Use Project Timelines in Linear
Display projects on a timeline with dates that reflect current confidence. Use explicit dependencies to explain sequencing rather than implying that adjacent bars prove a handoff.
Step-by-step guide
Check access and scope
You need a project view containing relevant teams and access to update scheduling properties.
Choose Timeline layout
Choose a project view and switch its Display layout to Timeline. Timeline is available on project views through Display; the chosen project view still determines which projects are included.
Set honest timeframes
Set start and target timeframes at an appropriate level of precision.
- Worked example: Plan an invite-flow rollout for a month while the migration remains uncertain; move to a specific day only after readiness is established. Explain that security review must finish before external rollout.
Group relevant projects
Group or filter by the dimension needed for the planning discussion.
Record real dependencies
Record real project dependencies and explain the handoff contract.
Review dates with owners
Review slipping dates with owners before sharing a revised timeline.
Verify the result
The timeline and project properties agree, and dependency owners understand the dates they are being asked to meet.
Common mistakes
Avoid the main failure mode
An attractive timeline is not evidence that teams have accepted dates. Keep speculative timing visibly different in the project description or status.
Check the handoff edge case
Assigning a precise date to poorly understood scope creates false confidence. Use the available broader timeframe until uncertainty narrows.
Sources and verification
Based on product documentation checked on 2026-10-24. This is a documentation-based guide, not a hands-on benchmark. Features and availability can change.