1 Use a paste for a handoff #
A paste fits when the goal is to show a fixed block of plain text:
- A log excerpt or stack trace someone needs to read right now.
- A code sample that should keep its exact indentation.
- A configuration file you want to compare line by line.
- A note you will delete once it has been read.
It is not a workspace: there are no comments, no simultaneous editing, and no per-person permissions.
When the block is fixed and you only need to hand it over, a plain paste link is the lighter path.
2 Use a document for collaboration #
| Need | Paste link | Shared document |
|---|---|---|
| Fast handoff of fixed text | Yes | Heavier |
| Comments, suggestions, mentions | No | Yes |
| Simultaneous editing | No | Yes |
| Per-person permissions | No | Yes |
| Version history | Manual | Built in |
Choose the lightest tool that solves the problem. When only a simple unlisted link is needed, the paste wins on speed; when several people must work on the same text, use a document.
If what you are comparing is code or logs, sharing code snippets and logs covers the formatting details.