Why Slack is inappropriate for open source communications
dave.cheney.net
Why Slack is inappropriate for open source communications
1–10 of 536 posts
Re: Why Slack is inappropriate for open source communications
#2Issue #2, that slack is based on synchronous communication, is something that is always ignored. Sometimes I log in to slack and see a conversation that I want to add something to, but it is 4 hours old with 50+ new messages on varying topics. Even with Slack's new threaded messages it is hard to evolve the conversation after all the synchronous folks have moved on to other topics.
Re: Why Slack is inappropriate for open source communications
#3Issue #2, that slack is based on synchronous communication, is something that is always ignored. Sometimes I log in to slack and see a conversation that I want to add something to, but it is 4 hours old with 50+ new messages on varying topics. Even with Slack's new threaded messages it is hard to evolve the conversation after all the synchronous folks have moved on to other topics.
I don't understand why people seem to thing that chats will solve all the problems. Chatting is having to write the same thing a million times.
Re: Why Slack is inappropriate for open source communications
#4Issue #2, that slack is based on synchronous communication, is something that is always ignored. Sometimes I log in to slack and see a conversation that I want to add something to, but it is 4 hours old with 50+ new messages on varying topics. Even with Slack's new threaded messages it is hard to evolve the conversation after all the synchronous folks have moved on to other topics.
I have recently started using slack and I see the same. Once a conversation has moved on it gets awkward to move back to the previous topic.
Re: Why Slack is inappropriate for open source communications
#5Good points but the bigger problem for me is the lack of an archive.
You only have the last 10k (?) messages and that includes public and private messages. If you have a mildly active project, messages may only be available for a month and you lose the history of the project. That makes it an awful support option too.
Re: Why Slack is inappropriate for open source communications
#6Issue #2, that slack is based on synchronous communication, is something that is always ignored. Sometimes I log in to slack and see a conversation that I want to add something to, but it is 4 hours old with 50+ new messages on varying topics. Even with Slack's new threaded messages it is hard to evolve the conversation after all the synchronous folks have moved on to other topics.
I don't understand why people seem to thing that chats will solve all the problems. Chatting is having to write the same thing a million times.
It's easier to ask for help NOW and get customized answers NOW than to dig through a wiki/documentation for the answer.
Re: Why Slack is inappropriate for open source communications
#7Slack is okay if used appropriately.
Sometimes there's just general trash talk or real time chat and Slack is perfect for that.
We who use it don't want to have low value info pollute google search results. And we also have a public forum for info that should be searchable and requires asyn comms.
Of course like with anything if you're a fool and use it wrongly, you want get good results with it.
Re: Why Slack is inappropriate for open source communications
#8It seems to me that Slack could position itself to provide free and open access to certain types of communities like open source projects, charities, etc. Enable the "pro" features so long as the community follows the rules.
The value of synchronous communication is very real and it should not be precluded, but the points are totally valid. Slack is a closed-garden and it does not contribute to the global conversation if the access and historical record is controlled from within.
Re: Why Slack is inappropriate for open source communications
#9I feel like more and more people are coming around to seeing the relevancy of distributed federated chat and breaking out of the walled gardens. My person money is on Matrix[0] taking off but I think the general theme of people pulling away from interesting their communication to corporations is a positive.
[0] matrix.org
Re: Why Slack is inappropriate for open source communications
#10I must've missed the memo which says any conversation around the globe is waiting for my input before it proceeds.