Managing Jira Deep

---
name: managing-jira-deep
description: |
  Use when working with Jira Deep — deep Jira project management covering
  projects, boards, sprints, issue analytics, velocity tracking, and workflow
  health. Use when performing deep audits of Jira usage, analyzing sprint
  velocity, reviewing backlog health, assessing workflow bottlenecks, or
  generating project health reports across a Jira instance.
connection_type: atlassian
preload: false
---

# Managing Jira (Deep)

Deep Jira project management analysis covering sprint health, velocity, and workflow bottlenecks via the Jira REST API.

## Discovery Phase

```bash
#!/bin/bash
JIRA_BASE="$JIRA_URL/rest/api/3"
AGILE_BASE="$JIRA_URL/rest/agile/1.0"

echo "=== Current User ==="
curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $ATLASSIAN_TOKEN" \
  "$JIRA_BASE/myself" | jq '{accountId, displayName, emailAddress}'

echo ""
echo "=== Projects ==="
curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $ATLASSIAN_TOKEN" \
  "$JIRA_BASE/project?maxResults=30" \
  | jq -r '.[] | "\(.key)\t\(.name[0:30])\t\(.projectTypeKey)\t\(.lead.displayName // "none")"' | column -t

echo ""
echo "=== Boards ==="
curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $ATLASSIAN_TOKEN" \
  "$AGILE_BASE/board?maxResults=20" \
  | jq -r '.values[] | "\(.id)\t\(.name[0:30])\t\(.type)\t\(.location.projectKey // "N/A")"' | column -t

echo ""
echo "=== Active Sprints ==="
for BOARD_ID in $(curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $ATLASSIAN_TOKEN" \
  "$AGILE_BASE/board?maxResults=10" | jq -r '.values[].id'); do
  curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $ATLASSIAN_TOKEN" \
    "$AGILE_BASE/board/$BOARD_ID/sprint?state=active" \
    | jq -r '.values[]? | "\(.id)\t\(.name[0:30])\t\(.startDate[0:10])\t\(.endDate[0:10])"'
done | column -t
```

## Analysis Phase

```bash
#!/bin/bash
JIRA_BASE="$JIRA_URL/rest/api/3"
AGILE_BASE="$JIRA_URL/rest/agile/1.0"
PROJECT_KEY="${1:?Project key required}"

echo "=== Issue Status Distribution ==="
curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $ATLASSIAN_TOKEN" \
  "$JIRA_BASE/search?jql=project=$PROJECT_KEY&maxResults=0&groupBy=status" \
  -G --data-urlencode "jql=project = \"$PROJECT_KEY\"" | jq '.total'

for STATUS in "To Do" "In Progress" "In Review" "Done"; do
  COUNT=$(curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $ATLASSIAN_TOKEN" \
    "$JIRA_BASE/search?maxResults=0" \
    -G --data-urlencode "jql=project = \"$PROJECT_KEY\" AND status = \"$STATUS\"" | jq '.total')
  echo -e "$STATUS\t$COUNT issues"
done | column -t

echo ""
echo "=== Unassigned Issues ==="
curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $ATLASSIAN_TOKEN" \
  "$JIRA_BASE/search?maxResults=0" \
  -G --data-urlencode "jql=project = \"$PROJECT_KEY\" AND assignee IS EMPTY AND status != Done" \
  | jq '{unassigned_open_issues: .total}'

echo ""
echo "=== Sprint Velocity (last 3 closed sprints) ==="
BOARD_ID=$(curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $ATLASSIAN_TOKEN" \
  "$AGILE_BASE/board?projectKeyOrId=$PROJECT_KEY&maxResults=1" | jq -r '.values[0].id')
curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $ATLASSIAN_TOKEN" \
  "$AGILE_BASE/board/$BOARD_ID/sprint?state=closed&maxResults=3" \
  | jq -r '.values[]? | "\(.name[0:25])\t\(.startDate[0:10])\t\(.endDate[0:10])\tcompleteDate=\(.completeDate[0:10])"' | column -t

echo ""
echo "=== Overdue Issues ==="
curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $ATLASSIAN_TOKEN" \
  "$JIRA_BASE/search?maxResults=10" \
  -G --data-urlencode "jql=project = \"$PROJECT_KEY\" AND duedate < now() AND status != Done ORDER BY duedate ASC" \
  | jq -r '.issues[]? | "\(.key)\t\(.fields.summary[0:40])\tdue=\(.fields.duedate)\t\(.fields.assignee.displayName // "unassigned")"' | column -t
```

## Output Format

```
JIRA DEEP HEALTH: [PROJECT_KEY]
Total Issues:      [count]
Open Issues:       [count]
Unassigned Open:   [count]
Overdue:           [count]

STATUS DISTRIBUTION
Status           Count    Pct
To Do            [n]      [pct]%
In Progress      [n]      [pct]%
Done             [n]      [pct]%

SPRINT VELOCITY (Last 3)
Sprint               Completed  Committed  Velocity
[name]               [n]pts     [n]pts     [pct]%

BOTTLENECKS
Avg Days in Review:  [n]
Blocked Issues:      [count]
```

## Anti-Hallucination Rules

1. **NEVER assume resource names** — always discover via CLI/API in Phase 1 before referencing in Phase 2.
2. **NEVER fabricate metric names or dimensions** — verify against the service documentation or `--help` output.
3. **NEVER mix CLI commands between service versions** — confirm which version/API you are targeting.
4. **ALWAYS use the discovery → verify → analyze chain** — every resource referenced must have been discovered first.
5. **ALWAYS handle empty results gracefully** — an empty response is valid data, not an error to retry.

## Counter-Rationalizations

| Shortcut | Counter | Why |
|----------|---------|-----|
| "I'll skip discovery and check known resources" | Always run Phase 1 discovery first | Resource names change, new resources appear — assumed names cause errors |
| "The user only asked for a quick check" | Follow the full discovery → analysis flow | Quick checks miss critical issues; structured analysis catches silent failures |
| "Default configuration is probably fine" | Audit configuration explicitly | Defaults often leave logging, security, and optimization features disabled |
| "Metrics aren't needed for this" | Always check relevant metrics when available | API/CLI responses show current state; metrics reveal trends and intermittent issues |
| "I don't have access to that" | Try the command and report the actual error | Assumed permission failures prevent useful investigation; actual errors are informative |