Please don't just say hi

If someone sent you this link, don't worry, you're not in trouble. It's a small request that makes chatting easier for both of us.

What usually happens

You, 10:02: Hi
(I see it, say hi back, and wait)
You, 10:14: Do you have a minute to look at the login bug?

That's two rounds of waiting before we get to the actual question. If either of us is busy or in another time zone, a quick question can take hours.

You, 10:02: Hi! Do you have a minute to look at the login bug? It fails on mobile only, here's the error.

Now I can start thinking about it, or answer, the moment I see it. Saying hi is still nice, just put the question in the same message.

A bare "hi" leaves me wondering what you need, and I can't do anything with it yet.
You get your answer sooner, because nobody waits for the other to type.
I can reply when it suits me, without either of us feeling rushed.

The same goes for "are you there?" and "quick question". Just ask. Thanks, and nice to hear from you.