The Product Craft: Why Linear’s Method Wins

Optimizing for Momentum

Linear isn't just a project management tool; it's a philosophy. It operates on Cycles, not Sprints. Cycles focus on momentum and scope, not just velocity charts and burn-down reports. It assumes that if you remove friction, developers will build.

Opinionated Software

Most enterprise tools (like Jira) try to be everything to everyone, resulting in a configuration nightmare. Linear performs a few things perfectly. It forces you to work in a specific way—the "Linear Way". In 2026, as software becomes easier to build thanks to AI, what we build matters more. Linear keeps you focused on the 'what'.

The Anti-feature Factory

Linear encourages "Scope Creep Protection" by default. You set a goal for the cycle, and if you don't hit it, it doesn't just roll over automatically; you have to make a conscious decision to move it. This subtle friction force teams to be honest about their capacity.