HACKER Q&A
📣 andrewstuart

Cameras on or off in development team meetings?


Are you camera on or off?

Do you think people should switch them on?

Why off?

Why on?


  👤 kentich Accepted Answer ✓
This DEV Community post suggests a way for even shy developers to turn on the camera more often than usual:

https://dev.to/oleg_galkin_f152e8165e9c4/the-benefits-of-vir...


👤 comprev
Introverted people existed long before WFH / hybrid employment and they attended office meetings in person.

Unless everyone was blindfolded, how is a remote meeting with webcams any different?

Camera switched on shows basic respect to the others attending and at very least demonstrates some engagement in the meeting.


👤 JohnFen
The convention in my team is cameras off, which fortunately is what I prefer. Cameras being on is too distracting, and in my opinion doesn't really bring anything to a technical discussion.

Regardless of my personal preference, though, I conform to whatever the expectation for a given meeting is.


👤 andrewstuart
I think it makes good politics.

If you’re invisible I think there’s a tendency to wonder where you are and what you’re doing.

Showing up literally in meetings I think makes people feel you’re there.

Camera off you may as well not be there.


👤 flpak
I think keeping it on shows more connection, especially if you're in a higher position than other members.

👤 average_r_user
Camera on 99% of the time especially if it's the first meeting. It's a form of respect