The Importance of Pair Programming for Developers
By: Kayvan Kaseb
Tags: Software Developer, Pair Programming, Software Development, Agile Practices, Computer Programming

Pair Programming

One of the Agile practices that have been used in software development is Pair Programming approach in which two developers work side-by-side at one computer with continuous collaboration on the same task. It is proved that this technique could be effective to increase product quality, improve team spirit, improve knowledge management, and reduce product risk. This essay aims to discuss some advantages in using Pair Programming approach as one of the Agile practices for software developers and companies.

What is the definition of Pair Programming?

Agile methods indicate techniques, tools, and practices to ease the process of developing a software much more effectively and quickly by valuing working software, face-to-face communications over processes and documentations. One of the Agile practices that have been used in software development is Pair Programming approach, which two developers working on the same development task. It means, one developer (usually called the driver) actually writes code; whereas, the another (the navigator) watches the driver, provides advice, and make efforts to understand the overall picture of the task under development. These two roles are exchanged at regular periods of time, and the two developers together become the owners of the product, and become well-informed about the development topic as well.

Advantages of using Pair Programming in software development

It is important to know that the name of this method, Pair Programming, can lead people to incorrectly assume that developers just only use pair during code development, but pairing can occur during all the process and phases of the software development such as design, debugging, testing, and so on. The main advantages of this method are mentioned as follows:

Increasing positive pair pressure on developers

Software developers have mentioned they work harder and smarter on codes when they are using Pair Programming technique because they do not want to let their partner down. Furthermore, they are less possible to do extra activities such as reading email, surfing the web, or making a phone call. In other words, they manage interruptions more quickly. In fact, solo developers usually use interruptions for filling a need for social interaction. As a result, this need decreases with using Pair Programming.

2. Improving collaboration and communication

In general, each developer has own solution for facing a problem, and the partners must communicate how to address this issue appropriately. In this interaction, they can be able to assess more alternatives in comparison with only one person that usually tend to follow the first solution in his mind. It is clear when they work together, they can specify the best solution to follow accurately.

3. Continuous code review

As a matter of fact, Pair Programming as a kind of continuous code review and problem identification, which occurs on a minute-by-minute basis. Some mistakes such as syntax errors, semantic errors, unconsidered solutions, and clean code rules can be addressed and fixed effectively during this process more than a situation that an individual developer wants to encounter these challenges without any support.

4. Enhancing problem-solving abilities

Basically, when you want to explain a problem to a partner, the partner will ask you some questions about the issue, and will probably force the developer to describe his or her reasons. Therefore, this explanation can likely lead to find and notice problems and solutions unconsciously because when people want to describe an issue to others, they can understand and learn that topic much more better than normal situation.

5. Sharing new skills and technologies in teams

Fundamentally, knowledge in programming such as technologies, best practices, and trends is being passed between partners contentiously all the time. Besides, switching and rotating pairs often can lead to spread knowledge and information in a team. So, it can be an effective plan for knowledge-sharing in a whole team.

In conclusion, one of the effective Agile practices that have been used in software development is Pair Programming approach. Although Pair Programming has some positive impacts on products quality, developers, teams, and companies, this approach has some challenges in implementing in a team such as coordinating and handling personality traits of an individual.

Reference

Franz Zieris and Lutz Prechelt. On Knowledge Transfer Skill in Pair Programming. In ESEM’14 Proc. 8th ACM/IEEE Intl. Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement. ACM, 2014.

S. Heiberg, U. Puus, P. Salumaa, A. Seeba , Pair-programming effect on developers productivity, Springer, 2003.