Chaos + Linear Sync Playbook

Category: Academy · Stage: Delivery

By Max Beech, Head of Content

Updated 15 August 2025 · Expert review: [PLACEHOLDER: Head of Engineering]

Why it matters: Linear’s team reports love async collaboration, but context still fragments across docs.^[1]^ Chaos captures the narrative while Linear ships the work.

      - Why sync Chaos and Linear?

      - How do you set up the sync?

      - How do you measure sync health?

    

  
  
    

TL;DR

      - Capture product decisions in Chaos, publish actionable issues to Linear.

      - Mirror statuses so demos, [storyboards](/blog/sprint-demo-storyboard-workflow), and delivery stay aligned.

      - Audit the sync weekly using the [KPI scorecard](/blog/agentic-kpi-scorecard).

    

  
  
    
      
        
          Chaos action
          Linear result
          Notes
        
      
      
        
          Tag capture as “Ship it”
          Create issue in backlog
          Auto-assign to squad lead
        
        
          Update decision log
          Comment on linked issue
          Maintains rationale history
        
        
          Close Chaos card
          Resolve issue
          Triggers release notes draft
        
      
    
    Sync rules keep Chaos and Linear in lockstep.
  
  

Why sync Chaos and Linear?

Chaos captures context, decisions, and research. Linear executes. Syncing them prevents “why” from falling behind “what”.

How do you set up the sync?

Use the integration template: map Chaos tags to Linear teams, configure status mirroring, and authenticate with service tokens. Tie retrospective notes back into the decision log.

How do you measure sync health?

Review weekly: unresolved sync errors, issue ageing, and stakeholder satisfaction. Linear highlights that async teams depend on reliable automations to stay aligned.^[1]^

Key takeaways

      - Chaos keeps strategy visible; Linear keeps execution tight.

      - Automated sync rules prevent context drift.

      - Regular audits maintain trust across squads.

    

  
  
    

Next steps

      - Map Chaos tags to Linear teams.

      - Enable the integration and test with a pilot squad.

      - Review metrics weekly and tighten rules based on feedback.

    

  
  
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