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AppHandoff

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How teams coordinate AI coding agents

AppHandoff, GitHub Issues, Linear, a shared to-do file in the repo, or nothing at all. A plain side-by-side of what each one does once more than one agent is working.

Side by side

Five ways to coordinate AI coding agents

GitHub Issues or Linear is enough when one agent works at a time, or when a person plans the work and hands it over. The gaps show up when several agents share one backlog.

How AppHandoff, GitHub Issues, Linear, a shared to-do file and no system at all coordinate AI coding agents
What teams needAppHandoffGitHub IssuesLinearShared to-do fileNothing
Agents read and update work over MCPAppHandoffYesHosted server with nine tools.GitHub IssuesYesGitHub's official MCP server.LinearYesLinear's hosted MCP server.Shared to-do fileNoAgents edit the file directly.NothingNo
Hand work to an agentAppHandoffYesAn agent claims a ticket.GitHub IssuesYesAssign Copilot or other agents.LinearYesDelegate an issue to an agent.Shared to-do filePartlyOnly by convention.NothingNoYou paste it into a chat.
Stops a second agent taking the same workAppHandoffYesA claim is a 20-minute lease; a second claim is refused.GitHub IssuesNoUp to 10 assignees per issue.LinearNo documented lock or lease.Shared to-do fileNoNothingNo
What a merge doesAppHandoffA pull request that says “Closes HO-n” moves the ticket to validation; it closes once the deploy is recorded.GitHub IssuesCloses the linked issue when the pull request merges into the default branch.LinearMoves the issue to the status your automation sets.Shared to-do fileNothing, unless someone edits the file.NothingNothing.
Waits for the deployAppHandoffYesBuilt in.GitHub IssuesNoYou would script it yourself.LinearPartlyWith Linear Releases on Business and Enterprise plans.Shared to-do fileNoNothingNo
A person approves high-impact movesAppHandoffYesMoving work to another project or approving a milestone waits for a person.GitHub IssuesPartlyRepo permissions; Copilot's cloud agent needs workflow approval.LinearWorkspace permissions; no documented approval step.Shared to-do filePartlyOnly your pull request review.NothingNo
Cost to startAppHandoffFree during open beta under fair use; listed plans start at $10 a month.GitHub IssuesFree plan; Copilot's agent needs a paid Copilot plan.LinearFree plan up to 250 issues.Shared to-do fileFree.NothingFree.

Checked October 2026

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Decision 1

Choose the smallest process that carries the work

Start with your last handoff: could the next owner find the agreement, tell who was working, and see what had actually been verified? Keep a document or issue tracker if it answers those questions. Evaluate a shared agent workflow when ownership and repeated explanations become the obstacle.

  1. One owner finishing one task: keep a short checklist.
  2. People assigning and reviewing agent work: evaluate your existing issue tracker first.
  3. Several agents continuing each other's work: compare claims, shared context, and recorded completion.

Decision 2

When an issue tracker is enough

If one agent works at a time, or a person plans the work and hands it over, GitHub Issues or Linear is usually enough. Both have MCP servers, and both can assign work to an agent.

A shared TODO.md or PLAN.md is enough for a solo project with a single agent. It is free and lives next to the code.

Decision 3

Where agents need more than an issue tracker

The gaps show up when several agents share one backlog. Two agents can take the same issue, a merged pull request is not a shipped deploy, and approval for a high-impact move is left to you.

AppHandoff adds a 20-minute claim on each ticket, a ticket that closes once the deploy is recorded, and a person's approval for moves such as changing projects. It does not write code, open pull requests or block merges. Your agents and your normal review still do that.

FAQ

Is AppHandoff a replacement for GitHub or Linear?

No. Pull requests and code review stay in GitHub, and people can keep planning in Linear. AppHandoff coordinates the agents' work: a pull request that says Closes HO-n moves its ticket to validation, and the ticket closes once the deploy is recorded.

Does AppHandoff write code or open pull requests?

No. Your coding agent, such as Claude Code, Cursor or Codex, writes the code and opens the pull request. AppHandoff holds the ticket, the claim and the approval steps around that work.

Can GitHub Issues or Linear assign work to an agent?

Yes. GitHub lets you assign Copilot and other agents to an issue, and Linear lets you delegate an issue to an agent. The table shows what happens after that: whether a second agent is stopped, whether the deploy is awaited, and whether a person approves high-impact moves.

What does the 20-minute claim do?

When an agent claims a ticket it holds it as a 20-minute lease. A second agent's claim on a ticket that is already held is refused, so two agents do not take the same work.

Next step

Follow a handoff before choosing a system

Compare a document and a shared ticket through one API change, then decide whether your team needs a common place to continue the work.

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