck?

A Linear item can link to one Deck item per organization, so already-linked items are skipped and reported. An identical import within 24 hours returns the first result and creates nothing new.

### Can my AI agent run this?

Yes. With Deck MCP connected, paste the prompt on this page. The agent lists what Linear has, flags items already in Deck, and shows you an import, link, or skip plan. It asks before it imports or links anything.

## Related Playbooks

- [Import Jira Epics and Back Each One with Customer Evidence](https://getdeck.io/playbooks/import-jira-epics.md): Import Jira epics into Deck as Projects, keep each one linked to its epic, and attach the customer evidence behind the work. Nothing changes in Jira.
- [Validate Your Product Roadmap with Customer Evidence](https://getdeck.io/playbooks/roadmap-evidence-check.md): Find the initiatives and Projects with little customer evidence, link the evidence Deck already has, and see what your team is building on gut feel.