Should you build your own Linear?
Keyboard-first issue tracker and project planner for product teams
The object model is small: issues, states, labels, cycles, projects. A keyboard-first single-player tracker with a board, cycles, and one-way GitHub sync is a weekend build. What does not survive the copy is the sync engine, real-time multiplayer, and the integration surface (GitHub two-way, Slack, Figma, Sentry) that make Linear the place a team actually agrees on what is being built.
ENOriginal research content in English. Original prompt preserved in English.
Build me a personal issue tracker to replace Linear. Requirements:
- A local web app: Node + Express + better-sqlite3, server-rendered, dark, bound
to localhost. One SQLite file I back up.
- Issues have an auto ID with a team prefix (ENG-142), a Markdown body, a status
(backlog, todo, in progress, in review, done, canceled), a priority (urgent to
none), labels, and a point estimate.
- Keyboard-first: c creates, s status, p priority, l labels, / searches titles,
bodies, and comments with SQLite FTS5, cmd+k opens a command palette for all
of it.
- Three views: My Issues, a board with drag between columns, and the current
cycle, a two-week window with a remaining-estimate burndown. On its last
day, unfinished issues roll forward, done ones archive.
- node scripts/sync-github.js (octokit, token and repo list in .env) pulls open
GitHub issues in, keyed on issue number so re-runs update instead of duplicate.
- Pressing b copies a branch name (me/eng-142-short-title) to the clipboard.
- Comments and a per-issue activity log. No accounts, no telemetry, nothing
leaves the machine except the GitHub calls.
- Out of scope: multiplayer, mobile apps, and writing back to GitHub. Skip auth
and deploy config, this runs on my machine.
- README: how to run it, where the SQLite file lives, and the GitHub token scope.The prompt opens pre-filled in your agent. Review it before running.
What would building your own look like?
Local SQLite issue tracker with prefixed IDs, statuses, priorities, labels, a drag board, rolling two-week cycles, a command palette, and a script that pulls GitHub issues in.
What you will need
- local or hosted database
- GitHub personal access token for issue sync
- a box the team can reach if more than one person uses it
An issue tracker is only worth anything when everyone uses it, and people only use one that never makes them wait. Linear sells speed and shared context, not features: the whole team sees the same board update instantly, GitHub PRs close issues on merge, and the roadmap stays honest because filing is faster than complaining. A solo copy tracks your own work fine and settles no arguments.
xreal-time multiplayer and the sub-100ms sync engine
xnative mobile and desktop apps
xtwo-way integrations with GitHub, Slack, Figma, and Sentry
xTriage, Insights, and Linear Asks
xthe interaction polish that makes people actually file the issue
Prefer something ready-made?
PlaneLinear with more knobs and a server you now own.Open source↗
HulyIssues, docs and chat in one stack; the hosted service is closing, so this means self-hosting.Open source↗
OpenProjectLinear's sober older cousin, complete with Gantt charts.Open source↗View all 4 alternatives to Linear →· Licença, instalação e limitações em cada alternativa.
How much does Linear cost?
- Monthly billing
- $10/mo$10/mo · per person
- Per year
- $120/yr$120/yr
- On a Brazilian card, with 3.5% IOF
- R$52.26/moR$627/yr
Saved to My list. You will see a notice on this site when the price changes.
You complete the purchase on Linear’s site. Vibe Radar does not handle payments.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per month) | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| free | $0/workspace | $0/workspace | Unlimited members; 2 teams; 250 issues total; 10 MB file uploads; 15 release pipelines. |
| basic | - | $10/user≈ $10 | Up to 5 teams; unlimited issues and file uploads. |
| business | - | $16/user≈ $16 | Unlimited teams and issues; advanced controls and analytics. |
| enterprise | custom | - | Custom limits, controls, support and contract terms. |
Free tierunlimited members, 2 teams, 250 issues total, 10 MB uploads, and 15 release pipelines
Billing termsmonthly and annual for self-serve paid plans; Enterprise is annual/custom
Additional costsEvery unsuspended workspace member is billable; annual plans receive monthly seat true-ups and removals create invoice credits rather than cash refunds. Linear's AI agents use separately prepaid credits: ad-hoc purchases start at $10 and auto-reload starts at $50.
verified 2026-08-14 · source ↗
Is it cheaper to build or buy Linear?
Adjust the numbers: hours to build, your hourly rate, running costs and the subscription price.
Over 24 months, subscribing is cheaper.
Starting hours estimated from the analysis (weekend). Does not price what you give up (support, integrations, security).
Can I rebuild Linear?
Kinda. The core of Linear is buildable in a weekend with the prompt on this page, but there are real gaps: real-time multiplayer and the sub-100ms sync engine, native mobile and desktop apps. Read the honest list above before committing.
How much does Linear cost?
Linear costs about $10/mo (Basic, checked 10/20/2026), which is $120 per year.
What do I lose by replacing Linear?
Honestly: real-time multiplayer and the sub-100ms sync engine; native mobile and desktop apps; two-way integrations with GitHub, Slack, Figma, and Sentry; Triage, Insights, and Linear Asks; the interaction polish that makes people actually file the issue. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Linear?
Yes: Plane (Linear with more knobs and a server you now own.) Huly (Issues, docs and chat in one stack; the hosted service is closing, so this means self-hosting.) OpenProject (Linear's sober older cousin, complete with Gantt charts.) All 4 curated free alternatives are at https://viberadar.si/linear/alternatives. The prompt is for when you want it exactly your way.