What is pair programming? Benefits, Challenges & Best Practices

As an agile software development technique, pair programming allows two software developers to work together in a workspace. Read on its benefits, challenges, and best practices. 

People will do their best work if they are inspired and empowered with tools and resources. Thus, it can make them complete work more efficiently, which blends other resources to develop better products and services. Many tactics help software developers achieve these goals. Developers can take a proactive approach to monitor their work rather than responding to problems after your end-users face them. 

In a savvy-tech environment, there are several ways for developers to boost their productivity in custom software development. Pair programming is another method to boost efficiency. The post here provides you with the benefits, challenges, and best practices of pair programming. 

What is pair programming? 

As the name suggests, pair programming creates a workstation environment for two developers working on it using one machine. People can imagine two developers sitting in front of a computer and sharing a keyboard. However, with an increasing number of remote coding platforms, it makes pair programming possible amongst thousands of miles apart. A developer acts as the driver coding while the other serves as the observer checking, proofreading, and spelling the written code. Besides, he/she also figures out which stages will be taken next. The two developers can switch these roles and responsibilities at any time. 

People might call pair programming, pairing, programming in pairs, and paired programming. Team members discuss their thoughts in the custom software development process to make the pair programming in agile more efficient. Successful pair programming counts on successful communication and programming skills.

How the pair programming benefits software developers

Providing better programming solutions 

One of the best pair programming benefits is providing better solutions in the custom software development project. Those solutions might be better than developers can give on their own. Thanks to the pair programming in agile, two developers can define problems and potential bugs early instead of one developer. They will discuss, evaluate, and even talk through any trade-offs. If the driver meets a hitch with the code line, one of them will solve the problem.

Sharing up-to-date knowledge and context on 

Pair programming provides a chance for sharing knowledge and context that can boost everyday workflow. Regardless of each code line while pair programming, two developers have another context on the code rather than one person. Besides, it might provide built-in redundancy if a person moves to another custom software development project. Pair programming benefits the work of software developers since it reduces extra activities, for example, meetings and code review sessions to define detects or bugs. 

Mutual learning and skill development 

Learning skills from other partners is one of the biggest pair programming benefits that you might know. Pairing with senior software developers seems to be the best way for junior developers to improve their skills. Senior developers can also learn things when working with other team members. For example, they may define how to use an IDE, or how to boost productivity in the up-to-date front-end framework. Everyone is usually an expert in a certain aspect, so they will have something to teach and guide others. 

Boosting the efficiency 

Common thing is that pair programming slows down the project completion time since you are forcing two developers to work on a single task. However, studies have shown that two programmers working on the same task in a project are 15% slower than working independently. Thus, boosting the efficiency of software developers is another pair programming benefit. 

Reducing coding mistakes 

Working with pair programming can reduce errors or mistakes in the custom software development process. The other coder looks over your code line, resulting in better code. A study shows that two developers are working together, resulting in 15% fewer errors and bugs than a solo programmer. Moreover, it allows the driver to keep focusing on the code while the other developer solves external matters or interruptions. 

Why is pair programming in agile better than the code review process? 

The code review process allows another developer to look over your code to define something that needs improvement or defects in it. This process combines code quality with testing to ensure that every line of code looks good. It helps to improve your code in custom software development. For software outsourcing services, code review is one of the most important processes that all developers might need. 

Nevertheless, it might be challenging for programmers to review your code since people find it hard to look at another code and understand it. They might not understand the code of other developers to check its code quality. So code reviews happen when people add several functionalities to your existing code or fix bugs. However, sometimes a person writing the code may not be around to appreciate the code review. That’s why it’s time for pair programming to come on stage. 

With pair programming in agile development, you will have other developers review your code regularly. The pair programming is considered as a higher level of code review during the custom software development process. So software outsourcing services might benefit from pair programming in their work. Two developers sit and understand the program at the same time. If a person sees problems with the other’s code, it’s essential to fix it immediately and instantly.  

Furthermore, you can also reduce bugs and errors while writing the code. Another thing is that code reviews are not proactive since developers have to wait until others complete the code. 

Challenges of pair programming while coding

Here are common challenges of pair programming that you might encounter while coding: 

• Two developers should equally engage and participate in the pair programming on a single task. Otherwise, there will be no benefits. 

• People think putting two developers in a project will double the cost. However, this is a misconception, so it’s essential to clarify this thought. Pair programming will only result in 15% slowdowns regardless of individual output. It ensures better code quality and lessens the chances that the program might continue using.

• It’s essential to require developers to speak out about what they think about the code. Thus, they need to be good at verbal communication to boost the productivity of the custom software development process. 

• Pair programming is not something that you force other members to do immediately. This process requires social and interactive communication, therefore you have to work in pairs such as sharing thoughts, guiding, and solving problems with personal hygiene.

Pair programming best practices for the software development project 

Keep communicating with each other 

We will not finish the work if we keep silent, so developers should keep communicating with each other to make pair programming effective. When a person is silent, the pair won’t share anything while coding. An effective pair programming refers to that you are sitting with your pair and talking a lot. 

Spending equal amounts of time while typing 

When a programmer types for a long time, for example over an hour, it might be a signal of poor pair programming. To pair effectively, the driver and navigator should share their thoughts and both will take turns typing. In case a programmer tends to use the keyboard for over 20 minutes, it’s great to set an alarm clock for each typing session. Another case is that if there is a senior developer in a pair, he/she should not seize the keyboard whenever the other is going slowly. 

Working on a development environment that both feel comfortable with 

Another thing leading to the effectiveness of pair programming is that both developers should work in a development environment that brings their comfort. You will get into trouble when insisting on a development environment that is unfamiliar to the other partner. 

If you are more productive in the software development environment than the other, or vice versa, the productivity of pair programming may be disrupted. So you will become a driver in the pair programming process. Therefore, using an IDE that both are equally comfortable with will boost the productivity of the two programmers. You also use a highly customized development environment when you are working alone. 

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