Discord Guide - HackMD

# Discord Guide This guide provides details on how to setup and use WATonomous Discord. Getting onto the WATO Discord Server --- If you do not have a Discord account, first create one by going to <https://discordapp.com/register>. We suggest that you make your username your preferred full name but any username works. Next, log into Discord (via their web client, or downloadable desktop app), and then click on the following invite link to WATO\'s DiscordServer: <https://discord.gg/jVx2dKX> If following the above invite link does not connect you to our server, login to Discord and click the + sign (at the top left of your Discord screen, below the direct messages square) and select \"Join a Server\" and paste in the invite link above. You should then see the WATO logo appear above the + symbol. If you set your Discord username to the preferred name you gave us, then you are done! If not, then you must set your WATO Discord Server nickname to your preferred name. Instructions on how to set a server-specific nickname are here: <https://support.discordapp.com/hc/en-us/articles/219070107-Server-Nicknames> If neither your Discord Username, nor your WATO Discord Server nickname are equal to your preferred name, our automation scripts will not be able to assign your Discord tags, and you will not be able to use WATO\'s Discord Server. This section explains how to configure Discord for how you will be using it on WATonomous. Simply follow the steps! Downloading the apps --- 1. Download the desktop Discord app: <https://discordapp.com/download> 2. Download the mobile Discord app 1. Android: <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.discord&hl=en_US> 2. iPhone: <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/discord/id985746746> Configuring notifications --- Since Discord is how everyone in WATonomous communicates, it is very important that you get the notifications you care about, and not the hundreds of notifications that you do not care about! You do this by configuring your notification settings on your desktop and mobile apps. First: 1. Learn how to configure notification settings on the desktop app: <https://support.discordapp.com/hc/en-us/articles/215253258-Notifications-Settings-101> 2. Learn how to configure notification settings on the mobile app: <https://support.discordapp.com/hc/en-us/articles/218892547--Mobile-Notifications-Settings-101> Now that you understand how to configure your notification settings, here are the required and recommended configurations for WATonomous: - You **must** keep** \@mention notifications** turned **on.** It is essential that you get notified when someone is speaking to you directly. - You **must** keep the notifications for the your **squad\'s channel, your group\'s channel, and your division\'s channel **turned **on.** - For example, if I am a Core Member in the Path Planning Group, working on Trajectory Planning, I would keep notifications turned on for \#trajectory-planning, \#path-planning-general, and \#software-general channels. - Another example, if I am the Manager of the External Sponsorship Group, I would keep notifications on for the\#external-sponsorship, \#business-general, and \#business-group-leads channels. - It is also **recommended** that you keep notifications turned on for the channels in the COMMON category, since these are channels that concern everyone on the team. \#server-use will notify you if there is a problem with WATonomous\' Servers, \#team-progress will notify you when we accomplish some cool shit, \#memes will notify you about the dankest WATO has to offer, etc\... - In general, use your common sense when muting a channel. If you find yourself caring deeply about what is being talked about in a certain channel (maybe you\'re an key stakeholder of the \#sensor-placement-project), turn on notifications for that channel! Customizing your profile --- Some notes about how to make your profile feel like your own - Most people choose to upload a picture of themselves as their Discord avatar. This helps other team members know who they are talking to! WATonomous Discord FAQs --- ### What to use Discord for 1. You are free to read and participate in whatever conversations on whatever channels you like! If you have questions about something, or want to contribute to any conversation happening on Discord, there is no need to be shy! 2. Technical **discussions** with other team members 3. Giving easy access to **documents**, using the pinning feature (see below) 4. Organizing **meetings** (with help from [when2meet.com](http://when2meet.com)) 5. **Random** discussions, but only in \#random ### What *not* to use Discord for 1. ***Do not use private messages*** **for anything that is appropriate to be talked about in WATO public channels. We strive for transparency and to help others who have the same questions.** 2. Technical **documentation**. If you are talking about anything on Discord that you think is useful technical information, make a HackMD note for it ### Tips and Tricks Check it **frequently**! I predict that you will learn the most this term if you read all of the Discord messages sent in every channel You can set your status (bottom left profile picture) to Do Not Disturb to mute all notifications instead of closing Discord, but do remember to turn it off You can **pin** messages (like I will pin this onboarding message) for future ease of access. See the kebab menu (3 dots) that pop up when you hover over a message You can use **@\<YourGroup\>** or **@\<Somebody\>** in messages to tag everyone on your group or to tag a specific person. This will guarantee they are notified about the message You can use **\#\<some-channel\>** in messages to link to another channel. Use this to link another channel if people are using the wrong one Post in the **correct** channel. The rule to follow is to post in the most general channel that makes sense. Example violations: Posting onboarding questions in your squad\'s channel (go more general, in \#onboarding), talking about your squad\'s implementation details in \#software-general (too general, go to \#your-squad). All \#\*-general (e.g. software-general, perception-general) have the same channel description with 4 very useful bits of information: - Group / Divisional Weekly Meeting times - A link to the Group\'s / Division\'s Workboard - A link to the Group\'s / Division\'s F19 OKR Document - A link to the Group\'s / Division\'s F19 Gantt Chart ### Becoming a Discord Wizard Knowing how to navigate and communicate with ease using Discord is one of the most important things to learn. Luckily, there are many Discord support pages that have been written to help you along your way. My personal tip is to use the quick switch function to find your way around *quickly*: <https://support.discordapp.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000070311-Quick-Switcher-T-A-Y-N-E-> You can find many other useful topics to help you on your journey to becoming a Discord Wizard here:[Discord Starter Guide](https://support.discordapp.com/hc/en-us/sections/201110577-Starter-Guide)