Tools we use

Computer: Mac

We use Mac as our standarized laptops. You can read more about why here.

You can get a quick view of how to use a Mac laptop here

Get started with Mac. We suggest you click on Table of Contents + to find the resources you need. “The Mac desktop”, “Basics”, “Apps” and “Customise your Mac” sections are the main ones to get yourself started if you’ve never used a Mac before.

Here are a few first step guides that you might find useful:

If you are a visual learner, we recommend seaching for YouTube videos that show steps on how to use Mac computers for beginners.

Slack

Slack is the messaging app we use to connect people to the information they need. Slack organizes conversations into channels, where everyone can come together in one place to share ideas, make decisions and move work forward. It helps teams operate faster and stay in sync, wherever they are. At Sourcegraph, we consider it an async tool (you can read more about asynchronous work here) but it can be a very quick synchronous tool too.

Slack resources

If you want to learn how to use Slack you can visit these pages:

If you are a visual learner, we recommend seaching for YouTube videos that show steps on how to use Slack for beginners.

Be sure to visit

Google Workspace

We use Google Workspace (previously known as G Suite) pack for office productivity. These are the main tools we use and helpful resources to learn how to use them effectively:

Zoom

Zoom is a communications platform that allows users to connect with video, audio, phone, and chat. You can read more about how we tend ot configure Zoom at Sourcegraph here. You can also see how to add the Zoom Add On for Google Calendar here.

Zoom resources

Here are some resources to get yourself started using Zoom if you’ve never used it before:

If you are more of a visual learner, you can find several videos here.

Loom

Loom is a video messaging tool that helps us foster our asynchronous communications. Read more about how we use Loom, guidelines for using it properly and a quick training here.

Roots

Roots is our paid time off (PTO) management system that is hosted within Slack. Roots allows all teammates to notify their manager and delegate any tasks during their PTO to appropriate teammates directly via Slack’s interface. As a manager, you are able to pull reports on your team’s historical and upcoming PTO.

Please note: we do not use BambooHR’s PTO request system. If your direct report submits a PTO request via BambooHR, please hit “reject” and direct them to Roots to resubmit.

⚡️ You will notice that under “Apps” in your Slack, you’ll see “PTO by Roots” – so you should be able to view all your existing PTO events and it’s where you’ll go to submit all PTO events moving forward (this includes public holidays)!

📆  Make sure to sync your calendar (on the home page of “PTO by Roots” app in Slack) to ensure that all your PTO events also sync to your and your manager’s Google Calendar.

Keep in mind that Roots creates a day event and not an OOO event. This means that your events won’t be canceled or rejected. Once you’ve submitted your time off via Roots, go to your calendar and create an OOO event for the days you’ll be out. We also recommend you invite your team to the event Roots created.

Roots resources

Take a look at this quick video to learn how to use Roots to submit time off. You can also read the product overview.

For additional resources from Roots, please see this folder.

For more information on our PTO philosophy and policy, please see Paid time off.

For additional information on how to request time off, please see Submitting time off

Okta

Okta is an Identity and Single Sign-On (SSO) solution for applications and Cloud entities. It allows Sourcegraph to consolidate authentication and authorization to applications we use daily through a single dashboard and ensure a consistent, secure, and auditable login experience for all our Sourcegraph team members.

You can read more about Okta in our Okta handbook page.

Okta resources

What is Okta?