If you’re wondering how to use Slack for learning, working, or just chatting with remote team members, this article is for you!
During the pandemic that broke out in 2020, the whole world seemed to move online overnight. Technology had to keep up, and communication had to be maintained among students and coworkers alike. Our team at Froggy Code also wanted to be able to communicate with each other and our students in an online format. We wanted something easy to use, but still professional. That’s why we personally started using Slack.
Slack is a tool that’s become hugely popular in the tech field because it offers so much more than just basic chatting. It makes sharing code simple and is connected with Git and Google Drive, which is especially useful for programming and web development.
Before we dive in, let’s answer the most pressing question…
Is Slack free?
Yes, Slack is free to download both on your browser and as an app. There are no hidden costs.
A Short History of Slack
Before we get into the details of how to use Slack, we thought we’d share a little bit about the history of this unique and useful app.
Slack was launched in 2013 by Stewart Butterfield and his team, who were originally working on a video game project. The game flopped, but the communication tool they had built for their team turned out to be very valuable. They decided to develop it further, and in short, that’s how Slack was born.
The name stands for “Searchable Log of All Conversation and Knowledge.” From the beginning, the idea was to create a simple tool that kept communication, files, and teamwork in one place.
Today, millions of people and companies around the world use Slack to collaborate on projects. It has grown into one of the most popular business communication platforms worldwide.
What are the main features of Slack?
The main reason for Slack’s success is its user-friendly design. With just a few clicks, you can create unique chat rooms, called channels. Thanks to channels, teams, classes, or even just groups of friends can communicate clearly and stay organized.
There are three main ways to communicate on Slack:
- – Public #general channels – where everyone in the workspace can talk in one big group chat.
- – Private channels – which only invited members can join (these are marked with a lock icon).
- – Direct messages – you can start direct messaging with any individual user in your team.
One of the first steps when learning how to use Slack is creating channels. Luckily, it’s very simple. Click the + icon next to “Channels,” enter the group name you’ve picked, add a description, and choose whether it should be public or private. Be sure to note that public channels are visible to all members of your workspace.
Under “Channels,” you will also find “Direct Messages.” By clicking the + here, you can search for people by name or email, and shoot them a message. There are a lot of other features that Slack offers, which could be worth investigating if you’re interested.
How to Use Slack for Group Projects
Inside every channel, you can check group details on the right side of the screen. If you do not see these details, click the small i button on the top right corner. Here you can see all members, with a green dot for active users and a gray dot for inactive ones. You’ll even see a cake emoji for those celebrating birthdays!
Below the member list, in Shared Files, you will find all documents shared in the group. At the top of the chat, there is also a search bar where you can look for files, names, or text sent up to 90 days ago. Another great thing about Slack is that it also integrates with Gitlab, Github, and Gitkraken, so developers can share files easily and find files that were shared days, weeks, and even months ago.
If you want to highlight someone in a conversation, use the @ symbol before their name (for example, @John). This will notify the person with a red mark, and if they have the app installed, they will also receive a desktop or mobile notification. Even without the app, they will get an email (unless they turn this option off, which we recommend for members on bigger teams if they want to avoid overcrowding their inboxes).
The Basics of How to Use Slack
Let’s cover some of the key details on using Slack.
Firstly, your profile is found at the top left. Here you can edit your personal information and notification settings. In the dropdown menu under your profile, you can invite people by entering their email. They will get a message with a link to join your workspace. If they already have a Slack account, they can add themselves to your workspace easily.
One person can belong to multiple workspaces and switch between them quickly with the Switch Workspace option in the profile menu. Many freelance web designers and developers will have 4,5 or even more workspaces, one for each of their clients.
If you ever need help, the Slack Bot is always ready to answer. You can find this helpful tool under Direct Messages. Currently, it understands complete English sentences and certain keywords.
Slack vs Microsoft Teams: What’s the Difference?
One of Slack’s biggest competitors is Microsoft Teams, another favorite among companies worldwide. Both platforms are designed for communication and collaboration, but they have different strengths and drawbacks, too.
Similarities between Slack & Microsoft Teams:
- – Both allow you to create channels or groups for organized discussions.
- – They both support direct messages, file sharing, and video calls.
- – Both integrate with other apps and services, making teamwork easier.
Differences between Slack & Microsoft Teams:
- – Integration: Slack connects with thousands of third-party apps like GitHub, Trello, and Google Drive. Microsoft Teams focuses on integration with Microsoft products like Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- – Video calls: Teams has stronger built-in video conferencing, while Slack only offers an option to join a “huddle”, which is really just a fancy word for a voice call.
- – User experience: Slack is known for being more flexible and user-friendly, especially for smaller teams or developers. MS Teams is usually preferred by larger companies, especially ones already working with Microsoft 365.
We hope you now have a basic idea of how to use Slack!
So there you have it! We hope this short guide on how to use Slack was informative. If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact our team. We’d love to hear from you.
While you’re here, why not check out some of our other blogs? We post new articles every week on all sorts of tech-related topics. Check it out!