In web development, collaboration between developers is increasingly essential. Pair Programming thus emerges as a technique that contributes to the development of higher-quality digital products in less time.

Because the technological world innovates with every passing minute, programmers must be open to communication and collaboration with other developers on the project. And, because two heads are better than one, Pair Programming is one of the web development techniques that most contribute to speeding up the process, attributing more value to the product being developed and even providing greater well-being for the developers themselves.

 

Table of contents:

What is Pair Programming?

• How does it work?
• Pair Programming Techniques

 

Benefits of Pair Programming

• Best practices of this programming technique

 

What is Pair Programming?

Pair Programming is a software development technique in which two programmers are developing the same part (or working on the same task) of the project. This technique is part of “Extreme Programming”, the Agile methodology, and, can be used both to develop a piece of software or to test the product.

In this web development technique, one of the developers is called the “driver” and the other “navigator”. While the function of the first is to write the code, the function of the second is to review the code that is being written and/or provide constant feedback. During the time that programmers are working together, it is common for them to change roles.

This is, therefore, a web development technique that encourages collaboration and communication and is based on the premise that “two heads are better than one”.

 

How does it work?

The two programmers, who are working on the same part of a project, may or may not share a single workstation and computer, as well as switch roles as the project progresses.

When the technique emerged, developers worked together in the same place and on the same computer, with one writing code and the other reviewing and giving constant feedback. Currently, with the boom in remote work, many developers working in Pair Programming use collaboration platforms.

When applying this technique, programmers review the quality of the code, while both keep the main objective in mind. By switching between roles, both programmers maintain focus and an open perspective.

For this to work, you need more than collaboration platforms or workstations that accommodate two people. This process requires some soft skills on the part of programmers – they have to be people who can communicate clearly, who like to work as a team, with the ability to share and who are not confrontational.

 

Pair Programming Techniques

As a programming technique within the Agile methodology, Pair Programming is most efficient when both developers bring unique visions to the software they are developing. Furthermore, there are countless ways to put it to work:

• Driver-navigator – the “driver” programmer writes the code while the “navigator” programmer reviews the code, and its quality and directs the “driver”.
• Unstructured Pairing – Programmers align themselves according to their own needs, without specific rules.
• Strong-Style Pairing – The “driver” writes the code while the “navigator” provides constant feedback, gives opinions and questions the work developed.
• Ping-Pong Pairing – One of the developers writes the test and the other writes the code snippet so that each part of the project passes them. With each test passed, programmers change roles.

 

Benefits of Pair Programming

In addition to encouraging collaboration and enhancing communication between colleagues, Pair Programming brings numerous benefits to projects, developer teams and the company they work for.

Among all the advantages of this technique, the following stand out:

• More efficiency – When developing a project with this technique, it is carried out at a faster pace. By working together, the two programmers can find solutions more quickly to problems that arise in the process. Debugging time is also reduced, as it is not the same programmer doing it.
• More quality – Pair Programming can result in code written with higher quality and fewer bugs, as there is always a programmer reviewing what is being developed and there is more knowledge sharing.
• Greater sharing – collaboration between two developers results in greater sharing of knowledge and approaches taking into account a given problem.
• Faster training and onboarding – By bringing together more experienced developers – and/or those who have been on the team for longer –, newly arrived developers can integrate more quickly.
• Greater well-being within the project – When two programmers work on the same tasks, they can support and motivate each other.

 

Best practices for this programming technique

For the Pair Programming technique to work at its best and the project to progress with the highest quality, the developers involved must follow a series of good practices.

In addition to clear and effective communication and respect for the work and dignity of their partner, developers working together should keep the following best practices in mind:

• Define the “driver” and “navigator” roles clearly, as well as the work method and the time each person will spend in each role.
• Communicate concisely to make sure both developers are aligned.
• Empathize with the co-worker and their approaches to a given problem.
• Take breaks, as Pair Programming can become an intense, fast-paced technique that can last for a few hours at a time.
• Be open to learning, new ideas and different approaches.
• Practice active code review to continue learning more about this phase of any project and be able to more easily identify vulnerabilities in the code.
• Use development platforms that you both already use (or are at least familiar with) in order to save setup or ambience time.