> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fluorine.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Collaborate Effectively With Your Team Using Fluorine

> Team messaging, mentions, file sharing, notifications, and communication norms that keep everyone aligned.

Fluorine brings communication into the same space as your tasks and projects. Discuss work directly on tasks, inside projects, and in shared channels — without anything getting lost in a separate app.

## Two messaging surfaces

* **Task comments** — threaded discussion attached to a specific task. Questions, updates, and decisions about that task.
* **Project channels** — shared channel inside each project for broader discussions, announcements, and decisions that affect the whole project.

Decide early which surface your team uses for which type of communication. When everyone follows the same norms, nothing falls through the cracks.

<Tip>
  A simple rule that works for most teams: if the conversation is about a specific task, it goes in task comments. If it affects the project direction or involves people not on a specific task, it goes in the project channel.
</Tip>

## Mentions

Use `@name` in any comment, task description, or channel message to send a direct notification and link a teammate to the relevant context.

Common uses:

* `@sarah` can you review this before Thursday? — in a task comment to request a review
* `@team` heads up, the client moved the deadline — in a project channel for broad announcements
* `@alex` this is blocked on your PR — to flag a dependency without creating a formal task dependency

Mentioned teammates get a Fluorine notification and, depending on their settings, an email or mobile push.

## File sharing

<Steps>
  <Step title="Attach a file to a task">
    Open a task and click the **Attachments** icon. Drag and drop files or click **Browse**. Attached files are visible to everyone with access to the task.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Share a file in a message">
    In any task comment or project channel, click the **paperclip icon** or drag and drop into the message composer. The file appears inline in the thread.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find shared files">
    All files attached to a project are indexed under **Project → Files**. Find assets shared across multiple tasks without hunting through individual threads.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Storage limits by plan: 25 GB on Starter, 100 GB on Pro, 250 GB on Business.
</Note>

## Workspace channels

Each project has its own channel. You can also create workspace-level channels for cross-project topics — `#general` for company-wide announcements, `#design-feedback` for discussions that span multiple projects.

To create a workspace channel:

1. Click **+ New Channel** in the left sidebar under **Channels**
2. Name it and add a description
3. Invite specific members or make it open to everyone

<Info>
  Workspace channels are visible to all members by default. Toggle **Private** when creating to restrict access to a subset of the team.
</Info>

## Notifications

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open notification settings">
    Go to **Settings → Notifications** for controls over in-app and email notifications.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose your notification level">
    * **All activity** — every comment, mention, status change, and file upload on tasks you're assigned to or following
    * **Mentions and direct messages only** — only `@mentions` and DMs
    * **None** — silence everything (useful for deep work, but check in regularly)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set quiet hours">
    Under **Do Not Disturb**, configure hours when Fluorine holds notifications. Essential for distributed teams — no 2 AM pings from teammates in other time zones.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Follow tasks and channels">
    Click **Follow** on any task or channel to receive notifications for it regardless of assignment. Useful for work you want to monitor without owning.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Async vs. real-time

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Async" icon="clock">
    Task comments, project channel updates, and file attachments. Team members respond when available — context is preserved in the thread.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Real-time" icon="bolt">
    Direct messages and live channel conversations. Use when you need a fast decision or quick clarification.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Communication norms template

Pin this in your main workspace channel so every new team member finds it on day one.

| Situation                            | Where it goes                                  |
| ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Question about a specific task       | Task comment with `@mention`                   |
| Project status update                | Project channel                                |
| Decision that affects the whole team | Project channel, then logged as a task or note |
| Urgent blocker                       | Direct message + task comment                  |
| File or asset delivery               | Task attachment                                |
| Casual conversation                  | `#general` channel                             |

<Tip>
  Set explicit response time expectations. For async communication, 24 hours is a reasonable default. For urgent direct messages, agree on 2 to 4 hours during working hours.
</Tip>

## Distributed teams

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="End-of-day task comments">
    Encourage teammates to leave a brief comment on active tasks before signing off — what they completed, what's blocked, what's next. Teammates in other time zones have full context when they start their day.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="AI smart summaries">
    Fluorine's AI generates a summary of recent activity in any project or thread. Use it when you return from a break or vacation to catch up without reading every message. See [AI Copilot](/features/ai-copilot) for details.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Pinning key messages">
    Pin decisions and important links in project channels so they're easy to find without scrolling. Click the three-dot menu on any message and select **Pin to channel**.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>