Pair Programming
Pair Programming is one of the eXtreme Programming (XP) techniques wherein two developers sit together and complete a coding task. There are several advantages by doing pair programming. Some of them listed below.
- Syntax and Semantic bugs are caught then and there. This might sound no difference but drops of water make ocean, seconds put together make minutes and hours.
- Code efficiency can improve as there is someone to question your logic.
- Code review happens on the fly.
- Discipline comes automatically as someone is watching your code and pointing out mistakes then and there.
Selecting the right pair is equally important for pair programming to work. The usual practice is to pair a senior and a junior person. The primary advantage here is mentoring of the junior developer can happen on the job and no dedicated effort is required. However coupled pair programming also has some disadvantages. And these disadvantages are primarily due to attitude differences. Few listed below.
- Conflict in ideas particularly logic and approach
- Ego clashes may result in time unnecessarily spent in arguments
- When the timelines are critical and available resources are very few then pair programming might be a costly operation.
Nevertheless pair programming is good and a valuable practice and can help in lot of ways.
