Is Linear or Notion better for a web development team?

Linear is generally better for developer-heavy teams that need speed, keyboard shortcuts, and tight Git integration. Notion is ideal for cross-functional teams that also manage content, documentation, and design tasks alongside development. Many agencies use both — Linear for sprint work and Notion for broader project planning.

How many columns should a Kanban board have for web projects?

Most effective web team boards use 4 to 6 columns. A proven setup is: Backlog, To Do, In Progress, In Review, QA/Testing, and Done. Adding too many columns creates confusion, while too few hides bottlenecks. Start simple, then iterate based on where tasks get stuck.

Kanban for Web Teams: Setting Up an Effective Board with Linear or Notion

Why Kanban Works So Well for Web Teams

Web development is unpredictable. Bug reports land mid-sprint, client feedback shifts priorities, and designers and developers rarely work at the same pace. That’s exactly why Kanban — a visual workflow system born in Toyota factories — has become the go-to method for thousands of web agencies worldwide.

Unlike rigid Scrum sprints, Kanban lets teams pull work as capacity allows. According to the 2023 State of Agile report, 56% of software teams now use Kanban either as their primary framework or in a hybrid approach. The result? Fewer bottlenecks, shorter cycle times, and happier teams.

But a Kanban board is only as good as its setup. Let’s look at how to build one that actually works — using two of the best tools available: Linear and Notion.

Linear vs. Notion: Choosing the Right Tool

Linear: Built for Speed and Developers

Linear is laser-focused on software teams. It’s fast — almost eerily fast — and designed around keyboard shortcuts and automation.

GitHub/GitLab integration links pull requests directly to issues
Cycles (optional time-boxed periods) layer lightweight sprints on top of Kanban
Auto-archiving keeps boards clean without manual effort
Typical onboarding time: under 30 minutes

Linear is ideal when your team is 3–15 developers and the priority is shipping code.

Notion: Flexible and Cross-Functional

Notion treats Kanban as one view among many. The same database of tasks can appear as a board, a table, a timeline, or a calendar.

Custom properties (dropdowns, relations, formulas) fit any workflow
Embedded docs mean specs, designs, and meeting notes live next to tasks
Shared access makes it easy to loop in clients or non-technical stakeholders
Best for teams that juggle content, design, and development in one space

At Lueur Externe, a web agency with over 20 years of experience delivering Prestashop, WordPress, and custom AWS-hosted projects, the team frequently combines both tools — Linear for the engineering pipeline, Notion for client-facing roadmaps and documentation.

Setting Up an Effective Kanban Board: Step by Step

Step 1 — Define Your Columns

Start with a structure that mirrors your actual workflow. Here’s a proven layout for web projects:

Column	Purpose
Backlog	Ideas and future tasks, unprioritized
To Do	Prioritized and ready to start
In Progress	Actively being worked on
In Review	Code review or design feedback
QA / Testing	Functional and visual testing
Done	Shipped and verified

Avoid going beyond 6–7 columns. Complexity kills clarity.

Step 2 — Set WIP Limits

Work-in-progress limits are the secret weapon of Kanban. Without them, a board is just a to-do list.

For a 3-person dev team, cap “In Progress” at 4–5 tasks
For “In Review,” set a limit of 2–3 tasks to prevent review pile-ups
Linear supports WIP limits natively; in Notion, use a formula that flags overloaded columns

Teams that enforce WIP limits see cycle times drop by 20–40% on average, according to Kanban University benchmarks.

Step 3 — Add Labels and Priority Levels

Both Linear and Notion support labels. Use them consistently:

Type: Bug, Feature, Chore, Content
Priority: Urgent, High, Medium, Low
Area: Frontend, Backend, SEO, DevOps

This makes filtering instant and sprint reviews far more productive.

Step 4 — Review and Iterate Weekly

A Kanban board is a living system. Hold a 15-minute weekly review to:

Move stale cards or re-prioritize
Identify recurring bottlenecks (e.g., tasks stuck in QA)
Celebrate completed work — it matters for morale

Common Mistakes to Avoid

No WIP limits: The board becomes a dumping ground
Too many labels: If everything is tagged, nothing stands out
Ignoring the backlog: An overflowing backlog creates decision fatigue — prune it monthly
Skipping the review ritual: Without regular check-ins, boards decay within weeks

Conclusion: Your Board Is Your Workflow

A well-configured Kanban board doesn’t just track tasks — it shapes how your team thinks, collaborates, and delivers. Whether you choose Linear’s speed or Notion’s flexibility, the principles are the same: visualize work, limit what’s in progress, and improve continuously.

If you’re building or scaling a web project and need a team that knows how to pair the right tools with battle-tested workflows, Lueur Externe can help — from architecture to delivery. Get in touch today and let’s talk about your next project.