What Makes Pairing Work?
What makes pairing work? How do you learn to pair effectively? When problems arise during a pairing session, how do you deal with them?
Of all the practices generally associated with Agile software development, pair programming is likely the least-used. Sometimes pairing just happens, but most times people need to approach it more mindfully.
We will explore and experience ways to pair effectively to give those unfamiliar with pairing some safe and thoughtful exposure, and to give those with difficulties some insights into how their pairing can be more effective.
Participants will be provided with pipe cleaners, and asked to build animals with them. The first iteration will be solo construction to provide a baseline for comparison. This iteration will be followed by a debriefing focused on the techniques of creating pipe cleaner animals.
The second iteration will require that the participants work in pairs. The debrief for this session will explore the differences from working solo—both advantages and problems that arose. Was the result better than the solo session? In what ways did working with a pair make the job easier or better? In what ways was it harder when working with a pair? Potential solutions to those problems will be discussed.
The third iteration will also be with pairs, and will give the participants to try some of the techniques discussed in the debriefing of the second iteration. The debriefing will explore the differences from the second iteration—principally the effects of pairing more mindfully and after discussion of pairing techniques. Were difficulties from the second iteration handled more easily? Were new difficulties uncovered?
These three iterations will fit into a 90-minute slot with a little attention to time management. The concept could be expanded to fill a 180-minute slot, if desired. This workshop was presented as a session at the Simple Design and Testing Conference, York PA, December 1, 2007.