Whereas it’s a typical false impression that software program engineering is a solitary discipline, in actuality, collaboration usually helps you clear up programming points extra shortly and effectively. On this article, we’ll study the follow of pair programming, highlighting its distinguished advantages and potential drawbacks.
What’s Pair Programming?
Pair programming, because the identify suggests, is a software program improvement follow through which two programmers collaborate on a single workstation on the identical time. You can do this collaboration both in individual or remotely, through which case you’ll want software program for display screen sharing and real-time enhancing.
In pair programming, the builders interchange between two roles. The “driver” writes the code, and the “navigator” evaluations the written code whereas offering data and directions. You sometimes alternate roles between each quarter-hour to 1 hour.
Many organizations are nonetheless hotly debating pair programming; some undertake it wholeheartedly, whereas others outright refuse to contemplate it. Within the subsequent two sections, we’ll talk about the benefits and drawbacks of pair programming to know every of those viewpoints.
The Professionals of Pair Programming
1. Fewer Errors and Bugs
Software program builders normally work alone, which might trigger unfavorable traits like stubbornness and tunnel imaginative and prescient. It’s all too simple to get caught when making an attempt to repair a bug primarily based on an incorrect assumption, a hidden typo, or a niche in your data.
Once you’re pair programming, nonetheless, you’re pressured to work as a crew. This routinely offers the code extra “high quality management.” Each companions use their shared expertise and data to unravel issues sooner as they come up. In line with a examine by the College of Utah, code produced throughout pair programming has 15 p.c fewer defects.
Having a associate available additionally allows you to follow strategies like “rubber duck debugging.” This debugging technique asks you to elucidate your code within the easiest phrases line by line, as if talking to a cute but uninformed rubber duck. Your associate can extra simply spot your individual misconceptions and biases, serving to you get again on observe extra shortly.
2. Higher Resiliency
The “bus issue” needs to be a priority for all mature software program improvement groups. If one individual will get hit by a bus or must immediately depart for another cause, what is going to occur to the venture? Is there priceless technical data that might be eternally misplaced (or take a very long time to get better) as a result of just one individual is aware of about it?
Pair programming does a lot to resolve this concern. At the least two individuals needs to be accustomed to each a part of the code base, slightly than data residing with just one individual. This helps stop sudden venture slowdowns and delays on account of employees turnover.
3. Elevated Code High quality
Sharing finest practices between companions results in higher total code. Specifically, having to be accountable to your associate discourages each members from taking any shortcuts or hacks. Pair programming encourages groups to construct sturdy options that gained’t create sudden bugs in a while.
4. Quicker Coaching
Normally, the companions for pair programming are two consultants or one knowledgeable and one novice. On this latter case, pair programming permits junior and new crew members to choose up data from their extra skilled colleagues. This will massively pace up the onboarding course of.
5. Improved Staff Morale
Lastly, pair programming offers you another person to speak to on the venture who can empathize with you and show you how to clear up your issues, so that you simply aren’t caught spinning your wheels all day. This helps make the crew as an entire extra productive and happier.
The Cons of Pair Programming
1. Increased Prices
Having two individuals engaged on a single initiative could look like a waste of priceless assets. Certainly, it’s true that pair programming gained’t have the ability to full a venture in half the time.
Nonetheless, the higher overhead that pair programming incurs is often balanced by the higher-quality code and a extra environment friendly, efficient remaining outcome. You pay extra in prices upfront, however you may get better your funding over the lifetime of the venture because you’ll spend much less time sustaining the codebase.
2. Sustainability
Pair programming isn’t normally sustainable sufficient to be practiced the entire time. The best period of time to spend pair programming appears to be round 2 to 2.5 hours—and don’t neglect to take breaks!
The excellent news is you can take measures to interrupt up the depth of pair programming. Attempt switching to a brand new venture or a brand new associate all through the day to assist preserve your thoughts contemporary.
Conclusion
Pair programming isn’t new; it’s been across the software program improvement trade for many years. As a follow, pair programming originates from the excessive programming (XP) methodology, which prioritizes excessive software program high quality and frequent checks and releases.
For some organizations, pair programming merely isn’t the suitable match for his or her scenario. Nonetheless, a rising variety of corporations are discovering that pair programming has a wide range of advantages, together with saved improvement time, higher-quality code, and higher coaching and onboarding. In consequence, everybody on the crew is working collectively to construct essentially the most profitable, finest model of the product potential.
