RE: Pair Programming

Some added thoughts

> -----Original Message-----
> From: J. B. Rainsberger [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002 7:06 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [XC] Pair Programming
> 
> 
> Further to this, pairing can actually enable taking more 
> advantage of flex time, because more people are able to do 
> the same kind of work at the same level of quality. Over 
> time, pairing distributes knowledge and skills among the team 
> members, so that if Frank has to leave early today to pick up 
> the kids from day care, the team tends not to suffer as much 
> as they would in a one-person-to-a-cubicle environment. True, 
> conversation helps address this issue as well; however 
> pairing addresses it naturally *as a side effect* of its 
> other effects.

This opens a whole new discussion to me.  Pair Programming is a quality
enabler at a coding level.  Lets step back from programming and look at the
whole of the development process.

If pairing is good as a quality enabler at a coding level, why wouldn't it
be good let's say, at a customer level (why is there only 1 customer
representative needed, not 2) or at a tester level (imagining that there is
room for an acceptance test facilitator - which I think there is), or why
not at a project management level.

If 2 is better than 1 for code, then it must be for getting stories right,
for getting customer tests right, for getting project management right.

The only reason I can see why we don't go this way is because of the number
of people involved.  Pairing can only work when there is flexibility so I
gather most benefits would only really come when you have at least a group
of 6 or 7 people to:
- allow flexible pairing
- allow for holidays/illness/training and other "absence" scenarios
- avoid pair burn-out/staring/stress
... perhaps more?

Now if I am on a project where we have bigger teams of customers, testers,
project managers, perhaps the pairing would also start to make sense.

If it is good for developers to pair on programming, why wouldn't it be good
to have managers pair on projects?

Pairs make a lot of sense in terms of risk management.

I'm trying to understand if there is anything wrong with this reasoning.
What is so special about coding that we only advocate pair programming?  I
see coding as writing in a special language with formalised grammar and
syntax, but it remains writing.  But perhaps planning, testing, story
writing, can also be made a more formal activity with specialised grammar
and syntax (I think testing is closest but UML/use cases could do the same
for story writing).

I'm just bouncing some ideas here.  If we would have a more formal language
we would also get better quality in other software development activities?

I'm looking forward to your feedback, although I will be off for nearly one
week and a half.

Very fortunate that on this old continent we have 30 or so holidays a year
;-)

Merry Xmas, Happy Newyear, or depending on your culture whatever festivities
take place to celebrate the returning of the light in this dark season

Stefan
> 
> 
> J. B. Rainsberger,
> President, Diaspar Software Services
> Let's write software that people understand.
> http://www.diasparsoftware.com/
> telephone: +1 416 791-8603
> All correspondence (c) 2002 Diaspar Software Services.
> If you want to use it, just ask; don't steal.
> 
> 
> 
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