The commandments of pair programming
- No question is too stupid and no-one knows everything!
- Be kind - everyone feels self-conscious when they’re being watched and people work in different ways
- Finding a solution is only part of the goal - share knowledge, build rapport, talk!
- Disable notifications! Respect your pairing partner’s time
- Keep a clean desk- nobody likes a hairy keyboard
- If you know what to do, let the other person type
- Agree on regular breaks and feel free to request one
- Don’t hog the keyboard - switch regularly
- Think out loud! No speaky, no typey
- Regularly check understanding and stop to explain
- Typos and pseudo-code are fine to get your point across
- Hit a brick wall? Get a third opinion!
- When you’re done, reflect on what you’ve achieved (or not!). What might make it easier next time?