Jira CLI

Use jira-cli to interact with Jira from the command line.

Prerequisites

• Jira CLI installed and configured with jira init
• Config: ~/.config/.jira/.config.yml (override with JIRA_CONFIG_FILE)

Critical Usage Patterns

Always use --plain for listing and --no-input for creation to avoid interactive mode:

jira issue list --plain              # ✓ Parseable output
jira issue create --no-input         # ✓ Skip prompts
jira issue view KEY --raw            # ✓ JSON output

Creating Issues: Template-First Workflow

IMPORTANT: Always use a template file for issue creation to avoid shell escaping and formatting issues with bullets, quotes, and special characters.

Recommended Workflow

1. Research style first - Query recent issues of the same type to match team conventions:

   jira issue list -p PROJECT -t"Spike" --created month --plain --columns key,summary,status
   jira issue view KEY --plain  # View a few to understand description style
   

2. Draft in a template file - Create /tmp/issue-template.md with the description body only (no frontmatter needed). Let user review and edit before proceeding.

3. Create using --template - This avoids all shell escaping issues:

   jira issue create -p PROJECT -t TYPE -s "Summary" -P "PARENT-KEY" \
     --template /tmp/issue-template.md --no-input
   

Template File Format

The template file contains only the description body in Jira-flavored markdown:

As a [role], I want [what], so that [benefit].

* First action item
  - Sub-item with detail
  - Another sub-item
* Second action item
* Third action item

Quick Create (simple descriptions only)

For single-line or very simple descriptions without special characters:

jira issue create -p PROJECT -t Task -s "Summary" -b "Simple description" --no-input

Common Options

-p PROJECT          # Project key
-t TYPE             # Issue type (Bug, Story, Task, Spike, etc.)
-s "Summary"        # Issue title
-P "PARENT-KEY"     # Parent epic or issue
-y PRIORITY         # Priority (High, Critical, etc.)
-a "user@email"     # Assignee
-l label            # Labels (repeat for multiple)
--template FILE     # Description from file (RECOMMENDED)
--no-input          # Skip interactive prompts
--web               # Open in browser after creation

Listing and Viewing Issues

# View single issue
jira issue view KEY --plain
jira issue view KEY --raw                   # JSON output
jira issue view KEY --comments 10           # Include comments

# List with filters
jira issue list -p PROJECT --plain
jira issue list -t TYPE --plain             # By type
jira issue list -s "In Progress" --plain    # By status
jira issue list -a "user@email" --plain     # By assignee
jira issue list -y High --plain             # By priority
jira issue list -P "PARENT-KEY" --plain     # By parent
jira issue list -l label --plain            # By label

# Date filters
jira issue list --created month --plain
jira issue list --updated "-7d" --plain

# Custom columns and output
jira issue list --plain --columns key,summary,status,assignee

# JQL for complex queries
jira issue list -q "project = MPD AND status = 'In Progress'" --plain

Updating Issues

jira issue edit KEY -s "New summary"
jira issue edit KEY --priority Critical
jira issue edit KEY --assignee "user@email"
jira issue edit KEY --label newlabel
jira issue assign KEY "user@email"
jira issue assign KEY -x                    # Unassign
jira issue move KEY "In Progress"           # Transition status
jira issue comment add KEY -m "Comment"
jira issue link KEY1 KEY2 "relates to"

Sprints and Epics

# Sprints
jira sprint list --table --plain
jira sprint list --state active --plain
jira sprint list --current --plain          # Current sprint issues

# Epics
jira epic list --table --plain
jira epic list EPIC-KEY --plain             # Issues in epic
jira epic add EPIC-KEY ISSUE-KEY            # Add issue to epic

Other Operations

jira open KEY                               # Open in browser
jira me --plain                             # Current user
jira project list --plain
jira board list --plain

JQL Quick Reference

assignee = currentUser()
assignee is EMPTY
status not in ("Done", "Closed")
updated >= -7d
project = MPD AND priority in (High, Highest)
parent = EPIC-KEY
ORDER BY created DESC

Notes

• Default pagination is 100 items; use --paginate N for more
• Custom fields require config entries under issue.fields.custom. If a field is missing, re-run jira init or add it manually.
• The --custom key is derived from the field name in config using lowercase, dash-separated form (e.g. Epic Name -> epic-name).
• Examples:
  • --custom epic-type="Tech Enabler"
  • --custom foo-bar="Baz"
• Debug with jira --debug