J Zac Stein
Jan 14, 2026
Today we're excited to announce a partnership between Span and Linear that brings greater clarity to how teams plan, build, and ship software. By connecting Linear’s structured planning with Span’s view into real engineering activity, teams get a clearer picture of how work moves from idea to shipped code.
Linear has shown what’s possible when a planning tool is designed with speed, focus, and craft at its core. It raised expectations for how teams track work without drowning in process.
Span was built with a complementary goal: to honor the craft of software development by revealing how work actually turns into output, using real signals from code and activity. As AI increasingly shapes how development happens, that focus on craft and clarity matters more than ever.
What becomes possible with Linear inside Span
See how issues become real output
Track when issues in Linear turn into pull requests and merged code. Follow work from planning to delivery, including how AI coding tools influence that flow.
Compare plans to execution with clarity
Overlay projects, milestones, and intended timelines from Linear with real development activity in Span. Spot slipping work or unexpected surges early.
Measure cycle time from issue creation to merged code
See how long work actually takes to move through development. Identify bottlenecks and compare human-authored code with AI-generated code to understand where AI accelerates delivery and where it does not.
Understand engineering investment by initiative
Group issues by roadmap themes and see where engineering time and energy are actually going. Compare planned investment with real output using verifiable data.
Why this partnership matters
The best R&D teams are looking for tools that help them move with intention. And teams are voting with their feet, choosing craft and clarity over bloat and complexity. Tools that feel useful instead of ornamental. Purpose-built instead of trying to be everything to everyone.
Linear has always championed that philosophy, and Span was founded with the same conviction. Together, we want to give teams a way to understand their engineering work without adding layers of process or friction. No extra rituals or manual reporting. Just an accurate, verifiable view of what is happening inside engineering.
“Linear helps teams plan work with clarity and intent. Span connects that plan to what engineers do day to day, from how long work spends in review to where time and effort really go.
Together, we give teams a shared source of truth from planning through delivery, so our users can spot friction early, understand the real impact of AI, and make better decisions without adding process.”
Cristina Cordova, COO at Linear
In a market full of systems that slow teams down rather than speed them up, this partnership reflects a different path. One focused on precision, respect for the craft, and clear signals that help teams make better decisions.
For teams who run on Linear
If your team already uses Linear, you can explore the integration here.
And if you want to see how Span works with your Linear workflows and clarifies the impact of AI coding, we’d be glad to walk you through it.