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What Works Well

  • Sitting next to each other and talking through a task.

  • Doing a task in parallel, i.e. each doing roughly the same things on their own computer.

    • This is especially good when learning a new piece of software, since neither of you know it out of the gate, and watching someone explore can feel clumsy and wasteful.

  • Sharing a computer

  • Switching off driving (having the less senior person drive when time less of an issue)

  • Daily check-ins: discuss the tasks you’ve done since you last spoke/expect to do in the near future.

  • The task leader goes through a task (at least partially) on their own first, and then brings the other person through

  • If additional research is needed to continue, make a plan to separate for a set amount of time and then return to go over discoveries

  • Pair from the beginning of the task/feature/bug fix. Don’t try to start mid-effort.

Specific to Remote​

  • Screen sharing (MacOS has built-in screen sharing with the Messages app)

  • Different time zones:

    • Ensure that the person who is going to start work first the next day knows what they’re going to do before you quit for the day. Especially important for Junior/Senior pairs.