About the DS|CAFE Coworking Community Server

DS|CAFE is my open studio where I live-blog my daily work (graphic design, programming) while providing personal commentary. I like being around other curious and aspirational people, so the server is also structured as a coworking and shared studio space.

The server has been running since 2016 with the mission to foster friendships through sharing our experiences, getting to know each other over time.

Who Is It For?

I think DS|CAFE appeals to people that identify with one or more of these statements:

• You like being around aspirational people. This is very much a member-driven server, where the server is more fun as people chat about their day. We like to support each other!


• You like seeing others do stuff. This is a place for doing work, so we provide areas for sharing todo lists and project progress. We also have low-stakes events where people can opt-into a short challenge, and occasionally "body-double" in the video chat rooms (webcams and mics optional).


• You are interested in productivity / personal development. You may know me from my productivity tools, and there are many others here sharing their own approaches!

DS|CAFE is also friendly toward LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent-identifying folks, as I fall into those categories myself. Collectively, DS|CAFE regulars tend to resonate with the following:

• You crave meaningful communciation with peers. Our conversations are thoughtful and curious. We provide areas to nerd-out about your deep interests.


• You value authentic friendships. The server culture is modeled on the idea that authenticity, transparency, and curiosity are the foundation of friendship, and that psychological safety is established through consistent expression of those values.


• You like positive-minded, self-empowered, conscientious, curious, generous, and kind people! You aspire to be the same way.

These values are important to everyone, not just LGQTQ+ and neurodivergent communities. A big part of DS|CAFE is figuring the practical aspect of making this work for everyone despite our different backgrounds and cognitive architectures.

How Do I Participate?

If you're new to this kind of server, here's some easy ways to start!

• Add an emoji reaction to people's posts!
• Ask questions about other people's posts!
• Share positive reactions to something someone has reported they did!
• Post links to stuff you like in our link-sharing channel!
• Share pictures of stuff you made!

Avoid these toxic patterns!

• Don't assume the worst! State your assumptions to build understanding.
• Don't hide behind ambiguity! This is the opposite of authenticity, which is an important catalyst for trust.
• Don't "other" groups of people that you disagree with. Talk about the issues instead.

Also, Lurkers are Welcome! Sit and observe for a while, decide if you like the energy, and enjoy your stay for as long as you like. In a virtual community like this, we can only "see" as much of you as you actively share. It doesn't take much to start 💕

Quick Onboarding Guide

When you first connect to the server, you’ll be asked to first read the community guidelines and then click an emoji to reveal the COWORKING part of the server.

• Our main discussion room is #chat, where you can introduce yourself and initiate conversations. We often redirect longer conversations to other rooms in the Social and Discussion areas.


• The Social and Discussion rooms are hidden by default. Gain access by visiting the #dscafe-settings room.


• For an overview of all our server areas, server documentation starts with #info-rooms.



Every room has a description at the top of the screen next to the channel name. It will tell you the room's purpose and etiquette rules (if any). In general special etiquette applies ONLY to the COWORKING section of the server.

Join the DS|CAFE!

» Join by clicking this link: https://discord.gg/bPAJEPR

Discord is a modern chat designed for communities. It is somewhat similar to Slack in appearance and operation. If you don’t already have a Discord account (free), you will be asked to create one.

If you have trouble connecting to the server via the link, try logging into Discord at https://discord.com, login, and then ADD SERVER using this invite code:

https://discord.gg/bPAJEPR