> Recently we started experimenting with synchronous collaborative programming

I wonder how those experiments are going? The expected benefits do make sense, I wonder if there are any downsides (expected or experienced) at all? It's never all free lunch, and wondering about the two sides.

The calendar-based call-out to the team when one's ready for some collaboration is an interesting tool, and something I'm gonna try. I'd guess a cousin of the "focus time" calendar events when the activity is very similar (still coding), except preferring solo rather than collaborative.