Things fully distributed teams need:
- real-time chat
- hosted code repos and code review
- async updates
- email groups
- basic project management
- bug / issue tracking
- customer support tools
- easy way to share files
- standard way to collaborate on documents and drawings
- personal task lists
- personal equipment budgets
- wiki
- team calendar
- webcams (caution: use sparingly)
Things fully distributed teams are happy to live without:
- constant interruptions
- long commutes
- “brainstorming sessions”
- all-hands meetings
- equipment fragmentation
- slow, shared internet
- 9-to-5
- “that guy”
Things fully distributed teams do miss out on:
- face time
- a good, group laugh
- after-work beers
- office serendipity