---
name: jira
description: Jira Cloud integration for issue management and search. This skill should
  be used when working with Jira tickets, searching issues with JQL, creating or updating
  issues, adding comments, or transitioning issue status. Covers REST API v3 and Jira
  Query Language.
author: Joseph OBrien
status: unpublished
updated: '2025-12-23'
version: 1.0.1
tag: skill
type: skill
---

# Jira Integration Skill

This skill enables direct interaction with Jira Cloud via REST API v3 and JQL queries.

## Prerequisites

Set these environment variables (or in `.env` file):

```bash
JIRA_DOMAIN=company.atlassian.net
JIRA_EMAIL=user@company.com
JIRA_API_TOKEN=your-api-token
```

Generate API tokens at: <https://id.atlassian.com/manage-profile/security/api-tokens>

## Core Workflows

### 1. Get Issue Details

To retrieve issue information:

```bash
python scripts/jira_api.py GET /issue/PROJ-123
```

With specific fields:

```bash
python scripts/jira_api.py GET "/issue/PROJ-123?fields=summary,status,assignee"
```

### 2. Search with JQL

To search issues using JQL:

```bash
python scripts/jira_api.py GET /search --query "jql=project=AOP AND status='In Progress'&maxResults=20"
```

Common JQL patterns - see `references/jql-reference.md`:

- My open issues: `assignee = currentUser() AND resolution = Unresolved`
- Recent updates: `updated >= -1d ORDER BY updated DESC`
- Sprint work: `sprint in openSprints() AND assignee = currentUser()`

### 3. Create Issue

To create a new issue, use ADF format for description (see `references/adf-format.md`):

```bash
python scripts/jira_api.py POST /issue --data '{
  "fields": {
    "project": { "key": "PROJ" },
    "issuetype": { "name": "Task" },
    "summary": "Issue title",
    "description": {
      "type": "doc",
      "version": 1,
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "paragraph",
          "content": [{ "type": "text", "text": "Description here" }]
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}'
```

### 4. Update Issue

To update fields on an existing issue:

```bash
python scripts/jira_api.py PUT /issue/PROJ-123 --data '{
  "fields": {
    "summary": "Updated title",
    "labels": ["label1", "label2"]
  }
}'
```

### 5. Add Comment

To add a comment (requires ADF format):

```bash
python scripts/jira_api.py POST /issue/PROJ-123/comment --data '{
  "body": {
    "type": "doc",
    "version": 1,
    "content": [
      {
        "type": "paragraph",
        "content": [{ "type": "text", "text": "Comment text here" }]
      }
    ]
  }
}'
```

### 6. Transition Issue Status

First, get available transitions:

```bash
python scripts/jira_api.py GET /issue/PROJ-123/transitions
```

Then transition to new status:

```bash
python scripts/jira_api.py POST /issue/PROJ-123/transitions --data '{
  "transition": { "id": "21" }
}'
```

### 7. Assign Issue

To assign an issue:

```bash
# Get user account ID first
python scripts/jira_api.py GET "/user/search?query=username"

# Then assign
python scripts/jira_api.py PUT /issue/PROJ-123/assignee --data '{
  "accountId": "user-account-id"
}'
```

To unassign:

```bash
python scripts/jira_api.py PUT /issue/PROJ-123/assignee --data '{"accountId": null}'
```

## Direct curl Usage

For quick operations without the helper script:

```bash
JIRA_DOMAIN="company.atlassian.net"
AUTH=$(echo -n "$JIRA_EMAIL:$JIRA_API_TOKEN" | base64)

curl -s "https://$JIRA_DOMAIN/rest/api/3/issue/PROJ-123" \
  -H "Authorization: Basic $AUTH" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json"
```

## Reference Files

- **`references/api-endpoints.md`** - Complete REST API v3 endpoint reference
- **`references/jql-reference.md`** - JQL operators, functions, fields, and patterns
- **`references/adf-format.md`** - Atlassian Document Format for rich text fields

## Common Patterns

### Bulk Operations

To get multiple issues efficiently:

```bash
python scripts/jira_api.py GET /search --query "jql=key in (PROJ-1,PROJ-2,PROJ-3)"
```

### Get Project Info

To list projects or get project details:

```bash
python scripts/jira_api.py GET /project
python scripts/jira_api.py GET /project/PROJ
```

### Get Available Issue Types

```bash
python scripts/jira_api.py GET "/project/PROJ?expand=issueTypes"
```

## Error Handling

Common error codes:

- **400**: Bad request - check JSON syntax and field names
- **401**: Unauthorized - verify credentials
- **403**: Forbidden - check user permissions
- **404**: Not found - verify issue key exists
- **429**: Rate limited - wait and retry

For field validation errors, Jira returns detailed error messages indicating which fields are invalid.