Respecting Time Zones
Open source is global. Respect that.
The Reality
You submit PR at 9 AM your time
↓
Maintainer might be sleeping (9 PM their time)
↓
Waits until they wake up (8 hours later)
↓
They review during their morning
↓
You get response at 11 PM your timeWhat This Means
- Expect 24-48 hour response times
- Plan accordingly, don't stress after 2 hours
- Don't ask for urgent responses
- Be considerate of working hours
Time Zone Awareness
When communicating:
- Avoid saying "ASAP" or "urgent"
- Don't expect immediate responses
- Use async communication
- Schedule syncs fairly (alternate times)
- Document decisions for absent people
Synchronous Meetings
If pairing or meeting required:
Before scheduling:
"What's your timezone?
I'm UTC+5:30, flexible with timing."
Fair rotation:
- This week: My 6 PM (your 8 AM)
- Next week: My 2 PM (your 4 AM) - I notice this sucks for you
- Alternate times each meetingDocumentation
Because not everyone can attend:
- Record meetings (with permission)
- Write summary in issue
- Share action items
- Include decisions made
The Earth keeps spinning. Design systems assuming you're not all awake at the same time.