Agent skill

jira-transitions

Move Jira issues through workflow states. Use when transitioning issues (To Do, In Progress, Done) or setting resolutions.

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Install this agent skill to your Project

npx add-skill https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry/tree/main/skills/productivity/jira-transitions

SKILL.md

Jira Transitions Skill

Purpose

Move issues through workflow states. Get available transitions and execute status changes.

When to Use

  • Moving issues to different statuses (To Do → In Progress → Done)
  • Getting available transitions for an issue
  • Bulk transitioning issues
  • Setting resolution when closing issues

Prerequisites

  • Authenticated JiraClient (see jira-auth skill)
  • Issue transition permissions
  • Knowledge of workflow structure

Important Notes

Transition IDs are NOT standardized - they vary by:

  • Jira instance
  • Project
  • Workflow configuration

Always query available transitions first before attempting to transition.

Implementation Pattern

Step 1: Define Types

typescript
interface Transition {
  id: string;
  name: string;
  to: {
    id: string;
    name: string;
    statusCategory: {
      id: number;
      key: string;
      name: string;
    };
  };
  fields?: Record<string, {
    required: boolean;
    name: string;
    allowedValues?: Array<{ id: string; name: string }>;
  }>;
}

interface TransitionsResponse {
  transitions: Transition[];
}

Step 2: Get Available Transitions

typescript
async function getTransitions(
  client: JiraClient,
  issueKeyOrId: string
): Promise<Transition[]> {
  const response = await client.request<TransitionsResponse>(
    `/issue/${issueKeyOrId}/transitions?expand=transitions.fields`
  );
  return response.transitions;
}

Step 3: Find Transition by Name

typescript
async function findTransitionByName(
  client: JiraClient,
  issueKeyOrId: string,
  targetStatusName: string
): Promise<Transition | null> {
  const transitions = await getTransitions(client, issueKeyOrId);
  return transitions.find(
    t => t.name.toLowerCase() === targetStatusName.toLowerCase() ||
         t.to.name.toLowerCase() === targetStatusName.toLowerCase()
  ) || null;
}

Step 4: Execute Transition

typescript
interface TransitionOptions {
  resolution?: { name: string } | { id: string };
  comment?: string;
  fields?: Record<string, any>;
}

async function transitionIssue(
  client: JiraClient,
  issueKeyOrId: string,
  transitionId: string,
  options: TransitionOptions = {}
): Promise<void> {
  const body: any = {
    transition: { id: transitionId },
  };

  if (options.resolution || options.fields) {
    body.fields = { ...options.fields };
    if (options.resolution) {
      body.fields.resolution = options.resolution;
    }
  }

  if (options.comment) {
    body.update = {
      comment: [
        {
          add: {
            body: {
              type: 'doc',
              version: 1,
              content: [
                {
                  type: 'paragraph',
                  content: [{ type: 'text', text: options.comment }],
                },
              ],
            },
          },
        },
      ],
    };
  }

  await client.request(`/issue/${issueKeyOrId}/transitions`, {
    method: 'POST',
    body: JSON.stringify(body),
  });
}

Step 5: High-Level Transition Helper

typescript
async function moveIssueTo(
  client: JiraClient,
  issueKeyOrId: string,
  targetStatus: string,
  options: TransitionOptions = {}
): Promise<boolean> {
  const transition = await findTransitionByName(client, issueKeyOrId, targetStatus);

  if (!transition) {
    console.error(`No transition found to status: ${targetStatus}`);
    return false;
  }

  // Check if resolution is required
  if (transition.fields?.resolution?.required && !options.resolution) {
    // Default to "Done" resolution
    options.resolution = { name: 'Done' };
  }

  await transitionIssue(client, issueKeyOrId, transition.id, options);
  return true;
}

Step 6: Bulk Transition

typescript
async function bulkTransition(
  client: JiraClient,
  issueKeys: string[],
  targetStatus: string,
  options: TransitionOptions = {}
): Promise<{ success: string[]; failed: string[] }> {
  const results = { success: [] as string[], failed: [] as string[] };

  for (const issueKey of issueKeys) {
    try {
      const success = await moveIssueTo(client, issueKey, targetStatus, options);
      if (success) {
        results.success.push(issueKey);
      } else {
        results.failed.push(issueKey);
      }
    } catch (error) {
      results.failed.push(issueKey);
    }
  }

  return results;
}

Common Transitions

Most Jira projects have these standard transitions:

From Status Transition Name To Status
To Do Start Progress In Progress
In Progress Done Done
In Progress Stop Progress To Do
Done Reopen To Do

Note: These names vary by workflow configuration.

Resolution Values

When transitioning to "Done", you often need a resolution:

Resolution Description
Done Work completed
Won't Do Not planning to do
Duplicate Already exists
Cannot Reproduce Cannot reproduce issue

curl Examples

Get Available Transitions

bash
curl -X GET "$JIRA_BASE_URL/rest/api/3/issue/SCRUM-123/transitions?expand=transitions.fields" \
  -H "Authorization: Basic $(echo -n 'email:token' | base64)" \
  -H "Accept: application/json"

Execute Transition (Simple)

bash
curl -X POST "$JIRA_BASE_URL/rest/api/3/issue/SCRUM-123/transitions" \
  -H "Authorization: Basic $(echo -n 'email:token' | base64)" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "transition": { "id": "21" }
  }'

Transition with Resolution (for Done)

bash
curl -X POST "$JIRA_BASE_URL/rest/api/3/issue/SCRUM-123/transitions" \
  -H "Authorization: Basic $(echo -n 'email:token' | base64)" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "transition": { "id": "31" },
    "fields": {
      "resolution": { "name": "Done" }
    }
  }'

Transition with Comment

bash
curl -X POST "$JIRA_BASE_URL/rest/api/3/issue/SCRUM-123/transitions" \
  -H "Authorization: Basic $(echo -n 'email:token' | base64)" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "transition": { "id": "21" },
    "update": {
      "comment": [
        {
          "add": {
            "body": {
              "type": "doc",
              "version": 1,
              "content": [
                {
                  "type": "paragraph",
                  "content": [{ "type": "text", "text": "Moving to In Progress" }]
                }
              ]
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  }'

API Response (204 No Content)

A successful transition returns 204 No Content with an empty body.

Error Handling

Common Errors

Error Cause Solution
400 Bad Request Invalid transition ID Query transitions first
400 Bad Request Missing required resolution Add resolution field
403 Forbidden No permission to transition Check workflow permissions
404 Not Found Issue doesn't exist Verify issue key

Error Response Example

json
{
  "errorMessages": [
    "You must specify a resolution when transitioning issues to the 'Done' status."
  ],
  "errors": {
    "resolution": "Resolution is required."
  }
}

Workflow Discovery Pattern

typescript
async function discoverWorkflow(
  client: JiraClient,
  issueKeyOrId: string
): Promise<Map<string, Transition[]>> {
  // Get transitions from current state
  const transitions = await getTransitions(client, issueKeyOrId);

  console.log(`Available transitions from current state:`);
  for (const t of transitions) {
    console.log(`  ${t.id}: ${t.name} → ${t.to.name}`);
    if (t.fields?.resolution?.required) {
      console.log(`    (requires resolution)`);
    }
  }

  return new Map([
    ['current', transitions]
  ]);
}

Common Mistakes

  • Using transition ID without querying first
  • Forgetting resolution when moving to Done
  • Assuming transition IDs are same across projects
  • Not handling 204 response (empty body is success)

References

Version History

  • 2025-12-10: Created

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